Visiting Uluru On A Road Trip From Alice Springs

A Guide For Visiting Uluru On A Self-Drive

Too expensive, too much hype, too crowded, too hot—these common thoughts often prevent people from visiting Uluru in the first place. However, they have also proven based on misconceptions, exaggerations, and wrong information. Having visited Uluru twice on my solo travels around Australia in 2004 and 2011, I must say there is something magical about Australia’s Red Centre. Here are my best tips for travelling to Uluru on a self-guided road trip from Alice Springs.

Why A Self-Guided Road Trip

Driving to Uluru is easy, and I have added to the top Australia road trip experiences. You can get to Ayers Rock by plane or by car. However, it’s more than 1.5 thousand km from Adelaide, the nearest city. A good alternative is to fly to Alice Springs and hire a car to drive to Uluru (about 440 km). Self-driving is the cheapest way to visit Uluru, and, based on both my trips, I found self-driving to Urluru to be the best-paced adventure for visiting Ayers Rock and the surrounding area.

To hire a car, use this Australian Comparison Car Rental site

How to plan your Uluru Road Trip

Flights to Uluru are expensive compared to any other Australian city. However, you can save money if you make all the arrangements in advance. Pick the right season to avoid the crowds and the heat. March, April, October, and November are the best times to visit Uluru.

Start early with your research and book your flights to Alice Springs. They are generally cheaper than flights to Ayers Rock (as Uluru is also known). These can be +500 dollars one way. On top of that, there is no cheap accommodation at Yulara, which is the Ayers Rock Resort.

What type of car you will need to drive to Ayers Rock

Self-driving from Alice Springs is the most convenient route as it allows you to see much of the Red Centre and do it at your own pace. Alice Springs is the principal city in Central Australia, about 440km from Uluru, along the Red Centre Way.

Do I need a two-wheel-drive or a four-wheel-drive vehicle?

You don’t need a 4WD to travel to Ayers Rock. The easiest and most relaxed way, especially for international travellers, is to drive on sealed roads from Alice to the Ayers Rock Resort.

Book your rental car according to your Northern Territory route. As you know, 2WD vehicles are prohibited on gravel roads in Australia. If you plan to go on the loop tour through the Western MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon, and Uluru, you need a 4WD car.

A Road Trip From Alice Springs To Uluru

The road trip to Uluru is a pleasant and comfortable drive. From Alice Springs, you cannot miss the road. Follow it straight ahead of you and keep driving for 440 hundred km. What you need is to make yourself comfortable on the road. Take a good map of the area to check where the fuel stations are along your way.

On the way to Uluru from Alice Springs, you can stop at four fuel stations to fill the car tank. Make as many stops as possible to stretch your legs. The road trip is about 5.5 hours, with three stops at the service stations in between. You can stay for rest at the fuel stations, sit comfortably in the shadows, eat your food while enjoying the Outback colours, and breathe the Outback air. Swap the drive if you are travelling with your companions. Driving long distances in the outback can be tiring. Here are more tips for enduring long driving in the Outback.

To hire a car, click on the largest car rental website

Driving Distances To Uluru From Alice Springs

To sum it up, the total driving distance for a road trip to Uluru:

• 440 km from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock via the Lasseter Highway
• 300 km from Ayers Rock to Kings Canyon (sealed roads)
• 400 km from Kings Canyon back to Alice Springs (sealed roads)

This driving route is all on sealed roads. You can do it on a four-day round-trip from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock in a loop via Kings Canyon. Or you can plan it before going to Uluru.

Ayers Rock Trip Itinerary: where to stop

All roads are sealed and in the right conditions, with no detours on unsealed roads. On the way to Uluru or back to Alice Springs, I would plan an overnight stop at King’s Canyon – driving on sealed roads – and, from there, do the beautiful Rim Walk at Kings Canyon and include a visit to the fascinating Kings Canyon National Park. You cannot miss out on this astounding place if you love hiking.

Alternatively, you can hire a 4WD or a camper van and drive across Outback unsealed roads. A four-wheel-drive vehicle will allow you to explore the gorgeous landscape of the nearby West MacDonnell Ranges.

