It’s time to tick Uluru off your family adventure bucket list
Europe can wait. This sacred place is an incredible experience that needs to be enjoyed with the whole family while they’re still young.
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The sky started to darken, the wind picked up and then came the rain. Heavy, forceful drops of water in the middle of the Aussie outback.
This isn’t how we expected our first trip to the red centre to look like.
And then came the phone call: “How soon can you get your shoes on? I’m going to come and pick you up to take you out there.”
It was our host for a planned family trip to Uluru. Rain like this was so rare, it was something that had to be seen.
We caught a glimpse of Uluru as we drove into Ayers Rock Resort from the airport and my first thought was that it was so large, it almost blended in to the horizon as another big mountain.
But as we drove into Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa National Park to chase the storm, it was pretty clear that this natural landmark was something incredible. And not just because it was visually spectacular.
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Our first visit up close to Uluru was witnessing the spectacular waterfalls cascading through every dint and crevice of the ancient monolith. They’re the ones you see online but only 1% of visitors get to see in real life. We were one of the lucky ones. It’s an exciting way to see the sacred landmark, even some of the rangers from the park were racing in to capture it.
Uluru has always been a spot for reflection and in this moment, I think to myself how Uluru has always been on our list of places to visit as a family, but somehow, we’ve opted to travel abroad instead.
“We live here, we can go there anytime, I’d prefer to see places that aren’t so easy to get to.”
It’s an attitude many Australians have. Asking around, it appears as though Uluru is on all of our bucket lists, but somehow it always seems to hover at the bottom of a long list.
I’m here to tell you, throw it right up to the top! Europe or Disneyland can wait.
Planning a trip to Uluru can feel a little overwhelming. No one really knows what to expect, what to pack, where to stay, how expensive it actually is. So to make it easier for you to get there, here’s my no-frills guide.
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Where to stay in Uluru
There really is only one place to stay when visiting Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa - Ayers Rock Resort.
Within the resort, there are a variety of accommodation options to suit your budget. We stayed at the Emu Walk Apartments, which seemed to sit somewhere in the middle and is perfect for families who want to keep all of those homely creature comforts. A one bedroom apartment will set you back around $500 per night, or a two-bedroom apartment is around $700 per night.
Desert Gardens Hotel is connected to the apartments and is within a similar price range, but if you’re after a more high-end hotel option, Sails In the Desert will be your pick. Those on a stricter budget will want to take a look at the Outback Hotel and Lodge, with a standard room available at around $350 per night. And for the campers, there is a campground with amenities including a swimming pool also located in the resort.
Wherever you stay, the town centre is only a short walk and boasts a few gift shops, cafe, dining options and an IGA for any essentials.
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What to do in Uluru
Don’t be fooled by the thought of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. There are plenty of experiences that the whole family will enjoy.
Let’s start with the cheap stuff where you’ll be staying.
There are plenty of free activities to be enjoyed around Ayers Rock Resort. The town centre is surprisingly buzzing with cafes and gift shops.
Chasing a decent coffee one morning, I stumbled on Kulata Academy Cafe, a cafe that offers trainees of the National Indigenous Training Academy an opportunity to grow their skills needed for a career in hospitality.
There are also programs scattered throughout the day around the resort. We sat in on one of the daily didgeridoo workshops, where my son tried to master the instrument. We also learnt a lot about how to live off the land in one of the Bush Tucker experiences. It’s also worth popping into a Bush Yarn, guided garden walk or the GOCA art gallery.
For something fun for the whole family, venture out to the camel farm on the resort. We enjoyed a morning ride with gorgeous views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa. There’s also a kindy farm where the kids can pat some baby animals - always a fun time!
Of course no visit to Uluru is complete without catching every sunrise and sunset. There are plenty of lookout points around the resort for you to capture the perfect moment of the sun hitting Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa.
If you’re driving, you can head out there yourself, otherwise you can make a booking to get out to one of the special spots for that perfect family photo. You can hire a car at the airport on arrival or at the town centre at the resort.
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For those big-ticket memorable experiences, I highly recommend catching a sunrise or sunset with one of the many packages on offer.
Wintjiri Wiru is the new drone experience that is a must-do and tells the sacred Mala story* through a light and drone show and a spectacular backdrop of Uluru. It's the first time an indigenous story has been told this way - through 1,100 drones!
We were able to watch the sun go to bed while munching on some unusual canapes (ants and emu pie to be specific!) and sipping cocktails. Once it was time to watch the show, we were given individual picnic hampers and unlimited top-ups of drinks.
It’s a special way to hear an ancient indigenous story that has been passed on for thousands of generations. All located on a private deck with spectacular sunset views.
You can also combine the night with a walk through the Field of Light or book another evening and combine the spectacular view of the light bulbs - which cover more than seven football fields - with a sunset dinner or sunrise breakfast.
