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Uluru Morning Guided Base Walk

½ day | uluru return, travel period.

Join your Driver Guide on a 10.5 kms walk around the entire base of Uluru. Before you commence your journey of discovery, enjoy a light breakfast as you begin to absorb the enormity and beauty of your surroundings. Visit sacred sites, view Aboriginal rock art, and the vision of a waterfall in a desert setting is really something to see, especially after rain when the water flows from the side of Uluru and plunges into Kantju Gorge.

60 minutes prior to sunrise from Ayers Rock Resort

12.00pm (Apr-Sep) and 11.15am (Oct-Mar) (4-5 hrs after sunrise)

See Pickup Time

Y40: 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

UPDATED 23 Feb 2024 11:58 am AEST

Please Note: * These times are approximate and may change without notice due to weather, road conditions, flight schedule change and any other operational reasons. * The Lost Camel guests: Join pickup from Sails in the Desert; Emu Walk guests from Desert Gardens

Prices From CODE: Y40 +Park Entry Fee

• -start" --> Overview

Trip Details

What's included.

• • Light Breakfast
• • Tea, coffee or hot chocolate & biscuits
• • Experienced Driver Guide
• • Comprehensive commentary
• • Travel in an air-conditioned coach
• • Small Group experience

What to Bring

• • Water bottle to hold 1.5 litres
• • We recommend you dress accordingly
• • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
• • Flynet in summer months (optional)
• • Enclosed walking shoes
• • Warm layers in cooler months

Fitness Requirements

• • Moderate - Difficult

Flight Information

• • Flights to depart after 1.15pm (Oct-Mar) and 2.00pm (Apr-Sep) from Ayers Rock airport

Light breakfast Enjoy this with tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

Kuniya Walk Begin your 10.5 kms walk here, a sacred site for the Anangu.

Red Centre Sunrise Immerse yourself in the sounds of the desert awakening, as you walk around the base of Uluru.

Creation Stories Learn the Tjukurpa (stories) of the Mala people and the cheeky blue-tongue lizard.

Kantju Gorge View the tallest waterfall in Central Australia here.

Mutitjulu Waterhole View Aboriginal rock art and hear the story of Kuniya and Liru.

Souvenir Certificate Return to Kuniya Piti and celebrate the completion of the Uluru Base Walk.

Please note:  An Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park Ticket is required for each guest booking this trip. This can be added at time of booking.

  Included Meals: Breakfast

Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.

Prices above may vary according to your departure date.

Half Day Tour | Uluru

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The Uluru Base Walk | How to Walk Around Uluru

By: Author Charles

Posted on October 25, 2023

Planning a trip to the Outback of Australia and Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park? Well, one of the must do’s in my book is the Uluru Base Walk.

This 10 KM / 6 Mile walk around Uluru will give you another perspective of what this massive rock is all about.

Seeing the rock from different angles – whether it be right up close to it or from a bit farther away, is definitely going to be a highlight during your time in Australia.

*  Affiliate Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

1) Uluru Base Walk Info

The walk around Uluru (also known as Ayer’s Rock), is one of the top things to do in the area.

While many people opt to just experience a portion of the walk, I would highly recommend making the full loop around to enjoy the entirety of Uluru.

Below are some of the main facts about the walk so you have a better idea of what to expect.

• Starting & Ending Point : Ayers Rock Carpark (Mala Carpark)
• Length : 10.6KM / 6.6 Miles
• Time : 3-4 Hours
• Elevation Gain : Flat
• Track Type : Packed Dirt
• Route Type : Loop
• Difficulty : Easy

Overall the Uluru Base Walk is a very simple path to follow along and enjoy. During the walk you are also sure to pass by several different landmarks, which I will go into more later on in the guide.

2) Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park Tickets & Hours

If you want to take part of the Uluru Base Walk, you will need to make your way into Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park . The national park includes both the Uluru/Ayers Rock area as well as the Kata Tjuta area.