What to pack for a road trip to Uluru

The first thing you should think about is to pack your food when driving from Alice Springs to Uluru. Central Australia is expensive, and Uluru tends to be overly expensive.  Be prepared for this. Alone for fuel, you will spend about 20-30% more than Australia’s average fuel price.

Food is also costly. Since you will spend a few days in Uluru, I highly recommend buying food in Alice Springs and packing everything you need. Here, you can read about my tips on how to stay healthy while on the road. The food and beverage offer is limited and very expensive.

I experienced tea being outrageously expensive. A half-cup of hot water + 1 tea bag for 5,50 AUD. Take plenty of water tanks with you before you hit the road. You will drink more than what you plan to drink.

Where to stay at Uluru: The Yulara Resort

The Ayers Rock Resort, or Yulara, is a large complex with various accommodations. There are supermarkets and multiple shops where you can buy anything from food to souvenirs. Staying at Yulara Resort is expensive, so if you want to book the only budget Uluru accommodation (hostel), you must book at least 3-4 months ahead. Beware that there is no chemistry at the Ayers Rock Resort, so if you need to take medicines or prescriptions, get them in Alice Springs before setting off to Uluru.

How long to stay at Yulara

Some people travel to Uluru on a one-day trip. But that’s not good because you will not see much. First, you will not be able to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta in one day. The long trip distance to the Red Centre is not worth it. To make the most of your trip, you must plan two full days and two nights to visit both places. I also recommend an additional third day to extend your trip to Kings Canyon.

I’d recommend staying at the Yulara Resort, the only accommodation hub for the whole area (unless you want to camp), and it will be your base. It takes about 25 minutes to drive to the Uluru Rock, and from the Uluru resort, you can drive to the various sunset and sunrise viewing areas.

Check out this site to find the best hotel deals at the Yulara Resort

What To Do And See At Uluru

It would be best if you had time to savour the Uluru Rock. In addition to the fantastic visual light effect of sunset and sunrise, there is much more you can do there to get an insight into the indigenous culture and feel of this unique place. Soon after the Uluru sunrise, you should continue visiting the Uluru Culture Centre.

Dreamtime Walks

The park rangers offer a free guided morning walk. They take you to some of the best rock paintings and Uluru Waterfalls. Don’t skip this, as this is a fantastic occasion to learn about the place’s indigenous significance. The Anangu people are the traditional landowners, and you will hear fascinating things about their Uluru Dreamtime story.

Self-guided Base Walk

Once you have done that, I recommend walking around the Big Rock and doing the Uluru base walk. This is a 9 km walk, and you cannot take photos. However, the trail is not dull; many sacred sites, rock carvings, and paintings exist. Furthermore, if you want to explore the area more, there are a handful of guided Uluru Walks with local aboriginal rangers that you can do, too. Whatever you plan, do it early in the morning, as it gets scorching during the day.

Uluru Sunset And Sunrise

The biggest Uluru attractions are its magnificent sunsets and sunrises. The Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) information centre provides a detailed map of the area, with distances and all Uluru sunset and sunrise timetables. Plan to drive from Yulara to the Uluru viewing area and the new sunrise viewing platform. They are a 15-20-minute drive from each other.

Kata Tjuta aka the Olgas

Once you have visited Uluru, you should plan your next day for a trip to Kata Tjuta. It is 50 km from the Yulara resort, but you must visit. Some people prefer this place to Uluru itself. I must say that it’s a better place for walking around with the incredible round shapes of many heads (the meaning of Kata Tjuta). Please do not skip the Kata Tjuta Sunrise; it’s the best way to see the light reflections on its big walls. The best way to enjoy Kata Tjuta is by taking one of the two main walks—one short and one long. I recommend the Valley of the Winds Walk, a four-hour walk.

Guided Activities and Day Tours

There are many day tours at Uluru that you can join when you are there, from a camel ride to dining under the stars. Among all trips, I would consider a scenic flight over the Uluru Rock. This is the best way to see Uluru and Katja Tjuta from the air perspective, and it is worth the money. While it’s not inexpensive, a treat with stunning views from the air will add extra value to your trip. Please see below all options for a guided activity at Uluru. Or click the images below.

Related Posts:

All Self-Guided Australian Road Trips

A Guide To The Outback Of Australia

A Guide To The Red Centre Of Australia

all Australian destinations.

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First published in 2012, last updated in March 2024

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