Uluru Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

• Uluru is approximately 600 million years old
• The rock you see is only the tip of the, er, monolith. Another 2.5 km of rock mass is buried beneath the surrounding desert
• Uluru is 348 metres tall
• The circumference of Uluru is a mighty 9.4 km
• The Traditional Owners of Uluru are the Anangu people
• Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park is home to 400 plant species and 21 species of mammals
• Uluru gets its orangey-red colour comes from oxidised iron content

The Uluru climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019 because of the spiritual significance of the site. The Traditional Owners of the land, the Anangu people, have been holding spiritual and cultural ceremonies at Uluru for tens of thousands of years, and climbing is not generally allowed under Tjukurpa (Anangu law and culture). We think the views are better from down below anyway.

The closest airport to Uluru is Yulara (Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport) which connects Uluru with Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Alice Springs and several other cities in Australia. However, most of our Uluru tours start in Alice Springs and Alice Springs Airport has more flight routes and more frequent flight schedules. If you’re travelling by car, you can drive to Alice Springs via the Stuart Highway which runs from Darwin in the Northern Territory and Port Augusta in South Australia. You can then turn onto the Red Centre Way loop that connects Alice Springs with Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges, Watarrka/Kings Canyon and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Greyhound operates a bus to Alice Springs from Adelaide – the journey takes around 20 hours and stops at Port Augusta, Coober Pedy and several other iconic spots along the way. 

Read more about how to get to Uluru

Weather-wise, the best time to visit Uluru is during the winter between May and September when daytime temperatures linger in the low to mid-20s. There’s also very little rain and the conditions are prime for hiking the gorgeous trails around the base of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Plus, you’ll see plenty of colourful spring wildflowers and maybe even a gorgeous baby roo or two. Although the days are pleasant, winter nights and early mornings can be very chilly and clear skies often bring sub-zero temperatures. Make sure you bring warm layers, a coat and a woolly hat with you for those crisp sunrise walks. You might want to avoid Uluru between December and February, and maybe November and March, if you don't enjoy the heat. Summer is extremely hot and humid and daytime highs often reach the 40s.

You’ll need a comfy pair of walking boots or shoes as there's so much to see on the trails around Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Make sure you bring enough long, lightweight clothing to see you through your trip (long sleeves will prevent pesky insect bites), a wide sun hat (ideally that covers the head and neck), a daysack, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm (your lips can get dry in the heat) and insect repellent. It can get cold at night, especially in the winter months, so you’ll want to pack a fleece and/or a warm coat for the evenings and early mornings. It’s generally warm or hot during the day, so you'll also need a large reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. 

If you're wondering what the difference is between 'Ayers Rock' and Uluru, both names, in fact, refer to the same iconic landmark. The name was officially changed to its First Nations title, Uluru, in 1993 to recognise its significance to Aboriginal Australians. On our Uluru tours, you'll learn the unique stories behind Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Watarrka that really bring these places to life.

Mobile phone signal and data work in some areas of the park, but expect it to be patchy or completely cut off as you venture further in, especially towards Kings Canyon. If you need to use your phone, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre has good phone signal and free Wi-Fi.

The traditional owners of Uluru are the Anangu people who've been living on and learning from the land for over 60,000 years. Tasked with protecting and cherishing Uluru and its surroundings, the Anangu people view the rock as a sacred and special place, passing down Dreamtime stories from generation to generation. 

Read more about the traditional owners of Uluru

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid