The Lonely Planet guide to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

01.02.2025 - 00:23 / lonelyplanet.com / Red Centre

Jan 31, 2025 • 10 min read

Rising improbably and spectacularly from the desert, the glorious monolith of Uluru has a magical color palette and a gravitas that few other natural features possess. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time, looking up close at its strangely alluring textures, or just enjoying its presence, this is one soulful place.  

Uluru overflows with profound meaning and spiritual significance for the local Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal peoples, called Anangu. And there are so many different ways to experience “the Rock” – on foot, by bicycle, at sunset, in the company of a First Nations guide, on a scenic flight – that you could easily spend a week here. And just as beautiful, Kata Tjuta looks like a fairy-tale desert fortress, and the fabulous hikes that lead into the inner sanctum are major highlights of any visit to the Red Centre.

The best time to tour Uluru depends on the things you want to do there – hiking, dining out under the stars, see art, or perhaps take a camel trek nearby. Travelers wishing to explore the outback without worrying about rain and extreme temperatures should know the best time to visit Uluru is from May to September. Runners who want to participate in the Australian Outback Marathon will need to schedule a late July Uluru trip. Sightseers curious to witness Uluru Falls come to life in the rain should plan a trip during the rainy season (November to March) – it's a rare phenomenon, but you may get lucky.

You can spend anywhere between two days and a week in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. If you can only stay for for a short period, then split your time between a guided tour at the base of Uluru and a wander at Kata Tjuta before the sun gets too hot. Prebook a scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta (these range from 15 mins to 2 hours) to get a sense of the scale. There's plenty to do at night too, from fine-dining to exploring desert art so make sure you book these in too.

If you have more time, tackle some hikes like the Uluru Base Walk (three to four hours), and join one of the many educational tours from learning about bush tucker and medicine to Aboriginal astronomy. Multi-day Uluru festivals may also inspire longer trips. 

Many travelers arrive at Yulara (the small airport and town on the park's periphery) on a tour bus, in a rental car, or by air. Once here, you can get around everywhere by tour bus if you don’t have your own vehicle. 

Operating out of Yulara, Ayers Rock Helicopters and Professional Helicopter Services offer a sliding scale of aerial experiences based around one simple equation: the more you pay, the further you go. On a 15-minute flight, you can enjoy views of Uluru from above. The two-hour version takes in Uluru, Kata