If looking to head to any of the official sunrise and sunset spots, that would require entrance into the national park as well.

I would recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park . These tickets can then be printed out or added to your Apple Wallet on your phone.

Once you arrive at the national park entrance you can simply scan your paper or phone and be on your way. If you do not purchase ahead of time, you will need to purchase tickets in a separate car line at the entrance.

National Park Ticket Prices

• Adult (18+) : $38 AUD
• Child (0-17) : Free

At time of purchase you can choose how many days you would like to spend in the park. The tickets are valid for up to 5 days at no additional cost.

National Park Hours

The Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park hours depend on time of year. It opens early enough to make it to those sunrise points, and closes late enough to enjoy sunset within the park. Below is the latest as of 2023:

3) How to Get to Uluru

To give you a quick overview of the area:

• Uluru / Ayers Rock is the name of the massive ancient rock formation
• Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park is the name of the national park where Uluru/Ayers Rock is located
• Yulara is the name of the closest town to the National Park (10 minute drive to the park entrance)
• Ayers Rock Airport is the closest airport to Yulara (10 minute drive into town)
• Alice Springs Airport is the second closest airport to Yulara (5 hours away)

So, in order to take part of the Uluru Base Walk, you will want to base yourself in the town of Yulara .

From there you can make your way into the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and to the Ayers Rock Carpark, where you can begin your walk around Uluru.

To get to Yulara though you have a few main options:

• Fly into Ayers Rock Airport, take the free shuttle bus to Yulara, and rent a car from Yulara
• Fly into Ayers Rock Airport, take the free shuttle bus to Yulara, and take a bus into the National Park
• Fly into Alice Springs Airport and road trip to Yulara by renting your own car (you can add on things like the West Macdonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon along the way).
• Join a multi day tour from Alice Springs or Yulara that can take you to many of the main sites over the course of a few days.

I am sure there are some other options out there but I just wanted to lay out a few of the main ones.

⇒ Thinking about renting your own car? Head on over to the Tourism Central Australia website, to secure your car rental. It may include unlimited mileage and free one way transfers for Alice Springs depending on car rental length. Be sure to check out the Uluru Car Rental Guide I have on the site to learn more!

⇒ If the car rental guide doesn’t work for you, feel free to check out Rentalcars.com , which will have various options to browse through. You can filter by car type, price, and more to find the perfect car for your trip.

⇒ To learn about the internal bus service you can check out the Uluru Hop On Hop Off website for more.

⇒ And if you want to just sit back and enjoy a tour, I would recommend browsing through a few highly rated ones and secure your spot.

4) Where to Stay Near Uluru

The most realistic place to stay when taking part of the Uluru Base Walk would be the town of Yulara.

The entire town is built around one large loop, where you will find several accommodation options, a small town center with restaurants, shops, and a supermarket, and other things like a gas station, emergency services, etc.

Below are a few of the places you can choose from:

• Sails in the Desert
• Desert Gardens Hotel
• The Lost Camel Hotel

Looking for a budget option? The Outback Pioneer Lodge has some shared room options.

5) Best Time to Visit Uluru

The Outback can get HOT in the summer. Like 100F+ / 40C+ hot.

If you want to experience Uluru in much more comfortable and drier conditions, I would highly recommend heading there outside of those summer months.

The day time temperatures are much more tolerable and you shouldn’t be sweating consistently. At night though it can get quite cold (along with the early morning sunrises), so do prepared with another layer of clothing when heading there.

One thing you should be aware of during their winter is the number of flies that would be around .

These flies are everywhere and can get extremely annoying during your time in the area. Just be prepared for them and check out the next section for what to bring to help avoid them.

6) What to Bring on the Uluru Base Walk

Whenever heading off on longer day hikes, I always recommend being adequately prepared when it comes to the type of gear to bring along.

Check out the below packing list to get you ready for this hike and other hikes in Australia .

While you wont need each and every item on the list for your Uluru Base Walk, you can leverage it for your time in the Outback.

