Uluru & Surrounds 7-day itinerary

This 7-day itinerary takes you from Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuta to the majestic Kings Canyon, and on to the ancient salt lakes of Lake Amadeus. You’ll learn about Uluru’s importance to the local Anangu people and experience life on a working outback camel station.​

See Australia’s most iconic landmark from every angle – by foot, camel, double-decker bus, bicycle, on the back of a Harley or from the air. No matter which you choose, the view of Uluru will not disappoint, particularly at sunrise or sunset.

Start your journey at the Cultural Centre

Start your day at the Cultural Centre at Uluru to find out more about the park, activities and the local Aboriginal culture. The Anangu people are Uluru’s traditional custodians and have lived in the area for at least 22,000 years. At the Cultural Centre you can purchase Anangu art and learn more about Anangu culture and the park’s natural environment through exhibits and presentations from Anangu and park rangers.

See Uluru from every angle

See Uluru from all angles on The Mala Walk. The walk is wheelchair-friendly, and takes you to the caves of the Mala people and to the sacred Kantju Gorge, a quiet waterhole at the base of a dramatic rock face. Only 90 minutes (return), you’ll also see examples of Anangu rock art and learn about their creation beliefs.

Take a segway tour

Walking isn’t the only way to explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - you can also glide your way around Uluru on a Segway Join knowledgeable guides on small group tours (maximum 12 participants) and immerse yourself in the history and culture of Uluru and the region. Tour times include both sunrise and sunset as well as other options throughout the day.

Settle in at Ayers Rock Resort

At Ayers Rock Resort you can choose to stay overnight in an apartment, a 5-star luxury wilderness camp, hotel, backpacker room or campground. Try a new dining option every night, such as the Outback Pioneer Hotel’s open-air barbecue where you can buy and cook your own steak.

Marvel at Wintjiri Wiru

Book for must-see Wintjiri Wiru, fully immersive light and sound show combining ancient Anangu storytelling, with state-of-the-art drone and light technology. Feast on a gourmet hamper celebrating native ingredients on the Sunset Dinner experience or enjoy light refreshments during the After Dark Show.

Desert camel trek

Enjoy the view of the desert scenery atop a camel for a unique perspective. Climb aboard for a quiet, leisurely walk to watch the sun rise over Uluru. Your guides will prepare you a breakfast of billy tea and freshly baked beer bread.

Circumnavigate Uluru by foot or bike

The Anangu traditional landowners don’t allow visitors to climb Uluru because it’s a sacred site. Instead, join a walking tour led by an Aboriginal guide, or hire a bike near the cultural centre and circumnavigate Uluru on the 10.6km base walk, which is dotted with interpretive displays. It’s a great way to see the many springs, waterholes, rock art caves and ancient paintings at Uluru’s base.

In the afternoon, jump on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle and enjoy the spectacular views.

Enjoy a unique dinner under the stars

Make dinner memorable; the Sounds of Silence is a unique dining experience that starts with canapés and a 360° view of the sunset over Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Enjoy your next course, a gourmet barbecue of native game, with bush salads and fine Australian wines, which is followed by an Aboriginal dance performance and an explanation of the night sky, guided by the resident ‘star talker’.

Head to Kata Tjuta

Nearby is Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which means many heads, a series of enormous rock domes that date back 500 million years. Start your morning early with a drive to the Kata Tjuta dune viewing area. A short walk from the car park offers magnificent panoramic views of the domes and a relaxing place to sit and absorb the ever-changing colours of the landscape.

Explore Kata Tjuta by trail

Continue on the road to Kata Tjuta and find out just how ancient and imposing the domes are by tackling one of the 2 popular walking tracks. The Walpa Gorge Walk is an easy walk which takes an hour return and follows a stream to a grove of flourishing spearwood. The famed Valley of the Winds walk is a moderately difficult 7.4km circuit which weaves through the immerse domes and treats you to spectacular views over the desert plains from its 2 lookout points.

Take in the views at sunset

Finish off the evening at the sunset viewing area and watch the sun go down over the spectacular Central Australian landscape.