Speaking of breakfast, while we managed to catch every sunrise, a great way to see the day light up is through the Desert Awakenings experience. After convincing the family that another 4am start was a good idea (disclaimer: it was not easy), we hopped on the bus to take us to our exclusive spot to watch the sun rise.
Heading through the dirt tracks when it was completely dark was an experience we'll all remember. While munching on a bacon and egg roll and sipping on a coffee, it was nice to sit back and enjoy the silence as the sun began to filter through and light up Uluru.
The morning ends with a guided tour of the base of Uluru and this is where you get to hear all the stories that have been passed down generations. The moment everyone was really waiting for. The kids were captivated hearing all the stories behind each crevice found on Uluru and were excited to spot some bush tucker which they heard about during their experience at the resort the day before. It was tempting to give them a try, but this is not ours to take so we observed in awe and moved on.
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Now, a little controversial perhaps, but Uluru seems to take all the credit for how amazing this part of Australia is. And with good reason, but a short drive from the big rock is the ever so peaceful Kata Tjuta - another one of the most sacred spots in the red centre.
We caught the sunrise over Kata Tjuta and then spent the morning walking through the domes, which is where you get to soak in all its beauty. There's something extra special about Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas). Perhaps it's the dead silence surrounding the 36-domed rock? Perhaps it's the secrecy of what goes on here? Either way, don't visit Uluru without heading over here.
Now, lastly, however you plan to spend your days, let me give you this one hot tip if you’re travelling in summer. At some point in your day, make sure you unwind at the resort pool. It's the perfect way to end a long day exploring and an excellent bribe for the kids who hate all the walking!
What to pack for a trip to Uluru
When visiting Uluru the weather can be a little extreme - extremely hot in summer and extremely cold in winter.
We visited in early March, which meant the days were nice and hot but not unbearable. The mornings were still warm enough to get around with shorts and t-shirts but we still had a jumper packed just in case the weather turned.
If you prefer the warmer weather, be warned. So do the flies. And there are a lot of them! So pack the family a head net for those days where you really don't want to be shooing them away constantly - or eating them for morning tea!
Winter visitors should be prepared for that chill. Layer up with beanies and scarves because that 4am start to watch the sunrise will be fresh.
Keep thongs and fancy flats at home. Closed shoes are recommended, so sneakers will be your best friend when hitting the red dirt. The darker the better, to make laundry when you get back home a little easier.
Other must-haves to pack:
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
Where to eat in Uluru
Considering Yulara (where Ayers Rock Resort is located) is such a small town, there are actually a lot of places to grab a bite to eat.
Desert Gardens Hotel offers a buffet breakfast and all-day dining at Mangata Bistro and Bar. Be warned though - while it's a decent spread, the breakfast is not cheap at $45 per adult and $22.50 per child under 15. So, if you're not a huge breakfast lover, consider heading to the IGA or Kulata Academy Cafe and grabbing something small instead. We found that having a big buffet breakfast fuelled us up well for a day of activities and walking and sometimes didn't even need lunch. A snack before dinner got us through fine.
Speaking of dinner, if there are nights during your stay where you haven't booked a sunset experience that includes dinner, there are a heap of options to choose from.
Dinner at IIkari located at Sails in the Desert is a great option for families who don't quite know what they want to eat. It is buffet with a modern twist on some classics with some Indigenous flavours weaved in. The chocolate fountain is a hit with kids so make sure you leave room for dessert.
Of all the places we dined at, our favourite would have to be the DIY Outback BBQ. This is a dining option oozing with Aussie charm. Cook your own food to the sound of some live tunes and if you're feeling adventurous, try the emu kebabs or camel sausages. The bar also boasts the resort's only bottle shop, so you can take something back to your hotel if you don't fancy the resort-priced cocktails.
Getting around the resort to visit each one of these eateries has been made easy for visitors, too. The resort boasts a free daily shuttle bus which circulates the resort every 20 minutes from 10:30am to 12:30am. When it's too far to walk, this is a great and easy option.
How long should we stay in Uluru?
We stayed three nights / four days, which I found to be the perfect amount of time to see everything we wanted.
Every day began with a sunrise and after three consecutive early mornings beginning around 4am-5am, I was craving a bit of a sleep-in.
Despite being a tired mess when we got home, all the yawns were totally worth it and I'm embarrassed to admit it has taken me long to see the true heart of our country.
*As custodians of the land, Anangu hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share their story, RAMUS designed and produced an artistic platform using drones, light and sound to create an immersive storytelling experience.
Leah and her family were guests Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. All her views on visiting Uluru are genuinely her own.
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Originally published as It’s time to tick Uluru off your family adventure bucket list
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