On top of the items below, you should 100% purchase a fly net that goes over your head or fly net hat .

Hiking Packing List In general when it comes to hiking, there are a few main aspects to consider. These includes clothing layers, hiking shoes, hydration & fuel, electronics, and other essentials. Below in a breakdown of some of the top items, but be sure to check out the Hiking Packing List for a more comprehensive view. Clothing Layers Layering is going to be a top consideration when hiking. You will want to be prepared for all sorts of weather so you can be comfortable in different situations. Some items may include: → Hiking Shorts → Hiking Pants → Short Sleeve Shirt → Long Sleeve Shirt / Sun Hoodie → Mid Layer Fleece → Puff Jacket (not always needed) → Packable Rain Jacket ( Columbia Watertight II ) Note that your layers should be made of moisture wicking material as they are breathable and quick drying. Footwear Having appropriate footwear will also be very important. You will want to have shoes with the necessary grip and support to keep you safe on the trail. → Hiking Shoes ( Keen Targhee ) → Hiking Socks ( Darn Tough ) Other Essentials Whether it is hiking gear, electronics, or just some miscellaneous items, here are some other essentials to bring along on hikes. → Hiking Backpack ( Osprey Talon 22 ) & Rain Cover ( Joy Walker Cover ) → Hiking Poles ( Black Diamond Trekking Poles ) → Water Bottle ( CamelBak Chute or Katadyn Filter Bottle ) → Portable Charger ( Anker PowerCore 5000mAh ) → Action Camera ( GoPro Hero ) → Energy Bars & Snacks → Hat & Sunglasses → Sunscreen & Bug Spray

7) Uluru Base Walk Map

Below is a helpful walk of the Uluru Base Walk to better orient yourself with the area. As you can see the overall Uluru Base Walk is actually comprised of several different walks as well.

For those that do not want to head out on the whole loop, there is the opportunity to just take part on certain sections.

So if you complete the walk around Uluru, you are essentially completing the Mala Walk, Kuniya Walk, and Lungkata Walk as well.

The only walk left out of the loop would be the Liru Walk that can be completed towards the cultural centre.

8) The Uluru Base Walk

Once you reach the Ayers Rock / Mala Carpark, you will see the main walking path going in both directions. I headed out in the clockwise direction, however it can also be done counter clockwise as well.

Please note during the walk, there will be spots that say no photography due to those particular areas being sensitive aboriginal sites.

The first section of the trail around Uluru is called the Mala Walk, which many people decide to just do on its own instead of walking around the entire thing.

During the Mala Walk you will pass by a few landmarks like the Kulpi Nyiinkaku teaching cave and the Kantju Gorge.

Along the way though you will be able to see the incredible variety of what this rock offers. It is not simply just one big large round rock. There are so many intricacies that you can enjoy by getting right up close to it.

After continuing the walk past the Kantju Gorge you will pass by a sensitive site as you turn the corner and continue on the path a bit further away from the rock itself.

You will be on a nice red dirt path for a while as you can take in the sheer size of Ayers Rock from a distance.

You will then make the turn around Uluru to the south side of the rock as you begin to get a bit closer to it. There will be several more incredible rock formations that come into view all along this section of the walk around Uluru.

The next landmark will be the Mutitjulu Waterhole just before the last turn back to the parking lot.

Continue on enjoying the various rock landscapes that the Uluru Base Walk has to offer as you follow the path to the starting point.

Once you are finished with your time walking around Uluru, you can head back to your hotel in Yulara to relax for a bit or you can head straight to the sunset viewing area.

That about does it for a complete guide to the Uluru Base Walk. If you have any questions or comments feel free to add them in below.

Also be sure to check out some of the other Australia itineraries and guides up on the site including a guide to Uluru Sunrise & Sunset , the Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds Walk and the Kings Canyon Rim Walk .

» Read the 7 Day Red Centre Way Itinerary for more detail about a road trip

• Sydney : 3 Day Sydney Itinerary & Blue Mountains Hikes Day Trip
• Whitsundays & Cairns : Ocean Rafting Northern Exposure Tour & Great Barrier Liveaboard
• Daintree Rainforest : A Complete Daintree Rainforest Tour + several helpful guides

Have fun out there and safe travels!

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Uluru Morning Guided Base Walk

• Hear live commentary from the guide
• Includes light breakfast, snacks, and round-trip transportation
• Ideal way to experience the beauty of Uluru firsthand
• See itinerary
• Light Breakfast
• Experienced Local Guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Super comfortable luxury coach including: free wifi, in-seat USB, air conditioning
• Tea, coffee or hot chocolate & biscuits
• Comprehensive commentary
• Travel in an air-conditioned coach
• Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park Entry fee
• Entry/Admission - Kantju Gorge
• Entry/Admission - Mutitjulu Waterhole
• Please note, departure and return times vary throughout the year due to different sunrise times, as such the tour time on your voucher may not be accurate. This tour departs 1 hr prior to sunrise. Please contact AAT Kings Reservations Team on 1300 228 546/ +61 2 9028 0880 to reconfirm your tour 24-48 hours prior to departure and to check your exact pick-up time to avoid missing your tour. Please be at your pickup location 10 minutes prior to your reconfirmed pickup time.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Infants must sit on laps
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Kuniya Walk Stop: 3 hours See details
• 2 Kantju Gorge Stop: 30 minutes - Admission excluded See details
• 3 Mutitjulu Waterhole Stop: 30 minutes - Admission excluded See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• Venture49794727091 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Remarkable service & itinerary The scenery of the Kings Canyon was spectacular. Prior to booking this trip I was concerned about the difficulty of the rim walk. Glen, the tour guide, took safety seriously & he looked after everyone with extreme care, reminding all of us to drink a bit water at a time to avoid dehydration. The tour wouldn’t be so successful without Mike, the driver & co-tour guide. He farewelled us with a big smile after driving the whole long day. This tour totally exceeded my expectations. Well done, Glen & Mike! Read more Written 20 April 2024
• David P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sunset BBQ dinner under the stars It was beautifully organised, the BBQ meal was excellent and the star gazing was really informative and enjoyable. The AAT Kings team were friendly and very accommodating. Read more Written 2 April 2024
• Sarah W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommend Wow, a great experience, Great talks and stories as we drive to Uluru, guides were brilliant, sorry I can’t remember both your names but one of you was Jesse. A walk to the water hole with lots of explanations about the rock and lots more. A visit to the visitor centre, And then off to watch the Sunset at the Uluru viewing area. We watched the sun go down with drinks and nibbles and after it disappeared we went on to the BBQ area, we arrived with tables set with food cooking beside it all in the moonlight with Uluru in the background. It was rather magical. We had a feast of a meal including steak, chicken skewers, Roo, roasted veggies, sweetcorn and salads, we then had a dessert and teas/ coffe after. By now the sky had continued to get darker and we had our night sky talk. It was a brilliant evening. We really enjoyed it and it made our trip to Uluru really memorable. All the staff did a great job, Thankyou Read more Written 29 March 2024
