Destination Guides > Australia > Northern Territory > Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
National Park
Within the vast Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 460km southwest of Alice Springs, lay many Aboriginal sacred sites, including Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Uluru (Ayers Rock), one of the world’s largest monoliths.
This area is of vital significance to the Anangu people (the traditional Aboriginal owners), whose ancestors are thought to have lived in the area for at least 10,000 years and possibly far longer.
Entry to the national park costs $25, which allows the visitor to spend three days exploring the park. The park is only open during the following hours: Jan-Feb 5am-9pm, Mar 5.30am-8.30pm, Apr 6am-8pm, May 6am-7.30pm, Jun-Jul 6.30am-7.30pm, Aug 6am-7.30pm, Sep 5.30am-7.30pm, Oct 5am-8pm, Nov 5am-8.30pm, Dec 5am-9pm.
Practical Information
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
Lasseter Highway, Uluru
Tel (08) 8956 3138
Website www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru/visitor-activities/cultural-centre.html
Admission free
Open 7am-6pm daily
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Visitors Centre
Yulara Drive, Yulara
Tel (08) 8956 7377
Open 8am-noon & 1pm-5pm daily
Coming & Going
Driving is the best travel option, this way you can see the main sights in the MacDonnell Ranges on the way here and you can visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta at your own pace rather than when bus or tour schedules allow. There are plenty of car rental companies in Alice Springs and most hostels can organise rental cars for you, however most rental cars cannot be driven on unsealed roads.
If you don’t have a car there are several tours catering to backpackers, that you can take from Alice Springs. Tours generally take in Uluru and Kata Tjuta, visiting the West MacDonnell National Park and either Finke Gorge or Kings Canyon en route. They can be booked through most hostels and start at around $200 for a daytrip, but can cost over $900 for a five-day tour.
Mulga’s (tel (08) 8952 1545 or 1800 359 089) is the cheapest tour, but you get what you pay for and camp in the bush, rather than stay at a proper campsite. That means no showers! Mulga’s gets mixed reviews and a lot of people do like the tour despite its drawbacks. Mulga’s three-day Uluru tour includes Kings Canyon and costs $275 ($250 plus $25 park entry fee).
The Rock Tour (tel 1800 246 345) is highly recommended and probably the best value. It visits Kings Canyon and has accommodation at proper campsites including Ayers Rock Resort. It costs $320 ($295 plus $25 park entry fee).
Wayoutback (tel (08) 8952 4324 or 1300 551 510) is a more expensive tour, although it offers unique experiences and many travellers say it is worth the extra money. It features small groups with transport in 4WD vehicles so you can get off the highway and onto outback dirt roads. It also includes the rare opportunity to visit an Aboriginal community. Wayoutback’s three-day tour costs $565 ($535 HI/YHA, VIP, students), which is $510 or $480 plus a $55 local payment to cover park entry and fuel levy.
Wayward Bus (tel (08) 8132 8230 or 1300 653 510) is another good tour option that includes Kings Canyon with accommodation in permanent tents. It costs $410 ($375 plus $25 park entry fee and $10 fuel levy).
The Wildway (tel 1300 720 777) tour is a good value three-day trip that also includes Kings Canyon. It costs $375 ($295 plus $80 to cover food and the park entry fee).
Emu Run (tel (08) 8953 7057) operates day trips from Alice Springs, for $199. It is a rushed tour that crams a lot into one day, leaving Alice Springs at 6am and returning at midnight, but it is a good option if your time is limited.
Local Transport
There is a free shuttle bus operated by the Yulara Resort that runs to the main areas in Yulara. There is also a free shuttle between the airport and Yulara that picks up from all accommodation establishments including the hostel and meets all flights.
The best value and most flexible transport option is to drive yourself. Several rental car companies including
Avis (tel (08) 8956 2266), Hertz (tel (08) 8956 2244) and
Thrifty (tel (08) 8956 2030) can be booked through the airport or the visitor centre in Yulara.
The next best option is the Uluru Express (tel (08) 8956 2152) shuttle bus, which operates a shuttle bus between Yulara, Uluru and Kata Tjuta. The first service to Uluru departs Yulara an hour prior to sunrise at the rock and runs regularly throughout the day with the last service back leaving Uluru after sunset. Buses leave Yulara for Kata Tjuta four times per day. The Yulara-Uluru service costs $40-45 return; a two-day pass for Uluru and Kata Tjuta costs $145 and a three-day pass costs $160.
