Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Travel Forum

Hi guys, sorry to ask repetitive questions (having looked down the board) but I hope to fly to Uluru from Sydney, spend 2 nights there, and then fly to Brisbane from Uluru.
1.Is this practical?
2.How vital is renting a car?
3.What kind of rough prices are we looking at (flights/accomadation)?

Many thanks in advance!

Be aware Qantas is the only company flying to Uluru. You can fly daily Sydney to Ayers Rock Airport. Flights to Brisbane connect through Alice Springs.
See for more info and prices (also the Red e-delas) on www.qantas.com

To get around in the National Park you can make a choice between a rental car, guided tours and Uluru Express (a bus service to the sights). We had a rental car, but were on our way from Alice Springs to Uluru.

The only accommodation close to Uluru is Ayers Rock Resort and they are quite expensive (as far as I saw on the internet today from AUD 77,- per person/day).
Check their website: www.ayersrockresort.com.au

You also could consider driving through the Red Centre from/to Alice Springs to/from Uluru. (for more info about this trip see my Uluru page)

happy travels
Jaap

HI! Darren:

As Jaap has already advised, it's monopoly out there but the Ayers Rock Resort does come with different tiers of lodgings - the cheapest being the camping ground....but "cheap" here is by comparison to your other choices in Yulara (=Ayers Rock Resort) and not to camping ground elsewhere in Oz!

If you do not intend to drive, you can make use of Uluru Express (http://www.uluruexpress.com.au/) to bring you to Uluru & Kata Tjuta for your walks and hikes.

Agreed with digging out the "Red Deals" from Qantas.

Have a page on Uluru if you care to take a look and see if the tips are useful.

Thanks for the answers guys, makes it a lot easier to think about the planning for the trip!

Personally, whilst not a must, from a budget perspective, it makes sense to hire a car. Key point being that a car (arrange at airport) is approx $40 per day. 2 nights will give you approx 3 days in Uluru National Park. Accommodation is several kms from the Park entrance/Uluru itself. 3 day entrance is $17. 3 days will require approx 1 tank of petrol. If timing is right re flights, car hire would be 48 hours. So overall may cost you $150 for the 3 days and have access to the NP when you liked. Organised sunset trip is $80 per person for 3 hours. Organised 3 hour sunrise trip is $80...

Hi again.

I am looking at 2 or 3 nights in the "Voyages Outback Pioneer Hotel" which seems quite resonable. Anybody think this is okay?

Which tours are the best ones, and can they be booked at the time or is it best to book ahead? We basically want to see the sunrise/sunset (which is best?), also have a tour round the actual rock, and maybe do the tour round the Olgas nearby.

Thanks again in advance

HI! Mate:

That's your only choice really. (It's the same as Ayers Rock Resort)

If you wish to do things a little more DIY, do check out the Uluru Express site I sent earlier on but there are tours you can arrange from the "town centre" inside the resort.

'Reasonable' and 'accommodation' is an oxymoron when it comes to Uluru. So overpriced....Depends on which part of Outback PIoneer Hotel you are talking about - the Hotel or the Lodge. Hotel is pricey and I would recommend the Desert Garden (a bit more expensive) if you were looking at paying the Outback Pioneer prices. The Lodge is cheaper but shared facilities.

If by 'we' you mean you are a couple, I reckon 'The Lost Camel' is the best value.

Remember all these hotels are in one complex and you have access to all the facilities - so the pool at Desert Garden can be used even if staying at one of the other places.

Sorry to bang on about hiring a car but each trip will cost you $80 per person (personally, I think sunset is better). The cost of hiring a car for the time you are there would be the same as one 3 hour trip (and remember there's virtually no traffic).

Ive definately taken the advice about the car on board! So you can just drive up to the viewing areas and the rock whenever you want? And the Olga's too I presume? Sounds loads better than having to plan tours and be there on time etc.

At the park Entry Station you will have to pay an entrance fee for the Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park of AUD 25,- per person. Such a ticket is valid for 3 consecutive days and you are free to go where (Uluru and Olga's) and when you want.

Yep - as vtveen says, pay your entry fee (valid for 3 days - I see they've increased the price since I was there - 2 years ago it was AUD$17 for 3 days!). Keep the entry tickets in your glove compartment - and, yep, away you go, when you want. Recommend at least 3 journeys into the park - sunrise and sunset at Uluru and at least one trip to the Olgas. There are designated spots for sunrise and sunset (off road parking is not permitted)- based, I assume, on 'best spot' scenarios - but try not to hang round them. Park the car and walk away a little, otherwise your experience of both will be littered with flash photography, loud chatter in many languages and a degree of 'hogging' best spots and voiced concerns about how long it will be before the coffee is ready...(instant coffee included in the cost of a tour).

Thanks guys all this is a massive help, its the details like this which can make it 10 times easier to plan a trip!

No worries - enjoy. It's an extraordinary place - and even though I said sunrise and sunset trips, should try more (or incorporate more). Walk the walk around the base - at least in part. Please do not climb it - respect the requests of the indigenous community - it is a sacred spot afterall (it looks hard work anyway!). Remember that at any time of day under different weather conditions, the rock just changes all the time.... It's a place to remember.