Best Time to Visit Uluru | Intrepid Travel EU

If you’re planning a trip to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, you might be wondering when to go. If we’re talking about natural beauty, Uluru is spectacular all year round – the sheer size and wonder of this giant red monolith are incredible come rain or shine. That being said, Uluru is slap bang in the middle of the Australian outback and isn’t the type of place you can just rock up to (pardon the pun)… unless you live somewhere close like Alice Springs, of course. Every season is different and it's important to be prepared so you can plan your trip accordingly and have a great time.

Uluru weather

Uluru has a semi-arid desert climate, and although this might paint an image of it being hot and dry all year round, it's quite the opposite. Uluru is a land of extremes: hot summers and cold winters (oh, and extremely beautiful scenery everywhere you look). For the Anangu people – the traditional owners of the land – Uluru has five seasons: piriya (Aug-Sep), mai wiyaringkupai/kuli (Dec), itjanu/inuntji (Jan-Mar), wanitjunkupai (Apr-May) and wari (May-Jul).

December through early March is the hottest time of year and it’s not uncommon for daytime highs to climb to the 40s. The summer heat brings clouds, thunderstorms and rainfall, however, the amount of rainfall varies a lot from year to year. The cooler weather arrives in April and peaks in June through August. Around mid-August, the warm winds blow over the Red Centre and things start to heat up again.

Some people are surprised to discover how chilly it can get in the outback in winter. The days are warm, but temperatures often dip below freezing at night, and frost and dew can settle on the ground in the early mornings.

Average temperatures in Uluru

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
January	35	19
February	34	18
March	31	15
April	26	10
May	22	6
June	18	3
July	18	1
August	21	4
September	24	7
October	29	11
November	32	15
December	35	18

What is the best time of year to visit Uluru?

Weather-wise, the best time to visit Uluru is during the winter and spring from May through September. Daytime temperatures hover between a pleasant 20-30C and there’s little chance of rain. The cooler weather offers prime conditions for walking the trails around the base of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and you won’t have to worry about overheating and turning into a sweaty mess just five minutes after you set off for a hike.

Winter and spring are also fantastic seasons for flora and fauna following the summer rain. The walking trails are littered with colourful wildflowers, reptiles come out of hibernation and kangaroos are out enjoying the pleasant weather and lush vegetation. If you’re lucky, you might see a gorgeous baby roo peeking outside of its mother's pouch. As we mentioned earlier, winter nights and early mornings get very chilly, so make sure you have warm layers, a coat and a woolly hat for early sunrise walks and late-night chats around the campfire.

If you don't enjoy the heat, you might want to avoid planning a trip from December to February, and potentially November and March if it’s a hot year. Summer is swelteringly hot and muggy, and although average daytime temperature hovers in the mid-30s, it's not uncommon for it to climb higher to 40°C+. Summer is also fly season in the outback, and you’ll definitely want to buy a netted hat to protect your head from pesky insects. But, despite the heat and flies, there are some perks of visiting in the hotter months. The summer thunderstorms and rain fill up the watering holes and create temporary waterfalls down Uluru's walls, and as you can imagine, this is an incredible sight to see.

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