I was seduced by this place. We travelled there with the sole purpose of climbing Uluru before they closed it to climbers. Spend a few days there, however, and you become changed. Maybe it was our luxury accommodation, maybe it was the magnificent display of stars in the clear night skies, or maybe it was the life-changing event that happened to me while I was there…. but I fell in love in with Australia’s Red Centre.
Located smack bang in the middle of Australia in the Northern Territory, lies one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks. Uluru, formally Ayers Rock, is a giant sandstone monolith and along with the 36 giant domes of Kata Tjuta, make up the National Park there. Both sites are deeply spiritual and sacred to the local Anangu people that have lived there for more than 30 000 years.
Recently voted by Lonely Planet to be on the top 10 Ultimate Travel List, you should definitely add it to yours!
Where to stay in Uluru
I would love to share with you the most amazing, luxury accommodation I have ever stayed in. Longitude 131 is a stunning, all-inclusive luxury wilderness camp with direct views to Uluru across the desert. To make your trip to Uluru something you will remember for the rest of your life, and to experience the red centre in luxury, I highly recommend you stay a night or two at this place.
There are just 15 luxury ‘tents’ at the camp, each with views of Uluru from the bed! On the deck of each tented pavilion is a fire pit and swags, so you can camp out under the stars for a while if you like. We were there in July, which is great during the day but too cold at night to linger long out on the deck.
As you would expect from luxury accommodation, the food is exceptional, showcasing Australia’s finest and freshest produce. The Lodge offers not only the restaurant and well stocked bar, but a comfortable lounge area to relax in. This Lodge has been voted in the top 10 luxury hotels and lodges, not only in Australia, but in the world!
Here are some other options for more budget friendly accommodation in the area .
When to visit Uluru
We visited in winter, in July, and it was the perfect time of year for us. With daytime temperatures of between 20-24 degrees Celsius, it was great for walking without the heat and flies! The evenings were cold, but the night skies were clear, perfect for star gazing.
Why go to Uluru?
There is a lot to see and do in the Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park, apart from being awestruck by the sheer size of the rock itself. Uluru rises 348 metres high and is 9.5 kilometres in circumference and is separated from Kata Tjuta by just 30 kilometres. A lot of people who visited Uluru went there to climb it, which you can’t do anymore. That was our intention when we travelled there…. but we soon changed our mind!
Here are my top things to do on your visit to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. More information on all of these experiences and many more can be found by clicking here.
1. Walk the circumference of Uluru
The day we arrived in the National Park, the rock climb was closed due to high winds. After a discussion with a park guide, who explained the cultural significance of the site and told us of some of the disrespectful behaviour of some of the tourists, I felt a little ashamed actually. That night my partner and I both decided that we no longer wanted to do the climb. We decided to walk the circumference of the rock instead.
When we were at Uluru, only a few weeks remained until they closed it. Consequently, the next day, when the climb was open again, there were so many people climbing, it was actually a bit dangerous due to the human traffic jams!
The circumference walk is flat, but deceivingly longer than you would expect. Make sure you pack good walking shoes….I would avoid white…shoes, socks, pants ….. anything white actually! The soil is a rich red and will soon turn your whites into rusty reds! Placed at intervals around the circumference are timber benches carved out of local trees/logs. Each bench is a work of art and craftsmanship and make the perfect place to sit and rest a while. It was while sitting on one of these benches, soaking up the natural beauty of where we were, that my partner proposed! I told you a life-changing event happened here 🥰
2. Watch the sunset
Sounds like a pretty standard thing to do…. but watching the sunset in Uluru is anything but standard. It’s not actually the sun you watch, it is the colours changing on the rock as the sun sets. It is amazing to see! The colours change by the minute, due to the minerals in the rock reflecting back different parts of the colour spectrum. You can see anything from red to orange and purple and then back again!
Watch it all with a glass of champagne in your hand and someone special by your side and it is unforgettable.
3. Take a guided walk to learn of the cultural significance of Uluru
To fully understand the cultural and spiritual significance of Uluru, I highly recommend going on a guided walk. Not only will you hear dreamtime stories, but you will learn of ceremonies and practices of the ancient indigenous populations that lived here.
4. Get Adventurous
There’s more than one way to get around the rock, you can walk, but you can also see it on a segway, motorbike or even camelback! For the ultimate view of Uluru and Kata Juta, you can also see it from above!
9. Helicopter ride over the National Park
We decided to kill two birds with one stone and instead of a shuttle service to the airport for our flight home, we opted for a helicopter flight to the airport. Wow! getting a birds-eye view of the National Park gives you a true appreciation of its size. Plus, we got to see the top of the rock without having to climb it. There is an iconic photo you can only get from the air, where the monoliths are aligned.
5. Dinner under the Stars
A very special dining experience that I highly recommend at Longitude 131, is under the stars. Dine under those clear night skies, with a warm blanket on your lap, as your hosts point out astronomical and celestial objects. I have never seen as many stars as I saw on that night. The Milky Way was clear to see, and the guide pointed out planets and constellations. This was our first meal as an engaged couple, and when the host was pointing out Saturn in the night sky, she added “Speaking of rings…. Congratulations to our couple that got engaged today!” Nawww, it was a very special night.
6. Explore Kata Tjuta
Kata Tjuta, meaning ‘many heads’ is a large group of soaring rock domes which glow at sunrise and sunset. It is sacred to the local Aboriginal people and there are a number of walks you can do in the area.
The longest of these trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk. It is a 7.4kms circuit, taking you between the domes, through creek beds and at certain points you truly understand where the walk gets its name! It can get quite breezy in there!
7. Field of Lights
Field of Light is a large art installation by artist Bruce Munro, consisting of over 50 000 lights. Personally, I was a little underwhelmed by it. Maybe this was because I had such high expectations for seeing it. Having said that, it is a popular exhibit, so maybe I am being too harsh, and you should just see it for yourself and decide.
8. Visit the Cultural Centre and Art Gallery
No visit to Australia’s beating cultural heart would be complete without a visit to the cultural centre and art gallery. Discover traditional art techniques and learn about Tjukurpa (the foundation of Anangu culture) and many important creation stories of Uluru.
To truly immerse yourself in the traditional stories and learn about the local Aboriginal culture, you can take a guided Aboriginal Art and Culture tour led by a local Aṉangu guide.
Feel the Shift
At the end of your day in the red centre of Australia, head back to your luxury ‘tent’, pour a glass of something cool, put your feet up, breathe in the cool evening air and start to feel the shift.
Your mind starts to shift. You start to see the bigger picture. We are but a tiny speck on this amazing planet. You start to appreciate your very short time walking on this Earth. I’m getting all philosophical, but Uluru has that effect on you.
Every Australian and every visitor wanting to experience a true sense of indigenous Australia should see Uluru at least once in their lifetime.
I’m sure there have been plenty of proposals in this beautiful place, but I feel pretty lucky to be able to say ‘I got a rock at the rock!’
If you are interested in other luxury Australian vacations, read about our stay on the tropical Queensland paradise of Orpheus Island.