• francolabraca95 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unbelievable scenery and a truly unforgettable experience worth the price tag. At first I was hesitant to book this tour due to how expensive it was. Honestly I think a lot of the AAT tours, while great for some people, are a bit overhyped and overpriced if your main goal is to have an active adventure and learn along the way. Though without a guide, often you end up just looking at pretty sights while missing out on the learning. This tour had just the right balance of “touriness” and adventure. Although the drives to and from Kings Canyon were around 3 hours each starting at 4 AM from the resort, there were sufficient stops along the way (a very good and satisfying breakfast buffet stop on the way there at Kings Creek Station, and Kings Canyon Resort lunch and Curtin Spring visit on the way back). Our guides were also regularly telling us stories about the geology, wildlife, plants, and history of the area (after giving us enough time to nap!), which kept things engaging. For me, the guides truly made the difference from this being a great tour to being an unforgettable one. Our driver Dan (and guide for those two did the shorter creek walk) was really entertaining and knowledgeable, and our guide Glen for the rim walk (the one I did) on the canyon was an absolute joy to be around. He was extremely kind and a great source of support during the trip, and his passion and knowledge for the land and its history was infectious! The rim walk hike itself was also one of the most enjoyable walks I’ve ever done due to the level of challenge and the scenery. It has a couple of slightly more challenging parts to keep more experienced hikers entertained, but the majority is accessible to most levels, and even the easier parts are absolutely beautiful, enhanced further by the 5% chance rain we had which created some really rare waterfalls and streams. (Note that if doing this when it’s hot and sunny out, which is most of the time, you will need 3 L of water and good sun protection! And it will NOT look as wet as it is in my photos, even the “Garden of Eden” oasis spot in the center of the canyon.) All in all, this has become my favorite day spent during my 10-day Australia trip by far. Of course definitely also check out Kata Tjuṯa and Uluru too (I did them independently with the audio guide app and hop-on hop-off buses in one day, busy but good enough for me), but the Kings Canyon day trip is not to be missed and is (in my opinion) worth every dollar. If you have to spend money on just one tour while in Uluru, make it this one. Thank you again so much Glen and Dan!! Read more Written 24 March 2024
• Gspeirs74 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Worth seeing despite the weather Unfortunatly our trip coincided with storms which are rare in desert, but the trip went ahead and the organisers did their best to make it as enjoyable as possible. Was able to clearly view the sunset time and nice snacks provided. Read more Written 17 March 2024
• DavidM096 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A fabulous tour but pray for a clear day to really appreciate it. We did this tour March 2024. Picked up from hotel in air conditioned bus and then taken to Cultural Centre. Spent about 50 minutes there where there are gift shops, a cafe and some loos. We were then taken to a few spots around the base of Uluru which is quite something close up. The bus has plenty of fresh water to top up your water bottles. Knowledgable tour guides gave plenty of info about the site and the Anangu culture. We didn’t feel rushed at any stage., The tour culminated in a stop at the sunset viewing area where we were treated to wine (sparkling and still), soft drinks or beers along with some snacks. This was all while we waited for the sunset to arrive. As the sun did set, the view was spectacular with the changing natural colours of Uluru into the night. The tour bus then took us back to our hotel at the resort. All in all, a great trip and we think it was worth the money we paid. All I would say is, you need to pray for a lovely clear day without any cloud. We had that and the views were amazing. The very next day was really cloudy and we watched the sun setting again from a lookout place at the resort. Because of the cloud, the sun was significantly obscured at sunset and Uluru just stayed brown throughout. I really felt for the people who were on that tour. You need the full glare of the sun to appreciate the spectacle and the changing colours, otherwise the end of the tour will be an anti climax. Don’t forget to take face nets as the flies are a pest. Read more Written 14 March 2024
