This guide answers the questions we hear most from travellers planning a trip to Uluru and Central Australia. It is meant to be practical and honest, so you can plan with confidence and spend your time here well. If you would rather have it all handled, every Red Spaces tour is private and guided by the local Anangu guides whose Country this is.
When is the best time to visit Uluru?
May to September is the best time to visit Uluru. Days are cooler, around 20 to 30 degrees, and comfortable for walking.
Winter nights get genuinely cold, often near freezing, so pack layers. December to February is very hot, regularly 35 to 40 degrees or more, which makes long walks hard in the middle of the day. The shoulder months of April and October are a good middle ground and tend to be quieter.
Can you climb Uluru?
No. The climb was permanently closed on 26 October 2019 at the request of the Anangu Traditional Owners, as Uluru is a sacred site.
Instead of climbing, you walk around the base. The full Uluru Base Walk is about 10 kilometres on flat ground and takes you close to waterholes, caves and the changing faces of the rock. On our Aboriginal Guided Uluru tour the base is where the day is spent, at a pace that suits you.
How many days do you need at Uluru?
Two to three days covers Uluru and Kata Tjuta comfortably. Add Kings Canyon and you want three to four.
Two days lets you catch both a sunrise and a sunset, walk the base, and get out to Kata Tjuta without rushing. If you want to add Kings Canyon, build in an extra day for the drive and the Rim Walk. A longer stay also leaves room for the Field of Light and a slower morning or two.
Sunrise or sunset at Uluru?
Both are worth it. Sunrise is quieter and cooler, sunset has the classic colour change across the rock.
At sunrise the light comes up slowly and the crowds are thinner, which suits an early base walk. At sunset the rock moves through deep reds and purples as the sun drops. On a private tour you are not tied to one schedule, so you can do either, or both across a couple of days.
What is the Field of Light?
The Field of Light is an art installation by Bruce Munro at Uluru, roughly 50,000 solar-powered glass stems that light up after dark across the desert.
The stems drink in the sun through the day and glow through the night, spreading over the desert floor near Uluru. It works well as an evening after a sunset viewing, and it is easy to fold into a multi-day itinerary if you would like to see it.
Uluru or Kata Tjuta, what is the difference?
Uluru is the single monolith. Kata Tjuta, also called the Olgas, is a group of 36 domes about 45 minutes away.
Kata Tjuta has its own character, with the Valley of the Winds walk threading between the domes. Most trips take in both, since they sit close together in the same national park. A Kata Tjuta tour pairs naturally with a day at Uluru.
Is Kings Canyon worth it?
Yes. The Rim Walk climbs above canyon walls around 270 metres high and passes the Garden of Eden waterhole.
Kings Canyon is a longer drive, about 3 hours from Uluru, so an overnight suits it rather than a there-and-back day. The Rim Walk is the highlight, with wide views across the ranges and a sheltered waterhole partway round. A Kings Canyon tour is easy to add to a Central Australia trip.
Private tour or a coach or bus tour?
A private tour is paced to you, goes where you want, and with Red Spaces is guided by local Anangu guides. A coach runs to a fixed schedule.
On a bus you follow a set timetable with a large group. On a private tour it is just your group, so you can linger where you like, start early to beat the heat, or slow down when something is worth it. Browse all of our private tours to see the options.
What should you bring?
Sun protection and a hat, plenty of water, layers for cold mornings, and sturdy walking shoes.
Between about November and March a fly net is well worth it, as the flies are persistent in the warmer months. Closed walking shoes matter on the rocky sections, and a light jacket makes winter starts far more pleasant. On our tours we carry water and handle the logistics, so you can focus on being here.
Do you need a park pass?
Yes. Entry to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park requires a park pass, sold as a multi-day ticket.
The pass covers your days in the park and is checked at the entry station. On Red Spaces tours the park pass is included, so it is one less thing to arrange before you arrive. You can see what each tour covers on the Uluru Cultural Package, the Ayers Rock day tour, or the Ayers Rock package.