Uluru and the Red Centre, Australia: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Red Centre is the desert heart of Australia, in the southern part of the Northern Territory, with rust-colored earth, dunes, spinifex grass plains and ancient ranges. It is home to Uluru, a sandstone monolith that rises 348 meters above the plain, and about 25 km away, the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta. Both are part of Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site for both nature and culture.

The park is Anangu land, the Aboriginal Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara peoples, who had the land returned to them in 1985 and co-manage the area with the government. Since October 2019 climbing Uluru has been prohibited: visits are made via the walking trails around the rock, the cultural centre, and the sunrise and sunset viewing areas.

Yulara, the village built for visitors near the airport, is the base for the park. About 300 km away is Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, with sandstone walls and a rim walk along the canyon.

Alice Springs, the largest town in the centre of the country, about 430 km from Yulara by road, is the gateway to the MacDonnell Ranges, with gorges and waterholes, and preserves the telegraph station that gave rise to the town.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Yulara, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Uluru and the Red Centre is

Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Uluru and the Red Centre

✈ Aeroporto de Ayers Rock (Connellan) (AYQ), in Yulara · 6 km to Yulara

Ayers Rock Airport (Connellan), about 6 km from Yulara, receives flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other capitals. Alice Springs has its own airport and is about 430 km from Yulara by sealed road, roughly a 5-hour drive. The Ghan train, between Adelaide and Darwin, stops at Alice Springs.

Suggested arrival point: Yulara

Território do Norte · Uluru and the Red Centre Suggested arrival point

Yulara

Village established in the 1970s and 1980s to host visitors to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, about 18 km from Uluru by road. It houses the accommodations, restaurants, supermarket, service station and visitor center for the region, and is 6 km from the airport. Tours to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the cultural center depart from here, as do buses for sunrise and sunset.

Território do Norte · Uluru and the Red Centre

Alice Springs

The largest town in central Australia, Alice Springs sits amid the MacDonnell Ranges on the banks of the nearly always dry Todd River. It began as the 1872 telegraph station and is Arrernte country. It has the Alice Springs Desert Park, with desert plants and animals, the Anzac Hill lookout and Aboriginal art galleries. To the west the range holds gorges and waterholes such as Simpsons Gap.

Território do Norte · Uluru and the Red Centre

Kings Canyon

Location in Watarrka National Park, about 300 km from Yulara and 323 km from Alice Springs, with no town proper: there are accommodations, a service station and the visitor base near the canyon. Kings Canyon has red sandstone cliffs and a rim walk, with views down into the canyon and a waterhole among palms. Nearby is Kathleen Springs, with a waterhole at the base of the escarpment.

The local experience

Things to do in Uluru and the Red Centre

Alice Springs · Northern Territory · Park

Alice Springs Desert Park

Park opened in 1997 at the foot of the MacDonnell Range, with a trail through desert habitats, a nocturnal house, and free-flying birds of prey displays.

Kings Canyon · Northern Territory · National park

Kings Canyon

Canyon of red sandstone cliffs in Watarrka National Park, with a circular rim walk, rounded rock domes and a waterhole surrounded by palms at the canyon floor, the Garden of Eden.

Yulara · Northern Territory · National park

Uluru

A sandstone monolith rising 348 meters above the plain with a 9.4 km perimeter, a sacred place for the Anangu and a symbol of central Australia, seen from the base trails and at sunrise and sunset.

Alice Springs · Northern Territory · Historic site

Alice Springs Telegraph Station

1872 telegraph station that linked Darwin to Adelaide, built next to the waterhole that gave the town its name, in a historic reserve about 4 km from the centre.

See 5 more places in Uluru and the Red Centre

Yulara · Northern Territory · National park

Kata Tjuta

A group of 36 rock domes about 25 km from Uluru, with Mount Olga rising 546 meters above the plain; a sacred place for the Anangu, featuring the Valley of the Winds and Walpa Gorge trails.

Kings Canyon · Northern Territory · Trail

Kathleen Springs

Short, flat walk in Watarrka National Park to a permanent waterhole at the base of the George Gill Range escarpment, about 21 km from Kings Canyon.

Alice Springs · Northern Territory · Viewpoint

Anzac Hill

Hill in central Alice Springs with a war memorial and 360-degree views over the town, the Todd River and the MacDonnell Range.

Yulara · Northern Territory · Cultural center

Uluru‑Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre

Center inside the park, near Uluru, presenting the culture, language and Tjukurpa of the Anangu, with exhibitions, Aboriginal art galleries and information about the trails.

Alice Springs · Northern Territory · National park

Simpsons Gap

Gorge with a permanent waterhole in the West MacDonnell Range, about 18 km from Alice Springs, home to black-footed rock-wallabies.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to September days are usually milder for walking, with cold winter nights from June to August that can approach 0 °C. From December to February it is very hot, and some trails close earlier on the hottest days.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days in Yulara allow you to see Uluru at sunrise and sunset, do the base walk, visit the cultural centre and hike in Kata Tjuta. With an additional two or three days, you can include Kings Canyon and Alice Springs with the MacDonnell Ranges.

Which city to stay in

In Yulara all accommodations are part of the same resort complex, with options ranging from campgrounds to hotels; there is no accommodation inside the park. At Kings Canyon there are few options close to the canyon. Alice Springs offers a variety of accommodations in the town centre and surroundings.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Uluru and the Red Centre

How many days to stay at Uluru?

Two or three days: one for the base walk and sunset, one for Kata Tjuta and sunrise, plus time for the cultural centre.

Can you climb Uluru?

No. Climbing was banned in October 2019 at the request of the Anangu, the traditional owners. Visits are made on the trails around the rock.

Do you need a car in Uluru and the Red Centre?

In Yulara there are shuttle buses and organized tours to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. For Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, a car gives freedom, but distances are long, there are few service stations and animals on the road at dawn and dusk. In Australia you drive on the left.

What is the best time to visit Uluru?

From April to September, when days are milder for walking. In summer it is very hot and some trails close earlier.

Can you combine Uluru and Kings Canyon?

Yes. Kings Canyon is about 300 km from Yulara, roughly a 3.5-hour drive. Many itineraries do Yulara, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs in sequence.

What time zone is Uluru in?

Northern Territory time, UTC+9:30, with no daylight saving time.

Uluru and the Red Centre

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip