Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Travel Forum

Hi, I have 4 nights to spend in the Outback. I will fly directly to Uluru and would like to visit Ayers Rock, the Olgas and Kings Canyon.
How to arrange the visit? Should I book a 4 days tour in advance (by internet) or it is better just to book the hotels and then arrange the visits from there? Just in this case, it is possible to visit Kings Canyon and then go back for the night to Uluru?
Thank you!
Ferr

Consider making a one way trip from Uluru to Alice Springs. You also could see the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Be aware Uluru to Kings Canyon is more than 300 km's (one way) driving through the Red Centre.

Be careful about booking tours when you get there, they only leave on certain days of the week so they could have already left by the time you want to book. Saying that there's so many different tours hopefully there's enough to leave on every day of the week!
It's a long way between Kings Canyon and Uluru, most tours will drive you, from a very very early start from Alice to see sunrise at the rock (or stay the night at the Ayres Rock Resort), then visit the Olgas, back to see sun set at the rock then off the next day to Kings Canyon and a long drive back to Alice the following day.

My flights are to and from Ayers Rock, is it ok or would you suggest to change to Alice Springs?
Regards
Ferr

Oh right, sorry I'd didn't take that in from your 1st posting. Urm, now that's where I'm stumped!
I know there is a bus service from the Yulara Resort to the Rock, though it is expensive and if you want to see sun rise and sun set (don't know if you do) you'll have to spend the whole day there, there is a visitors centre, you can walk around the rock or climb up it so it mightn't be too bad, unless you want two trips out there, the bus doesn't take long it's about 50kms, but then there's the fees for entering the national park, twice.
There is only one place you can stay at near Ayres Rock, they have accommodation ranging from hotel to appartments to backpackers to camping, but of course having the monopoly it is expensive. Camping for two people was AUŁ26 per night, quite a shock when you're used to free camping, and you were really crammed in.
I'm sorry I have no idea how to get from the Resort to Kings Canyon, myabe you could arrange for a tour group to pick you pu? They're very flexable. Maybe the resort does trips??
Here's a link to their website, you might find something there...

http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au

The entry fee for Uluru is valid for 3 consecutive days, so pay once and you can come and go for that whole day and the following 2.

As I said in my first answer I would opt for a one way trip, to avoid the long distances in the red centre and to see more of the amazing landscape between Alice Springs and Uluru.

Just 'google' around and you will certainly find travel agencies who arrange this kind of trips. (We did it on our own by rental car and it was agreat experience - see Uluru page).

Since I will be there in August, when would you suggest to book the tour?
Regards
Ferr

It is up to you, but personally I would do it 1 or 2 months in advance.

Have you any travel agencies to suggest?
Regards
Ferr

No, as said we did it by rental car. Car and accommodation arranged through the internet (see also my Uluru page).

But you could start with the TouristOffice in Alice Springs:
http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/tourism/tourism.asp

HI! Ferr:

There is a shuttle service from Yulara to both Kata Tjuta and Uluru. The company is Uluru Express (http://www.uluruexpress.com.au/).

I may be wrong but I think there is a Greyhound (http://www.greyhound.com.au/default.aspx) service from Yulara to Kings Canyon but I am not sure if you can make it back on the same day....

What about McDonnell Ranges and Palm Valley? Would you think that it is worth a visit from Alice Springs?
Regards
Ferr

Definitely wort a visit. The SCENERY is even more scenic than in the real desert (which is just an adventure). Can't tell about Palm Springs, but what I have read it must be nice too.
(for pics of West MacDonnell Ranges see my Uluru page)

HI! Ferr:

A little bit about the ranges on my Alice Spring page as well....

Palm Valley is absolutely fantastic but you would need a real 4WD for that, not just a small jeep. We had to push out some jeeps with our big 4WD after they had got stuck in the sand. But really consider that the distances are rather big in this area. We travelled 10 days in the Red Centre to see all this.