• 819janeb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth the wake-up. This was a very well organised bus trip. An early start with 5.15am pick up from resort. The guide and the bus driver had lots of information. First stop at Uluṟu you could make a hot drink- tea, coffee, hot chocolate and walk up to viewing area to see sunrise. Bathroom stop and then the drive to Kata Tjuṯa. The short walk in is suitable for most abilities but a little rough underfoot so care is needed at the start. Again an amazing spot to see Read more Written 12 March 2024
• ClassPED 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Uluru: Everlasting Personal Highlight Our experience seeing this amazing natural and just as importantly sacred aboriginal site was made exceptional by our 2 guide/driver comb of John and Russel. Each added their own quite interesting interpretations of the area and sites and their knowledge of the area made our tour most enjoyable. They worked together complementary and each made our journey the best of all the tours we did in the area. My wife and I highly recommend you get this pair for your trip. You will not be disappointed. The BBQ portion continued after they completed the guided portion of the trip, it too was worthwhile doing. Note: John was seen by us on multiple occasions as one of the resort’s shuttle bus drivers- he does this job as well with true enthusiasm. Read more Written 7 March 2024
• U3348EWanitad 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Worse money I have spent Not worth it!! Sunrise is opposite direction from Uluru. Between the multitude of flies, the heat, and no breakfast the cost was not worth it. Not only did you not get close to Uluru but the strenuous walk to a very uninteresting view in a canyon was not what I call a good time. The guides talk was interesting but I would not recommend this trip due to the value on what you get. Also REALLY bad time of year for any outdoor activity. Wait till June Read more Written 5 March 2024
• Bob123450 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles NICE ULURU Had a nice time here enjoyed uluru highlights field of lights and shuttle bus around town square etc lovely souvenirs too will reccommend to others maybe when its not so hot PALYA Read more Written 27 February 2024
• chelseav688 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Beautiful Sunset Tour of Uluru My husband & I had a great time on this tour! Our tour guides were really friendly and knowledgeable. Driving around the Uluru base was a wonderful way to avoid the heat of the day, but still see all the sites. The sunset at Uluru was beautiful and we enjoyed the couple of snack and drink options. Read more Written 18 February 2024
• 877paml 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Uluru - the land down under Visiting Uluru was a unique experience. The tour provided a good overview of the land, the people and their culture. Visiting in the summer was extremely hot 112* and lots of relentless flies, as I understand now is common. I wish the tour had proactively recommended nets to keep the flies away. Read more Written 14 February 2024
• 981JayB 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour of New Zealand - AAT KINGS I did the Magic Tour of New Zealand in Nov 2023. The tour went around both islands. It was a very fast paced but insightful tour of both islands. A tour that should be on your bucket list. Read more Written 11 February 2024
• drrad666 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Logistics not optimal Staff was great, food was good, star gazing was a little lacking because the moon was out (not the fault of the staff, just the timing, and the talk was fine). It wasn’t quite what we expected, though, in terms of logistics…we were dropped off in a parking lot near Ayer’s Rock to watch the sunset and were offered some wine, beer and cheese. After about 1-1/2 hrs, we reboarded the bus and were taken to a different parking area where they had tables set up for the dinner. So our only complaint was having to get on and off the bus at two locations for appetizers and dinner. Read more Written 28 January 2024
• Hopieh23 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful Wonderful informative tour, we spent the day with our tour guide Andrea. Just so knowledgeable. Would highly recommend Read more Written 25 January 2024

