Recently, Chris, Samuel and I ventured out to the Red Centre – the middle of Australia to Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. Chris was attending a conference so we decided to double it as a little family holiday. An Australian icon that is certainly worth the trip, and also a bit of research beforehand to make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible. This was my second time out to Uluru, and I’d love to share some ideas and tips to help out on your adventure.

Where is Uluru: Uluru is located pretty much in the very centre of Australia. We flew from Brisbane and the flight was just under four hours. If they have the time, people enjoy driving out to Uluru. The closest bigger city is Alice Springs, which is 470km (292 miles) north-east of Uluru.

When to go to Uluru: So, I’ve been to Uluru in both August and November now, and I can definitely say the weather was cooler in August, however, it was also much busier as this is the peak season. Going in peak season means ensuring to book most activities and necessities, such as car hire, well in advance, as things fill up very quickly. I guess when to go is all up to you and your preferences and availability. Side note: places that do car hire include Thrifty, Hertz and Avis. We were able to hire a car for 3 days through Thrifty and had a great experience.

Things to do: Where to begin! There’s an abundance of activities and adventures to have out in Uluru. With most of these activities, especially around Uluru or Kata-Tjuta, you can either go by yourself or book in with a tour group that will take you there by coach. I haven’t done them all, but I’ll mention some that I’ve done through a bit of a photo diary. Enjoy!

Walk around the base of Uluru: This is definitely something I highly recommend. It’s best earlier in the morning anytime of year, and remember to pack plenty of water and have some good walking shoes and a hat, but apart from that make sure to enjoy and take it all in. In total it’s about a 10km walk and I’d allow up to 4 hours to complete it, however, it can certainly be completed in an earlier time. For runners, this would be a great place to run, and there’s also options to go around the rock on a bike (this can be done in a tour group or hiring your own) or on a Segway (as part of a tour group). There’s plenty of places to begin the walk, and both times I’ve done it, I’ve started at either the Mala carpark or the Kuniya carpark (which is close to the waterhole). Anywhere you go in the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park requires a park pass which should be purchased online prior to entering the park. You can purchase either a 3-day pass or an annual pass. Here’s the link.

Sunset camel ride: This was such a highlight when my mum and I went, we absolutely loved this. There’s also an option for a sunrise ride, however, we like a nice sleep in so chose the sunset one. It departs 90-minutes prior to sunset, and includes drinks and bush food at the end after your ride. One thing that surprised me about this was how relaxing it was – out in the desert, enjoying nature and the serenity. Here’s the link.

Watching Uluru at sunset: Another one I highly recommend is watching the sunset over Uluru. Well, the sun doesn’t set behind Uluru, but watching the desert colours change as the sun sets is just spectacular. We were so fortunate to have a full moon over Uluru on the day we went. There’s a designated car park on the way to Uluru where you can go and watch the sunset, with plenty of space for parking. Another moment where you’ll want to take photos, but also put your phone or camera down and just enjoy God’s beautiful Creation.

Kata-Tjuta/The Olgas: About a 50-minute drive from the Ayers Rock resort is Kata-Tjuta, also known as The Olgas. An incredible rock formation with lots of walks to enjoy, this is a place to be seen and experienced. I certainly recommend going earlier in the day as it can really heat up here, however, some walks do have lovely shade. The Valley of the Winds walk and Walpa Gorge walk are both really nice, and don’t take an extensive amount of time.

Free activities around the resort: I will admit, an Uluru holiday isn’t exactly a super cheap holiday, being in a remote area and things are expensive to run which is fair enough. There are, however, some great free activities that the resort host throughout the week. Over at the gallery, they host painting your own Australian animal which was really sweet and lots of fun. There’s a didgeridoo workshop, bush food experience, movies, guided walks, men’s and women’s Aboriginal talks, and lots more.

There’s so many other things to experience out of Uluru…the Field of Lights, Sounds of Silence, helicopter flights, bush walks, guided tours, and plenty more. I hope you enjoy your time there, however you choose to spend your time.

Psalm 61:2 – From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Love, Gracie.