Begin your journey to Watarrka National Park

No Red Centre adventure is complete without a trip to Watarrka National Park and the magical sandstone formation of Kings Canyon, just 3 hours from Uluru.

Enjoy home-style hospitality at Curtin Springs

Stop over at Curtin Springs along the way to indulge in the authentic home-style meals on offer at the historic Bough Shed. The restaurant uses the station’s very own meat for a multitude of the delicious dishes. Walk the gardens and learn about the rich history of area and of the working cattle station. Take home some handmade Curtin Springs paper created from the native grasses as a unique and beautiful souvenir of Central Australia.

Explore the valley floor of Kings Canyon

Continuing along the Lasseter and Luritja highways, in just over 2 hours you’ll arrive at the ancient sandstone walls of Kings Canyon that tower 100m over a lush waterhole. Explore the valley floor and climb up to the rocky domes on the canyon rim. The gentle, shady Kings Creek Walk trail extends 2.6km along the valley floor to a viewing platform. Guided ranger walks and talks are run May–September. Stay to see the changing colours of the canyon at sunset.

Spend the night in a desert resort

At Discovery Kings Canyon, just 7km from Watarrka National Park, choose accommodation ranging from motel-style rooms to campsites. There’s a service station and convenience store at the resort as well as bars and restaurants – splurge on the romantic Under a Desert Moon dinner, a 6-course alfresco indulgence for 2 (available April–October).

Beat the heat with a sunrise Kings Canyon rim walk

Get up early to see the sunrise and walk around the Kings Canyon rim to take in magnificent views of the weathered, buttressed domes of The Lost City and the sheltered lush valley below in the Garden of Eden.

Have an epic Outback experience

With your walk completed, bid Kings Canyon farewell and drive 35km to Kings Creek Station – a working cattle and camel station at the foot of the George Gill Range. Explore this epic slice of the Outback on a short or overnight quad bike tour. Look for kangaroos, wild camels, wedge-tailed eagles and colourful parrots.

Find a seat at the stock camp show, and learn the history of the area through the eyes of locals as you watch live demonstrations of animal handling, and end your evening with a traditional supper of damper and billy tea.

Camp or glamp, take your pick

Pitch your tent or stay in a safari cabin set among natural bush, try a famous Kings Creek camel burger, or stroll to the George Gill lookout for magnificent views of the range.

Make your way back to Curtin Springs

Travelling back along the Lasseter and Luritja highways towards Uluru, make another stop over at Curtin Springs, this time you’ll be spending the night. There’s plenty to see and do in the area including viewing the famous salt lakes and getting up close to Mt Conner, both which can be accessed on a tour with Curtin Springs, so be sure to check out one of their guided walking tours or the SEIT four-wheel drive tour.

Get up close to Mt Conner & Lake Amadeus

Mt Conner is not quite as famous as Uluru, but it’s no less remarkable. It’s a flat-topped and horseshoe-shaped mountain that stands 300m above the surrounding desert. The ancient inland salt lake, Lake Amadeus, is the largest salt lake in the Northern Territory and makes for fantastic photos.

As the daylight hours wane, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the changing colours of sunset over Mt Conner followed by a 3-course Outback dinner prepared by the cook at Curtin Springs.

Curtin Springs stopover

There are many accommodation options to choose from tonight at the Curtin Springs Wayside Inn including ensuite, budget and family rooms as well as powered and unpowered campsites.

Breakfast at the Bough Shed

Enjoy breakfast and a hot coffee this morning at the Curtin Springs Bough Shed before making the journey back to Uluru. Take your time and stop along the way for some last-minute photos of the majestic rock as it comes into view.

Souvenir shopping in Yulara

Before bidding farewell to this iconic Australian destination, pay a quick visit to the township of Yulara which is the perfect place for some last-minute souvenir shopping, and also offers some great cafes to choose from for lunch.

Recap on an incredible week of adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It’s time to make your way to the airport to catch your flight home.