Best Places to visit in Uluru

Activities

• Sunrise and Sunset tours: Watch the giant rock of Uluru transform its color as you experience the magical scene of the sun rays hitting its surface. These special tours designed for tourists to enhance their nature-admiring experience often include a morning breakfast or a light evening snack in case of a sunset tour.
• Concert Hall: This is the largest venue within the Opera House that hosts large-scale concerts, symphony performances and other events.
• Guided Walks and Hikes: Take a stroll around the area with these guided walking tours around Mala and the entire base area of Uluru to enhance your knowledge of the local inhabitants of the place and gather diverse perspectives and insights from their stories.
• Camel Tours: Enhance your vacation experience with a desert safari on an enjoyable camel ride that takes you to different fascinating vintage points and dig deep into the Camels’ role in Australian History.
• Scenic Flights: Take a chance to explore the area while in the sky as you rent a helicopter ride or a fixed-wing aircraft flight for a magnificent sky view of Uluru region landscape beneath you.

Culinary Delights

• Kangaroo Steak.
• Emu Filets.
• Crocodile Skewers.
• Grilled Barramundi.
• Damper.
• Quandong Pie.

Transportation

• Take the Uluru Hop on, Hop off shuttle bus that is available to take people to and from Uluru and Ayers Rock Resort.
• Additionally a car can be rented to move around in the region of Uluru.
• Additionally a shuttle bus service is also available to take us to the location.
• There are not any taxis or other public transport available apart from this.

Highlights:

• The Ayers Rock: This is an Uluru site sacred to the ethnic Anagu people which is central to their stories of creation. This features a large sandstone monolith rising to a height of about 348 meters above the ground bearing the significance of being Australia’s most famous natural landmark.
• The Olgas: This is another site sacred to Anagu people supporting their cultural and spiritual narratives. This site consists of 36 massive domes with mount Olga being the highest among all rising to a height of about 546 meters.

Activities

• Walking and Hiking: This area offers a chance to embark on some challenging hiking trails with stunning views of the domes, a spectacular gorge and the surrounding picturesque landscapes.
• Guided tours: One can also take tours led by local Anangu guides to understand more about the culture of the place, interact with the locals and geology of the reserve.
• Enjoy wildlife: Take a look at the diverse wildlife that the place plays home to. Explore the spectacular variety of wildflowers, desert oaks, and a wide range of bird species in their natural habitat.

Highlights:

• Story telling sessions: Enjoy the eventful thrilling stories told by the local Anangu experts and have a deeper understanding of the cultural practices, legends and traditions associated with Uluru. Learn about Tjukurpa, which are Anangu stories of creations and how they influence the structure of landscape.
• Light and sound show: The part of the experience also includes a spectacular light show where the place is lit up in a beautiful manner along with traditional music to enhance the fun atmosphere.
• Sunset Viewing: The show timing allows the participants to witness the ever beautiful scenes of the sun setting on the rocks creating the place to reflect some stunning natural colors creating a memorable visual experience.

Dining

• Canapes: The program includes a heartwarming meal of a selection of Bush Tucker-inspired Canapes served with some natural ingredients giving the guests a taste of this traditional delicacy with a touch of modern context.
• Drinks: Arrangements are made for different kinds of beverages to be enjoyed ranging from sparkling wine, beer, along with some non-alcoholic drinks as well.

Tips:

• Book your place for the event well in advance to make it to the limited edition nature of the event.
• Dress somewhat warmly as the desert can get chilly in the evenings.
• Make sure to follow the guideline and instructions given by experts and be respectful to the stories and culture.

Experience Highlights:

• A general admission to the show allows you to wander freely among the lights at your own leisure.
• A special star pass allows you to access raised platforms that provide a panoramic view of the area along with services of Canapes and drinks.
• Arriving before sunset allows you to capture the mesmerizing scenes of sun setting over the desert, transforming the darkness into an envelope of lights.
• The show services also include a gourmet meal combined with a guided tour of the installation offering an exclusive and personalized experience.
• Spending a night at the Field of Light allows you to enjoy a special guided tour of the area providing detailed insights into the artwork and its creation along with a grand three course dinner with canapes.

Tips:

• Take the shuttle bus service available at the Ayers Rock resort to reach the show.
• Consider dressing warmly as the temperature dips at night around the desert.
• Make sure to book your tickets well in advance due to the show being a popular attraction.
• Put on comfortable footwear to make it easier to walk on uneven ground.

Highlights:

• The Canyon: The canyon features towering red rock cliffs that rise above the ground to a height of about 100 meters. Its walls are made of ancient sandstone dating back to almost 400 million years.
• The Garden of Eden: Surrounded by lush vegetation, this is a natural waterhole that offers a remarkable contrast to the arid desert landscape.

Your To Dos:

• Hiking
• Helicopter Tours
• Camping
• Photography

Transportation:

• The Grand Canyon can be reached by a car ride of about 3 hours from Uluru.
• Apart from this several tour operators have transport inclusions that can get you to the destination.