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Uluru Morning Guided Base Walk provided by AAT Kings

WALKS AT ULURU – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Today we share everything we learned about the many walks at Uluru so you can work out which of these you should try to fit into your time here. In short, as many as you can!

Uluru is home to the Anangu (pronounced arn-ung-oo ), Aboriginal people. They are said to have been on this land for more than 20,000 years, and the best way to experience this spiritual place is to walk its paths, slowly taking it all in.

Please note:  there are spots along the walk where photographyis banned. These are clearly marked so please respect these sacred spaces.

Six Walks You Can Take at Uluru National Park

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This article may contain compensated links. Please read the  disclaimer  for more info.

If you are trying to decide whether to book an all inclusive package or do it yourself this guide to multi day tours in the Red Centre might help.

As we mention on our Uluru itinerary, we think it’s ideal if you visit the Cultural Centre the day you arrive, before you experience your first Uluru sunset. Stop in at the information desk for maps and guides to all the walks we mention below, and if you can make the times work to join one of the free guided walks to learn more about the culture and history of Uluru. A walk around this iconic site is eye-opening. While it’s likely, you have seen countless images of the monolith, it’s not until you get up close that you realise the surface is not flat but rather honeycomb-like with lots of nooks and crannies, each with their own Dreamtime stories.

Before you begin walking in Uluru

There are a few things we recommend:

• Wear a flynet or at the very least, take insect repellant with you
• Do not wear white shoes or pants; don’t even pack them. The red dust will stain.
• Carry at least two litres of water per person for the base walk.
• Use the facilities when you see them. The only bathroom is near the Mala car park.
• Sunscreen and a hat are highly recommended.
• If you walk in winter and start early in the day, it can be freezing, so dress appropriately
• Do not plan to be walking between 1.30pm and 6pm especially in summer

Please keep reading for our tips on the best way to see Uluru from one of its many tracks and which will suit your schedule and ability.

There are six walks to choose from at Uluru, graded 1-3, something for every fitness level here. A few of the trails are wheelchair and pram accessible in dry weather.

Uluru was added to the UNESCO list in 1987 for its natural features and 1994 for its cultural importance.

This is the walk we choose for our first full day at Uluru. By walking right around the rock, you can appreciate the size and beauty. The trail is 10.6km, but a few detours to caves and waterholes add a few extra kilometres. It took us about 3.5 hours.

Ideally, you begin this walk nice and early – we intended to but did not set off until just before 9.45am. Rangers at the information desk in the cultural centre suggested that at this time of day that it is best to start from Kuniya car park and walk anti-clockwise around the base.

If you want to see Uluru’s waterfalls schedule your visit in the wet season (January to March)

Tip : Take a lot of water, much more than you think you need. There are two taps along the way, but the water was not very tasty!

If you start to walk just after sunrise, starting from the Mala car park is recommended.

Difficulty: Grade 3 – I am not sure why this is a grade 3 – it’s flat and easy if you avoid the heat, it must be based on distance because it is not challenging. Distance : 10.6km Time to complete : 3.5hrs Best for : Everyone who has the time, seriously, this is a brilliant walk.

The Mala walk leads from Mala car park, where the Uluru summit walk began, to Kantju Gorge. While climbing is now banned, the scars of years of foot traffic on the rock are still visible. On this track, you see the North-West side of Uluru.  

A free ranger-led walk leaves from here every morning at 8.00am (October-April), and 10.00am (May-Sept). If you can get along to this, it will add to your appreciation. The ranger gives an excellent insight into the meaning behind the art and the cultural traditions of the people who lived here. Along with the rock art, Kulpi Nyiinkaku teaching cave is another highlight along the Mala walk.

The Mala Walk is an easy flat walk with plenty of rewards, including less of a crowd. This walk is the best for viewing Aboriginal rock art. This is an excellent place to watch the sunset, particularly in winter; keep an eye out for Kantju Gorge for some great rock and sky contrasts.

Difficulty: Grade 1 Distance : 2km Time to complete : 90 minutes – the ranger guided walk takes 2hrs Tip: There are toilets across the road about 300m away. There are no more until you return.

If you find you have slept in and woken to a stinking hot day, then this walk is an excellent choice. There is plenty of shade, and the stunning Mutitjula waterhole is a lovely finish. The walk explores the south side of Uluru.

Mutitjulu Waterhole is one of a few permanent waterholes at Uluru. It is one of the most sacred areas here. If you are lucky to visit after rain, you may see water falling over the rock. If not, the dark stains you can see are where the waterfalls usually appear.

This is a superb walk for photographers as the diversity in this section of the rock is fantastic. From birds to the occasional wallaby, wildlife also congregates here because of the relative lushness of the vegetation.

Difficulty: Grade 1 Distance : 1km Time to complete : 35 minutes Tip : To miss the crowds, head straight after sunrise before any tour groups arrive.

The Lungkata walk connects the Mala and Kuniya car parks. If you do this walk along with the Mala and Kuniya, you have covered the most exciting parts of the trail. There are many honeycomb-looking sections along this part of the trail, and the path passes very close, so you are right up next to it.

