Yulara

Yulara is a purpose-built resort town on Anangu Country, about 20 km from Uluru and 50 km from Kata Tjuta. It was built in the 1980s so that hotels and campgrounds could move out of the national park, protecting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Today, Ayers Rock Resort runs most of the accommodation, shops and tours. It is owned by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, a subsidiary of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation. All visitors to Uluru stay here or at the nearby luxury lodge.

Things to do at Yulara

• Field of Light. Artist Bruce Munro's installation of thousands of solar-powered lights across the desert, viewed at sunset, night or dawn. Bookings required.
• Wintjiri Wiru. A drone, light and sound show telling a Mala story from the Anangu, presented with Anangu collaboration. Bookings required.
• Free resort activities. The resort runs free activities such as garden walks, Aboriginal art and dance experiences and talks. Check the daily program.
• Camel tours. Sunrise and sunset camel rides with Uluru views.
• Scenic flights. Helicopter and fixed-wing flights over Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
• Lookouts. Short walks to lookouts around the resort offer views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta at sunset.
• Town Square. Shops, cafés, a supermarket, a post office and galleries.

Visiting Uluru and Kata Tjuta from Yulara

A park pass is required and can be bought online. Popular activities include the Uluru base walk, the Kuniya and Mala walks, sunrise and sunset viewing areas, and the Valley of the Winds and Walpa Gorge walks at Kata Tjuta. Climbing Uluru has been prohibited since October 2019, out of respect for Anangu law and culture. The Cultural Centre near Uluru is essential for understanding Tjukurpa (Anangu law and culture). Read our Uluru-Kata Tjuta guide and visiting Country respectfully.

Getting there

Ayers Rock Airport, a short shuttle ride from the resort, has direct flights from several capital cities. By road, Yulara is about 450 km from Alice Springs via the Stuart and Lasseter highways. Kings Canyon is about 300 km away. A free shuttle loops around the resort.

Where to stay

Choices range from hotels and apartments to a lodge with budget rooms and the Ayers Rock Campground with powered sites and cabins. A separate luxury lodge lies close to the park boundary. Book well ahead for the cooler months and school holidays.

When to visit

April to October offers mild days and cold nights, sometimes below freezing. Summer days are extremely hot; some walks close in the heat, so plan for early mornings. Rain is rare but spectacular, sending waterfalls cascading down Uluru.

Tips

• Book ahead. Accommodation and popular tours fill quickly.
• Bring a fly net. Flies can be intense in warmer months.
• Carry water on every walk.
• Fuel and supplies are available at Yulara but cost more than in Alice Springs.

Suggested three days

Day one. Arrive, watch sunset over Uluru, then attend Field of Light.

Day two. Sunrise at Uluru, walk the base, visit the Cultural Centre, and rest in the afternoon.

Day three. Sunrise at Kata Tjuta and the Valley of the Winds walk.

Anangu and Yulara

Anangu are the Traditional Owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta, and the national park is jointly managed by Anangu and Parks Australia. Many experiences at Yulara involve Anangu guides and artists. Buying art from Maruku Arts or the Walkatjara Art centre at the Cultural Centre supports Anangu artists directly. See our guide to buying Aboriginal art ethically.

Stargazing

With very little light pollution, Yulara is an excellent place for stargazing. Astronomy tours and night sky experiences run at the resort. On clear winter nights, the Milky Way stretches across the sky.

Eating at Yulara

Restaurants, cafés and bars are spread across the resort's hotels and Town Square. Options range from casual takeaway to fine dining and outdoor desert dinners. A supermarket at Town Square sells groceries for self-catering travellers and campers. Prices are higher than in Alice Springs, so some self-drive travellers stock up before arriving.

Fuel, phones and medical help

Yulara Health Centre on Yulara Drive is open on weekdays (shorter hours on some days) and handles emergencies as needed (phone 08 8905 9400). Parks Australia's "Nearby" page for Uluru-Kata Tjuta lists Curtin Springs among the stops on the drive in. The nearest hospital is in Alice Springs.

Fuel is sold at Yulara. The next fuel on the way back towards the Stuart Highway is at Curtin Springs, about 100 km east.

Travelling with kids

Yulara is one of the more family-friendly outback destinations, with resort pools, playgrounds and short, flat walks around Uluru. Junior ranger and activity programs may be offered by Parks Australia; check before you go.

Photography and culture

Parks Australia says Uluru and Kata Tjuta have a number of culturally sensitive sites. Their rock details are equivalent to sacred scripture for Anangu and should only be seen in place, by specific people. Photographing these sites is prohibited. Signs in the park and park maps identify them.

• The north-east face of Uluru, from Kantju Gorge to Kuniya Piti, is one of the most sensitive areas. It's also the side most often seen from Ayers Rock Resort and Field of Light. Anangu ask that you take only wide shots from a distance. Parks Australia suggests shooting 1 to 2 hours before sunset, when shadows hide the sacred details.
• In sensitive areas, you're welcome to photograph plants, animals and people, as long as you avoid the rock formations.
• Ask Anangu before taking their photo.
• Drones are prohibited in the national park, and penalties apply.
• Commercial photography, including content by influencers and bloggers, needs a media permit.
• Everyone must leave the park by closing time, so night-sky shots of Uluru must be taken from outside the park. Parks Australia suggests a sand-dune lookout beside the Lasseter Highway, between the park entry station and the resort.

How long to stay

Two full days gives you time for sunrise and sunset at Uluru, the base walk, Kata Tjuta's Walpa Gorge or Valley of the Winds, and the Cultural Centre. Three days or more is more relaxed.

Practical information

• Distance: about 20 km to Uluru; 450 km by road from Alice Springs.
• Best time: April to October.
• Related: Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Alice Springs, West MacDonnell Ranges, Adelaide to Darwin, Aboriginal culture.