Ayers Rock (Uluru) Northern Territory

Ayers Rock has officially been known as Uluru since it was returned to the Anangu, the Aboriginal owners, in 1985. It was then leased to the Australian government and is now jointly administered. Ayers Rock Resort was developed at Yulara in the early 1980s to cater for visitors and is designed to blend in with the environment. The Rock is 450 km (270 miles) west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park which covers over 132 000 ha.

Most Visited Site in Australia

Uluru is one of Australia's most famous landmarks and is the country's most visited site. The mysterious red monolith is the weathered peak of a buried mountain range and rises some 430 metres from the desert and has a perimeter of about 9km (5.5 miles). The red colour of Uluru is due to iron minerals in the surface rocks oxidising with the air.

As the name Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park suggests, the park is the location for both Uluru AND Kata Tjuta which is now the preferred name for The Olgas which are another unique rock formation 30Km from Uluru.

Changing Throughout The Day

As you approach Ayers Rock it can appear to change colour, the sandstone taking on various hues of red, purple, orange, grey and yellow, depending on weather conditions and your distance from it.

The Sounds Of Silence

Dine under the stars of the Red Cenre night skies at the award winning Sounds of Silence restaurant. You are taken to a secluded dining setting in the middle of the desert where you can sip on a glass of champagne with the sound of a lone didgeridoo filling the air as the sun slowly sets over the Kata Tjuta and Uluru. After the gourmet BBQ which includes Australian delicacies such as kangaroo, barramundi and buffalo, sit back and take in the mystery of the desert at night as an astronomer takes you on a tour of the clear Southern night skies.

Travelling To Ayers Rock

Ayers Rock is roughly at the centre of Australia, and is about 1800km from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth.

Most people choose to fly to Ayers Rock and Qantas have direct services to Connelan Airport which is a short drive from Ayers Rock Resort. Alternatively you can fly with Virgin Blue to Alice Springs and then transfer onwards by car, coach or Qantas Air shuttle to Connelan Airport.

It takes about 4 1/2 hours to drive to Ayers Rock if you hire a car at Alice Springs. Alternatively the Alice Springs to Yulara Bus and the return Yulara to Alice Springs Shuttle Bus also operate. They depart Alice Springs at 7am from selected hotels: Alice Springs Resort, Rydges Plaza Hotel, Outback Inn Resort and Territory Inn.

A popular tour from Ayers Rock is to Kings Canyon and Alice Springs .

Ayers Rock Hotels

For an extensive list, please see our Ayers Rock Accommodation page.

The only accommodation near Uluru is the Ayers Rock Resort complex at the Yulara Tourist Village. This is ten miles away from Uluru and provides excellent views. The resort has a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. A selection of popular places to stay at Uluru is shown below

Sails in the Desert Hotel.

The Resort's premier hotel. Luxury in the heart of the outback. Stunning architecture and decor, Aboriginal artefacts and landscaped terraces.

Desert Gardens Hotel.

Pool, Bunya Bar, White Gums Restaurant. View of sunset from lookouts is said to be Australia's best with the play of colours across the face of Uluru.

Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge

Affordable hotel and budget cabins combined with a huge barbecue area and all the luxuries of the Resort, this is an ideal venue for families.

There are numerous local companies providing air, motorbike, driving, camping and walking tours around the rock and in the national park. The Cultural Centre provides a fascinating insight into the culture of the local people.

Spiritually significant to The Aborigines.

Uluru is considered sacred to the Aboriginals and visitors should respect this. Visitors are the guests of the Aboriginal people and are present only with their permission. Whilst climbing is allowed, the Anangu people (traditional owners) prefer that people do not climb. Please note that as a sign of respect you should always check before climbing. Uluru also presents hazards to the inexperienced climber.

Returning Pieces of The Rock

As has been widely publicised over the years, visitors who take mementoes from the Yulara site, sand or pieces of rock for example, apparently report an increase in bad luck; returning the mementoes is supposed to restore normality. We do get e-mails asking for an address to which items can be safely returned. We suggest you identify clearly where the item was taken from and return it to: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, PO Box 119, Yulara, Northern Territory 0872, Australia.

Uluru Map