Tips:

• Put on comfortable footwear to make it easier to walk on uneven ground while hiking or strolling.
• Make sure to stay hydrated as there are limited drinking water resources at the location.
• Wear enough sun protection to prevent sun burns.
• Consider starting the trip in the early hours of morning to avoid the heat during the day.

Nearby Attractions:

• Kathleen Springs
• Mereenie Loop

Highlights:

• Tjukurpa Tunnel: This immersive exhibit allows visitors to understand the complexities of the traditional law and legendary stories of Anangu people. It features multimedia display, storytelling and showcasing artworks.
• Anangu Art: The Cultural center includes a Gallery featuring traditional and Aboriginal miniatures of art like dot paintings, carvings and different sculptures created by local artists. These works are for display and can be purchased as well.
• Bush Tucker and Medicine Exhibits: These special exhibits showcase traditional food and herbal medicines used by Anangu people along with the significance of bush tucker in Australian culture.
• Park Ranger Talks: The place offers scheduled talk sessions with park rangers and local Anangu guides that provide participants with some in-depth information about cultural practices and natural heritage of the place.

Tips

• Allocate enough time for this visit to explore the area thoroughly.
• Make sure to stick to the guidelines and instructions given by guides and park rangers.
• Buy Maraku art souvenirs to support local artisans.
• Make sure to participate in guided tours and special talk programmes.

Features:

• Waterhole: Fed by the rainwater that runs off the surface of Uluru, this waterhole is the permanent and only source of water in the arid desert area. Its presence also supports a wide range of flora and fauna to thrive in the region.
• Rock Formations:The surroundings of the waterhole have a stunning array of patterns formed by the rocks due to experiencing centuries of weathering and erosion. These rock walls also incorporate ancient Aboriginal paintings depicting stories and symbols of cultural importance.

Tips for Visiting:

• Take a scenic walk from Kuniya car park to Mutitjulu waterhole.
• Explore the area with a ranger guide.
• Use the scenic backdrop for aesthetic photography.
• Being an eco protected site, stay on the marked paths and don’t wander off alone.

Highlights:

• Rock Formations: A leisurely walk around the gorge allows you to see towering walls flanking the entire area. These walls date back to centuries and are made of materials like conglomerate rock, a granite mixture with sandstone and basalt. The rocks present also display unique intricate features which are a result of centuries of weathering and erosion.
• Flora and Fauna: The area is home to a rich variety of wildlife and an abundant species of greenery. The shaded microenvironment provides that necessary cooling for plant species to thrive along with a variety of desert bird and animal species.
• Scenic views: The setting of the gorge allows you to take in some of the most breathtaking views that it has to offer. Walk through the narrow winding paths flanked by walls and experience a striking natural contrast with the clear blue sky.

Nearby attractions:

• Valley of the winds.
• Uluru base walk.
• Kata Tjuta dune viewing area.

Tips:

• Consider wearing hats and enough sun protection to avoid sun burns and strokes.
• Stay hydrated at all times.
• Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear to ease walking on the uneven surfaces of the location.
• Stick to the designated paths for visitors and avoid disturbing the habitat of flora and fauna.

Highlights of the experience:

• Introduction: This session lets you learn about the cultural significance of the instrument, and its role in the Aboriginal stories and legends. Learn how the instrument is made from base to finish and the materials used.
• Playing techniques: Learn the basics such as the famous drone sound, the art of breathing techniques with the mastery of continuous flow of music. Move on to levels where you explore various rhythms and sounds that can be created with the instrument.
• Practice: The workshop also allows you to get a hands-on practice session with the experts where you get to review your learnings with one-on-one guidance and play your pieces in group sessions making harmonious sounds.

Additional information:

• The workshop lasts for a duration of 1 to 2 hours maximum.
• There is a certain fee that needs to be paid in order to access the instrument.
• The sounds of instruments in its songs tells a story of Aboriginal legends of creation.

Things to see:

• Geological Features: This stunning specimen of nature features a flat-topped mesa rising about 300 meters from the ground level. This distinctive landmark is composed of sandstone with intricate rock features made due to experiencing years of erosion. This table-land area is for sure to leave anyone in awe with its stunning views of the landscape.
• Salt Lakes: The site has some salt water lakes nearby which can be accessed on a guided tour with a seasonal nature leaving white salt flats when dry. This area serves as a perfect spot for photography with an aesthetic background.
• Curtin Springs station: This cattle ranch is often the starting point of the tours to Mount Corner. This working cattle station provides a calm and serene atmosphere to relax with a look at cattle farming as well.

Tips:

• Catch the sunrise and sunset when visiting the top mesa.
• Book a guided tour to understand the history of the place better.
• Consider visiting during early hours or late evenings to avoid heat.

Getting there:

• Renting a car to get to this destination is the only easy way as there is no public transport available.
• Booked guided tours from Curtin Springs station also help you to reach the destination without any hassle.