Uluru Trail & Visitor Guide
Uluru · Australia · The national park covers about 1,326 sq km (512 sq mi). Uluru rises 348 m above the surrounding plain (863 m above sea level) and has a base circumference of about 9.4 km.
Why Visit Uluru
Uluru (Ayers Rock) is a sandstone monolith standing 1,142 feet above the desert plain in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The rock is 2.2 miles long and extends miles underground. It is a sacred site for the Anangu Aboriginal people, who have lived in the area for at least 30,000 years and ask visitors not to climb it. Nearby Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a formation of 36 domed rock formations, is equally sacred and geologically fascinating.
Free Uluru Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Download on the App StoreRoamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Uluru audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Uluru Base Walk, Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds, Sunrise and sunset viewing areas, plus quieter spots like Walpa Gorge and Mala Walk. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Uluru Base Walk10.6 km loop · Moderate; flat, 3-4 hours
Full circuit of Uluru passing the Mutitjulu Waterhole, rock art at the Kuniya and Mala areas, and caves; close views of the rock face.
- Mala Walk2 km return · Easy, flat, 1-1.5 hours
Reaches Kantju Gorge along the base; a ranger-guided free Mala walk runs daily (8 am Oct-Apr, 10 am May-Sep). Passes Mala rock art and the base of the former climb route.
- Kuniya Walk1 km return · Easy, flat, 45 minutes
Leads to Mutitjulu Waterhole, the most reliable water source at Uluru, with the Kuniya (python) Dreaming rock art.
- Valley of the Winds (Kata Tjuta)7.4 km circuit · Hard; steep, rocky, steps; 3-4 hours
Two lookouts (Karu and Karingana) among the domes of Kata Tjuta, 30 km west of Uluru. Closes at 11 am when the forecast exceeds 36 C.
- Walpa Gorge (Kata Tjuta)2.6 km return · Easy-moderate, gentle rocky path, 1 hour
Walks between two of the tallest Kata Tjuta domes into a gorge with desert vegetation; open in heat when Valley of the Winds is closed.
Must-See in Uluru
- •Uluru Base Walk — a 6.2-mile flat loop around the base of the monolith passing rock art, waterholes, and caves
- •Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds — a 4.7-mile loop trail through the domed rock formations with views into deep valleys
- •Sunrise and sunset viewing areas — designated viewpoints where the rock changes through dozens of colors
- •Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre — Anangu-run center explaining the Dreamtime stories and law of the land
Best Viewpoints
- •Talinguru Nyakunytjaku - the main sunrise viewing area on the east side, with boardwalks framing both Uluru and Kata Tjuta
- •Car Sunset Viewing Area - the sunset car park on the west side of Uluru
- •Uluru Sunset Viewing Area (bus area) - a wider platform for the sunset color change
- •Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Area - sunset and sunrise views of the domes from the road in
- •Mutitjulu Waterhole - a close view of the rock face and reflections at the southern base
Quieter Corners of Uluru
- •Walpa Gorge — a 1.7-mile return walk into a sheltered canyon between two of Kata Tjuta's tallest domes
- •Mala Walk — a ranger-guided 1.2-mile walk along the base of Uluru through sites of Anangu Dreamtime stories
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
A 3-day park pass costs AUD 38 per adult (as of 2024-2025); children under 18 enter free. Passes are bought online in advance or at the park entry station and must be shown at the entrance.
Getting There
Fly into Ayers Rock Airport (Connellan, code AYQ) at Yulara, served by Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns; the airport is about 6 km from Yulara resort and 20 km from Uluru. By road, Uluru is about 450 km southwest of Alice Springs via the Stuart and Lasseter Highways (roughly 4.5-5 hours, sealed road). The park entrance is about 5 km from Yulara; the Cultural Centre is near the base of Uluru.
Where to Stay
All accommodation is at Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara), the only settlement near the park, about 20 km from Uluru. Options range from the Ayers Rock Campground and Outback Hotel & Lodge (budget/dorm) to Desert Gardens, Emu Walk Apartments, Sails in the Desert, and the Longitude 131 tented camp. There is no lodging inside the park itself. Book months ahead in the cooler high season (May-September).
Best Time
May to September (the cooler dry season) is the most comfortable, with daytime highs around 20-30 C and cold nights (sometimes below 0 C). December to February brings extreme heat (40 C+) and trail closures. Sunrise and sunset bring the strongest color changes on the rock year-round.
Safety
Heat is the top hazard: summer (Dec-Feb) temperatures regularly exceed 40 C and dehydration and heat exhaustion are the main causes of incidents. Carry and drink at least 1 litre of water per hour of walking; start walks before sunrise in summer. Park rules close longer trails (Valley of the Winds, parts of the Base Walk) by 11 am when the forecast is 36 C or above. Flies are constant - bring a head net. Climbing Uluru has been banned since 26 October 2019 out of respect for Anangu law. There is no mobile coverage on most trails.
Scenic Drives
- •Lasseter Highway - the sealed approach from the Stuart Highway turnoff to Yulara, with the first long-distance views of Uluru
- •Uluru ring road / base loop drive - the road circling the rock connecting the Cultural Centre, sunrise and sunset viewing areas
- •Kata Tjuta road - about 50 km from Yulara west to the Olgas, passing the dune viewing area
Start Your Uluru Park Tour
Get a trail route with narrated stories —
personalized to your interests, ready in seconds
Your personal guide in 5 seconds