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The absolute best place to experience Australia’s great Outback is at Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. I visited this park in 2014, and I can honestly say it changed my life. While I can't promise you a dramatic transformation like mine, I can show you how to maximize your experience here so you can have the trip of a lifetime, too.
Lodging
The ideal place to lodge is at Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara. A brief ten minute’s drive from Uluṟu, the Resort offers everything from hotels to campsites to apartment suites, ranging in price from economical to ultra-luxe. I stayed at the Desert Gardens Hotel during my visit, and loved it. The resort boasts a town square with a variety of shops and scheduled, rotating cultural experiences.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind driving a ways, the historic and economical Curtin Springs is located some sixty-odd miles (100 km) away, offering an inn and campground. If you choose to stay at an unpowered campsite, the price is unbeatable: free! Explore
There’s any number of things to keep you busy, with prices that range from a campsite at Curtin Springs to a check that makes my little penny-pincher heart shudder in horror. Cultural events are hosted on a daily basis by the Ayers Rock Resort; many are free to guests, and allow you to learn about the local Aṉangu tribes (the traditional landowners) and their stories, food, music, art and history. When my mom and I visited, we even took a lesson on how to throw spears and boomerangs!
Outside of the Resort, you can go for a camel tour--I would recommend the sunset tour through Uluṟu Camel Tours, which was such a beautiful experience. Alternatively, take a sunrise tour with one of the numerous tourism companies. I had a fantastic time with SEIT Outback Australia's Uluru tour; they were so informative! I learned so much about the history of this great park. You could learn about bush tucker through a guided tour with one of the Aṉangu workers at the Resort, or pick up a guidebook and practice identifying plants yourself; in the evening, head on back to Yulara and try bush tucker for yourself at one of their restaurants. And of course, visit the national park! A three-day pass costs about $25 per adult, or $65 per family, but if you think you might be back within the year, it’s well worth it to buy an annual pass. Walk around the base of Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa, such as along the stunning Kuniya Walk. While some areas are off-limits due to their sacred nature, there’s still so much to see that you won’t be left wanting. There are several tours, such as SEIT Outback Tours, which can give you in-depth explanations on what these sacred monoliths mean to the Aṉangu tribe, stories of the Tjukurpa (the time when the world was formed), as well as information on the area’s plant and animal life and geology.
Uluru at Sunset
Travel Smart
Although Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is an incredible place which offers even more incredible experiences, you still need to travel right. Don’t leave your room without sunscreen and water, and I highly recommend bug spray/a netted hat to combat the flies you’re sure to encounter. For a complete list of what to bring, check out the Resort’s blog post on the subject.
Finally, be respectful! Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa are sacred to Aṉangu, and have great historical and cultural significance. This is a deeply sacred place, where ancestral spirits are believed to have interacted with the physical world, and in some cases, still live here today. The Park is managed jointly by both Aṉangu and Parks Australia, and Aṉangu have made it clear that they wish for visitors to treat their land with respect. While climbing was once technically legal (though disrespectful to Aṉangu culture), as of October 2019 it is no longer allowed. However, traces of dark dirt still track down some parts of Uluṟu, due to waste that has been left behind by hikers and washed down by the rain. As with any place I visit, it’s very important to me that I treat this place and its people with the respect they deserve--and I hope you will, too!
Still beautiful, despite the black streaks.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is such a wonderful, magical place. It’s richly alive, and offers no shortage of amazing experiences. I’m sure that whatever you decide to do here, your adventure will be incredible.
Disclaimer: I didn't get paid by any of these organizations to write about them; I simply feel that they helped me have the best experience possible, and I feel that they could help you have a great time, too!
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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