Difficulty: Grade 2 Distance : 4km Time to complete : 90 minutes Tip : This is a good spot to watch the sunset

We had not intended to take these walks, but we were lucky enough to be at Uluru for the closing celebration of the Uluru summit climb. We arrived at the party located right by these walking tracks a couple of hours before the concert started, so we had a good wander here. These two walks are the Minymaku Walk (Women’s Walk) and the Watiku Walk (Men’s Walk). Both are less than 1km long and a gentle stroll that allows you to learn more about the daily lives of the Anangu.

By far, the best way to explore Uluru is with your own car, particularly for couples or groups. The other options are double the price. However, there are solutions if you choose not to rent a car for whatever reason.

We shared a car with friends on our visit, but a couple of others in our group used the shuttle service to Uluru. This is not to be confused with the free service that operates around the resort. The Uluru HOHO offers either a return trip to the rock ($49), i.e. drop off and pick up from any of the stops or a one day pass that unlimited trips to Uluru ($120), so say going out for sunrise, coming back for breakfast and heading back for a walk and then later sunset at Uluru – it also includes one visit to Kuta Tjuta.

There are many different ways to explore these trails, and sometimes going on a guided tour is well worth the extra expense. You will learn so much more about the land and the culture of the traditional owners. You also benefit from someone else worrying about logistics, water, first aid lol and you can relax and take it all in.

Choose a small group tour, and you won’t feel rushed, mind you; we didn’t see any tours that felt like they were going at a frantic pace; everything seemed very calm and well-timed.

Some options on offer include:

• Cycling around Uluru – rent a bike from near the culture tour or join a cycling tour
• Walk the base of Uluru at sunrise with a guide
• Tick off two walks, the base at Uluru and a walk at Kata-Tjuta
• Segway around the rock – save your feet and seaway good choice in summer heat
• Ride a camel – Morning or afternoon camel rides with Uluru views and a chance to meet the roos and emus
• Fly over the rock – Take a helicopter ride , one of our friends had a knee injury and chose this option while we walked…wow, were we all jealous! If you have the budget, take a longer flight that includes Kuta Tjuta.
• Trike Tour – Take a trike or Harley tour, sunrise or sunset.

Camels were imported to Australia in the 1840s over 10,000 arrived from India to help with exploration of the interior of the country.

If you prefer not to walk Uluru alone, you could join one of these highly rated tours

Frequently asked questions about walks at Uluru

Older kids could easily complete the base walk, although they might get a little bored when you reach the longest stretch where the path is quite far from the base. This section also has little shade. I would recommend combining the Mala and Kuniya walks for children. Alternatively, try cycling the route.

The Mala and Kuniya walks are accessible for wheelchairs. You might find it difficult after rain.

Uluru is made from a type of sedimentary rock known as arkose sandstone.

The iron minerals in the rock react to water, turning the surface red. Parts of the stone not touched by rain are grey.

Only if you are fortunate, it rains on average, five days per month.

It takes three and a half hours to walk around Uluru.

The Uluru Summit climb was closed permanently on October 26 2019

If there are travelling in a group, or with young kids renting a car is not a bad idea .

Not sure how you start planning your trip to Uluru – Check out our guide

It’s a good idea to have travel insurance to cover any cancellation or unexpected problems that may arise in the outback. We use and recommend Cover-More for all our travel. They also offer an Inbound plan for anyone visiting Australia .

Got a question? Head over to our Australia Travel Tips Facebook Group and ask a local.

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• Ulu r u-Kata Tju t a National Park
• Things to do

Tours and activities

Dot painting with Ma r uku Arts. Photo: Tourism Australia

Many commercial tour companies offer visitor experiences in and around Ulu r u-Kata Tju t a National Park.

From dot-painting workshops to Segway tours of the rock, there’s something to suit every taste and budget.

Take a look at what some of these tour operators offer below or visit the Tourism NT website for more ideas. Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara also runs a variety of tours, activities and events.

And don’t forget about our very own ranger-guided activities , which let you experience the nature and culture of Ulu r u-Kata Tju t a National Park with the people who work here every day.

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