TOP TEN THINGS TO DO AT ULURU (AYERS ROCK)
1. Experience an age-old culture
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park covering 1,325 square kilometres in Central Australia, is not just the country’s spiritual heart; it’s also home to two of the world’s most iconic rock formations — Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) - Thought to be around 600 million years old. The region is one of only a few places in the world to be both a UNESCO World Heritage-listed natural site (due to its unique geology) and a listed cultural site due to its importance to the local Indigenous owners, the Anangu first people. There’s no better way to learn about the Anangu than from the Anangu themselves. Explore Indigenous culture during an immersive, authentic experience, from dot painting to musical activities to guided walks and storytelling. Indigenous Tours
2. Field of Light
Since its inception in 2016, like a living dot painting the Field of Light has become a Red Centre bucket-list item in its own right. The Field of Light installation by artist Bruce Munro lights up the dark desert landscape with a sea of coloured lights fanning out like a field of luminescent flowers near the base of Uluru. Overwhelming in size the interactive artwork covers more than 49,000 square metres or seven football fields. The Field of Light is only accessible on a tour. You can wander the paths of this fantasy garden, winding through the 50,000 spindles of light, whose stems pulse and sway as they change colour through the various tour options available. Field of Light Tours
3. Enjoy a Sunrise or Sunset Viewing
If there was ever a reason to get up before dawn, this is it! One of the absolute highlights of a visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is the chance to see the changing colours of Uluru and Kata Tjuta throughout the day, but particularly as the sun rises and sets. There are different lookout areas that offer fabulous sunrise and sunset views. A sunrise is an awe-inspiring experience and a 'must do' for every visitor. Sunrise Tours and Sunset Tours
4. Uluru Base Walk
Get up close and personal with the Uluru (Ayers Rock) and follow in the footsteps of the ancestral beings that shaped the landscape. Walking around Uluru is your best opportunity to connect with the rock and learn its stories. The Ululu base walk is about 10 km of track that takes you around the whole circumference of the rock. You can take the entire Ululu base walk, or just concentrate on one or more of its sections, depending on how much time you have, your level of fitness and the weather. Uluru Base Walk Tour
5. Kata – Tjuta National Park, The Olgas & Valley of the Wind
Kata Tjuta, also known as Olgas, is a group of 36 large dome-like rock formations situated 50 KM away from Yulara. Kata Tjuta is a Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal word meaning “many heads” which precisely suits the structure. Fewer people take the time to travel out to Kata Tjuta, so you will find it much quieter than Uluru. Here you can have a truly immersive experience. It is also home to one of the Red Centre’s best walks — the Valley of the Winds — a three-hour trek that demands a reasonable level of fitness. Uluru Hop on Hop Off Tours and Desert Awakenings
6. Camel Safari
For those looking for a more sedate way to immerse themselves in the beauty of the landscape, a camel ride, with Uluru as your backdrop, is unforgettable. Ride a camel just as the early pioneers did and embark on an unforgettable journey through red dune country with Uluru as your backdrop. Visit the camel farm and say hello to our friendly Outback friends. Camel Tours
7. Dine under the stars
No visit is complete without experiencing Australia’s most spectacular open-air restaurants set under the brilliant skies of the Southern Hemisphere with magnificent views of Uluru. Enjoy either the famous Sounds of Silence or exclusive Tali Wiru culinary experiences. Entered into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours. An unforgettable evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky. Tali Wiru, meaning 'beautiful dune' in the local Anangu language, encapsulates the magic of fine dining under the Southern Desert sky. Enjoy champagne and canapés as the sun sets and an intimate four-course table d’hote dinner with matched Australian premium wines. Fall under the spell of a local storyteller and enjoy the sounds of the didgeridoo. Uluru Dinner Experiences
8. Stargazing
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is one of the best places to explore the galaxy of stars in the night sky. Due to minimal local light pollution. Lose yourself in the magnificent Milky Way and the many constellations that can be easily seen. There are a number of tours that will take you on a guided journey explaining the stars, planets and ancient mythologies to exploring different constellations, stars and planets with telescopes. Stargazing Tours
9. Thrill & Adventure
The options are almost endless: Enjoy a fun-filled adventure riding around Uluṟu (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuṯa (the Olgas). Be the passenger on a Harley Davidson Heritage motorcycle and enjoy spectacular views of Uluṟu and other breath taking locations. Choose a view of Uluru from the skies with a scenic heli tour or fixed wing aircraft. Seeing Uluru / Ayers Rock from the air is a sure way to fully understand just how mind-blowingly big it is, and the best way to appreciate the vastness of the Aussie outback. Take a Segway and enjoy a fun-filled adventure riding around Uluṟu (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuṯa (the Olgas). Seeing the entire base of Uluru on a Segway is fantastic. It allows you to comfortably cruise the full base of Uluru, in less time than it takes to walk. Uluru Motorcycle Tours, Uluru Helicopter and Plane Flights and Uluru Segway Tours
10. A Host Of Free Activities
Experience a wide range of daily indigenous activities at Ayers Rock Resort including guided garden walks, bush yarns at the Circle of Sand with a Aboriginal storyteller to learn about weapons & bush tucker and local Anangu dance and theatre performances, to name a few. Free Activities
Sections of this story we reproduced with the permission of Top Oz Tours and Travel Ideas.