Uluru: what to know before you go

The short version

Go at both sunrise and sunset — they are completely different experiences
You cannot climb Uluru; it has been prohibited since October 2019
Two nights is the minimum; one night means missing either dawn or dusk
Kata Tjuta, 30 miles away, is arguably the better walk and is often skipped

A rock, and rather more than a rock

Uluru rises 348 metres out of an otherwise flat desert, which makes it taller than the Eiffel Tower's observation deck, and it extends several kilometres underground. It is roughly 550 million years old.

It is also a living cultural site. Uluru and the surrounding land belong to the Anangu, who have lived here for tens of thousands of years and who lease the national park back to the Australian government under joint management. Certain areas are sacred and photography is restricted there — the signs are clear, and they are not suggestions.

No, you can't climb it

This still catches people out. The climb was permanently closed on 26 October 2019, at the request of the Anangu, who had asked visitors not to climb for decades. The chain that once ran up the side has been removed and the route rehabilitated.

What you do instead is walk around it, which is better anyway. The full Base Walk is 10.6km on flat ground and takes three to four hours; most tours include the shorter Mala Walk along the north-west face, taking in rock art shelters, and the Kuniya Walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, a permanent pool at the base with painting sites nearby.

Sunrise or sunset? Do both

This is the question we get most, and the answer is that they are not interchangeable.

Sunset is the famous one. The rock runs through ochre, rust, deep red and violet over about forty minutes, and the viewing area has a party atmosphere — most tours hand out sparkling wine. It's spectacular and it's busy.

Sunrise is the better experience. It's colder, quieter and far less crowded, the light comes up behind you and hits the rock face-on, and the desert is completely silent. Almost everyone who does both says the dawn visit is the one they remember.

Which is why we'd steer you away from any itinerary that only gives you one night at Yulara. Every escorted tour we list — including Highlights of Australia — includes both.

Don't skip Kata Tjuta

Thirty-five kilometres west lies Kata Tjuta, once called the Olgas: 36 domed rock formations, the tallest of which is nearly 200 metres higher than Uluru.

The Walpa Gorge walk takes you into the wind-funnel between the two largest domes, and the longer Valley of the Winds circuit is one of the finest walks in central Australia. Plenty of first-time visitors come home saying Kata Tjuta was the bigger surprise of the two. Every Red Centre itinerary we list includes it, which is not true across the wider market — check before you book.

The practical stuff

Getting there. Uluru has its own airport at Yulara (code AYQ) with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Driving from Alice Springs takes about five and a half hours — which is why most itineraries fly in.

Where you stay. There is only one place: Yulara resort, about 20km from the rock, which is the entire town. Options range from campgrounds to the Desert Gardens Hotel, which is included on the Bucket List itinerary. Some tours use permanent tented camps instead — comfortable, but worth knowing about, as on Sydney to Melbourne via Uluru.

When to go. April to October. Summer regularly exceeds 40°C, which makes the sunrise walk a good deal less romantic. Winter nights drop below freezing — bring layers, and don't underestimate this.

Flies. Between roughly August and November they are relentless. Buy a fly net. Everyone laughs at them and then everyone buys one.

Kings Canyon. Three hours away and often paired with Uluru. The 6km Rim Walk is, in our view, the single best walk in the Red Centre — better than anything at Uluru itself.

Tours that cover this

Sydney, Uluru & Melbourne — Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta with a guided Outback leg — £3,639
Australia Bucket List Adventure — Uluru sunrise with breakfast, plus the reef and the Great Ocean Road — £3,849
Highlights of Australia — Sunset and sunrise at Uluru on a fully escorted 22-day tour — £8,049