How to get to Uluru

Uluru is located in the heart of the Red Centre in the Australian Outback. The quickest way to get there is to fly to Yulara, a resort town on the outskirts of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. However, you can also fly to Alice Springs and drive from there.

Flying to Uluru

Flying is the most efficient way to get to Uluru unless you have time for a week-long road trip.

The closest airport is Ayres Rock (Connellan) Airport which is only a 20-minute drive from the national park entrance. You can fly direct to Yulara from a few Australian cities including Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns. There are several flights throughout the week with Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. (Try to get a window seat for incredible bird's eye views of Uluru as you fly in!)

Average flight times to Yulara:

Sydney–Yulara: 3 hours
Cairns–Yulara: 2 hours 50 minutes
Melbourne–Yulara: 3 hours

You can also fly into Alice Springs which is 465 km (5.5 hours) from Uluru by road. Depending on where you're flying from, you may have more flight options than Ayres Rock (Connellan) Airport. Qantas and Virgin operate multiple weekly flights between Alice Springs and most major Australian cities including Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide.

Average flight times to Alice Springs:

Sydney–Alice Springs: 3.5 hours
Cairns–Alice Springs: 2.5 hours
Melbourne–Alice Springs: 3 hours
Brisbane–Alice Springs: 3.5 hours
Darwin–Alice Springs: 2 hours
Adelaide–Alice Springs: 2 hours

If you're coming from overseas, you'll need to connect via one of the cities mentioned above.

Driving to Uluru

There's no public transport in the Red Centre, so self-driving is the only option. You can hire a car in Alice Springs or Yulara. The heat and environment can be unforgiving, so it's crucial that your vehicle is in good shape and you're prepared for long drives (there's often hundreds of kilometres between roadhouses). It's important to take extra care when driving at dawn and dusk when wildlife's more active.

Driving may be slower, but it allows you to experience and appreciate the iconic red dirt and desert flora at a slower pace.

Joining a tour to Uluru

If the thought of driving on Outback roads fills you with anxiety or you'd rather sit back and take in the Red Centre's stunning sights without worrying about the logistics, you can join one of our Uluru tours. With departures and drop-offs in both Yulara and Alice Springs, it's easy to explore the heart of Australia.

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