Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Travel Forum

I need help planning an itinerary for visiting the Alice Springs-Uluru area. I am planning a holiday to Australia and have on hold flight reservations that take me into Alice Springs arriving at 10:05 am on a Tuesday, and departing three nights later from Alice Springs at 8:35 am on a Friday.

My primary interest is to visit Uluru, Kings Canyon, and the Oglas, and whatever there is to see and do in Alice Springs. Given my time there, what do you recommend in terms of an itinerary on how I can accomplish seeing these sights during my short stay. I think I wish to rent a car at Alice Springs and drive myself to these destinations, but other than that, I am not familiar with where to go, stay, and options of what to do. I guess I am looking for the logistics on how to make it work.

Without knowing much about the area, I assume that upon arrival Tuesday at 10:05 am, it might be best I make my way to Uluru, or Kings Canyon because upon my return, I have to depart at 8:35 am Friday from Alice Springs. Therefore it will probably be best that I overnight in Alice Springs on Thursday, the night before. I guess I wish I could fly into Alice Springs, and out of Ayers Rock airport to save me from having to drive all the way back to Alice Springs, but flight times departing Ayers Rock airport are not convenient.

I look forward to your advice and recommendations, thank you.

Chad, thank you very much for your reply, excellent information. One of the bests replies I've ever received, thanks. I see from your icon you might be a scuba diver. Did you go diving in Australia? If so, can you make any recommendations. I hope to visit Cairns and I wish to go diving. Thanks,

Hi there,
I am on holidays at the moment in Victoria Aus, I am usually living in Cairns.
What time of year are you thinking of visiting this area, this is important as we have the dry season and wet season.
Wet season is now until around end of April. This doesn't mean Cairns and area closes down, but you can have a few hours rain a day, or none...just depends on the weather gods.It is much better if you visit July to November. This is the best time for good weather...usually bloody perfect!!!
There are some wonderful things to do and see in Cairns and surrounding areas.
Also a number of diving experiences.
Let me know if you need any infor for this area and I am happy to help.
Oh, by the way, crocs

Hi

We made the drive from Alice to Uluru (one way) two years ago.
Visited several sights in the West MacDonnell Ranges, drove the Mereenie Loop Road to Kings Canyon (it is a rather long drive and mopre an adventure than a scenic route).

Around Kings Canyon we made walks to the Kathleen Springs and the next day (very early in the morning due to the heat) we walked to the Canyon itself. In my opinion you HAVE to walk to get a good impression of this impressive scenery.

The last morning, before leaving Uluru by plane, we did much much too short a tour around Uluru. I would recommend NOT climbing the rock:

"Nganana Tatintja Wiya - We Never Climb
The Uluru climb is the traditional route taken by ancestral Mala men upon their arrival to Uluru. Anangu do not climb Uluru because of its great spiritual significance.

Anangu have not closed the climb. They prefer that you - out of education and understanding - choose to respect their law and culture by not climbing. Remember that you are a guest on Anangu land.
Also, Anangu traditionally have a duty to safeguard visitors to their land. They feel great sadness when a person dies or is hurt.’
Official website of Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park "

We stayed in more or less alternative acommodations (also not in the expensive luxury hotels at Uluru and Kings Canyon):
Glen Helen Resort
Kings Creek Station
Curtin Springs Station

Be aware it can be very hot, during our visit the temperatures sometimes reached 50 degrees Celsius. And don't forget to buy a fly net !!

happy travels into the Red Centre
Jaap

I would strongly recommend 2 things you do on your short time on the red centre.

1. Climb Kings Canyon. Best done with a guide as they tell you about the rocks and landscape etc (plus always good to know you aren't on your own somewhere that remote!). Most of the climbs/walks start early (dawn) before it gets too hot. You don't have to be mega fit (although isn't a flat walk - obviously!). Takes about 3 hours at a steady pace (including stopping for a few photos). Is amazing up the top - like being on Mars I think! Have done this twice and would do it again tomorrow (if it wasnt so far away!).

2. If you can fit this into your itinerary then do a dawn (you get picked up about 3.30am!) hot air balloon flight over the outback from Alice Springs. Its not expensive (about AUD$200) and is incredible. You see the sun rise from the expansive horizon and all the 'roos come out. You skim over trees and can see literally nothing for miles and miles and miles.

In Alice Springs we really enjoyed visiting the Telegraph station (just out of town) and also the Flying Doctor Service museum. Worth having a look if you have a spare couple of hours to get an idea of what living in the outback is/was like.

And I have to add to the other posts. Please don't climb Uluru. You can join some great aborginal led tours on a walk around the base for example which are a much better idea. Oh - and one last thing - try and do an astronmy talk or tour on one of your evenings in the red centre as its pretty amazing what you can see.

We didnt do the drive on our own for this and both times I have been have picked up a section of a coach tour (to get from Uluru via Kings Canyon to Alice) and booked indepdent tours to see the Olgas and Uluru. Sometimes its easier to look out the window on a long and dusty drive ;-)

Lucy

Yes, I'll also be traveling to Carins. We'll be traveling in November from mid-November to early December.

Some of this advise will endorse what has already been written about a suggested itinerary. My wife and I did the same trip last year. As you don't have a lot of time i would suggest that you try and fly into and out of Uluru Airport. the drive to and from Alice Springs is long and tiring. To be frank there was not a great deal to see in Alice Springs anyway.

The Red Rock Centre in Uluru is an excellent base to see all you want and everything can be booked from there. The balloon trip, sunrise at Uluru, and the meal in the desert is really cool. The astronomy talk at the end of it was outstanding. i would say get up early and stay up late and have a siesta during the day if needs be BUT make sure you see everything, as you might not get the chance again.