Welcome to the geographical and spiritual heart of Australia. This is a place where the ancient landscape of Australia’s Red Centre unfolds, revealing its most iconic jewel: Uluru.
Before you embark on this extraordinary journey, you should prepare to be captivated by the rich cultural tapestry, breathtaking natural wonders, and the profound spiritual significance of this sacred Aboriginal land. To help you make the most of your limited time in Uluru, I have personally experienced and reviewed the Top 5 tours and experiences that you can do at Uluru. Book your favourite in advance to complete your visit to Uluru.
Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock, is a massive sandstone monolith located in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It stands at an impressive 348 metres (1,142 feet) high and is renowned for its ever-changing colours, ranging from red to purple, particularly during sunrise and sunset.
Uluru has undergone extensive erosion and weathering over millions of years, resulting in its distinct shape and surface texture. Ancient rock art, waterholes, and caves around Uluru provide evidence of the site’s longstanding importance to the local Aboriginal people. In 1987, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing both its natural and cultural significance.
Uluru holds immense spiritual significance for the Anangu people, the traditional custodians of the land. It is a place deeply woven into the fabric of their creation stories, known as Tjukurpa. These stories, passed down through generations, detail the journeys and actions of ancestral beings who shaped the land, created its features, and established the laws governing human behaviour.
Red Centre Holidays by Freedom Destinations
Adelaide | Barossa Valley | Robe | Port fairy | Apollo Bay | Melbourne | Uluru | Kings Canyon | Alice Springs | Darwin | Kakadu | Katherine | Lake Bennett
Sydney | Adelaide | Alice Springs | Kings Canyon | Uluru | Melbourne
Uluru | Kings Canyon | Alice Springs | Tennant Creek | Katherine | Kakadu | Darwin | Litchfield
Adelaide | Barossa Valley | Robe | Port fairy | Apollo Bay | Melbourne | Uluru | Kings Canyon | Alice Springs | Darwin | Kakadu | Katherine | Lake Bennett
Sydney | Adelaide | Alice Springs | Kings Canyon | Uluru | Melbourne
Uluru | Kings Canyon | Alice Springs | Tennant Creek | Katherine | Kakadu | Darwin | Litchfield
Australia’s Red Centre is a vast desert landscape, dotted with unique flora and fauna, so travelling to Uluru can be an adventure in itself. However, good connections make this iconic destination accessible from around Australia.
No amount of pictures can prepare you for the experience of seeing Uluru with your own eyes. For visitors keen to tick off this unique, once in a lifetime adventure Down Under, there are many ways to experience and enjoy Uluru and the surrounding Red Centre. These are my five favourites:
Surrounded by the desert, under the cover of darkness, Wintjiri Wiru tells the traditional Mala story, brought to life by a combination of projections, lasers, and choreographed drones. Translated from the local Pitjantjatjara language as “beautiful view out to the horizon”, Wintjiri Wiru uses more than 1100 remote drones to tell the story with the night sky as a canvas. It is the perfect combination of modern technology and ancient storytelling.
Available as just the ‘After Dark’ light show, or as a ‘Twilight’ option that includes Australian wines, cheeses and a dessert selection, the ultimate way to experience the evening is with the ‘Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner’. With this experience you will be greeted with a welcome drink and escorted along the elevated pathway over the undergrowth, to view the sunset reflecting off Uluru. Once the sun has disappeared beyond the horizon you will be treated to a gourmet picnic, influenced by indigenous bush food, and locally sourced suppliers. The crocodile curry pie is a particular delight. Then you take your seat in the wooden amphitheatre to enjoy the spectacular light show. The twenty-minute story in the sky, complete with surround sound is a truly immersive experience, to the extent you may forget that you are truly in the middle of the desert.
Comprising of 50,000 individual orbs of light arranged artistically throughout the desert plains, this is an awe-inspiring sight for art lovers and fans of nature. Bruce Munro’s sea of tiny globes illuminate the desert, creating a magical visual that boasts a backdrop of the towering mass of Uluru and the intricate stone formations of Kata-Tjuta National Park.
A Field of Light Star Pass gives you a guided tour that includes walking to an elevated viewing point, that offers the best vistas of the installation and the surrounding scenery. It also allows for free time to meander at leisure and take in the stunning views. Canapes and a glass of sparkling wine are provided, and the tour departs around 30 minutes before sunset to take advantage of views at dusk and offer the opportunity to watch the field of light burst into life as the sun sinks and darkness descends.
The ultimate alfresco dining experience. The Sounds of Silence Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to meander through the sand dunes of the Red Centre and enjoy a sumptuous feast with uninterrupted views of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the sun setting over the outback.
The evening begins with a transfer to a platform set amongst the dunes. As the sun descends, guests can enjoy a beautiful array of native delicacies, including barbequed meat and fish, like barramundi, emu and crocodile. Canapes and drinks are also served before sunset. As the skies above change colour and take on hues of red, pink, yellow and orange, guests can enjoy a leisurely dinner before embarking on a guided stargazing tour of the Southern Constellations. Ideal for those who already have an idea of what they’re looking for in the night sky, as well as stargazing novices, this is a truly magical experience, which will create memories to last a lifetime.
When it comes to things to do on a Red Centre morning, it is difficult to beat the experience of floating high above the dramatic rock formations and enjoying a bird’s eye view of Uluru from a hot air balloon.
There is something incredibly serene about ballooning in general, but there can be no better place to ascend into the clear skies than in the Red Centre. Soaring high above the desert sands, guests can get a much better appreciation of the sheer size and scale of the Australian Outback and enjoy incredible views of the many wonderful features it has to offer. From iconic Uluru, through Kings Canyon to the oasis of Alice Springs, there’s scope to enjoy a staggering spectacle from every angle. Departing just before dawn, visitors will take off from Alice Springs and drift over the peaks of the McDonnell Ranges before reaching the heart of Uluru. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos jumping below and birds gliding above as the sun rises.
Typically, the balloon ride lasts for around thirty minutes and guests can enjoy a celebratory glass of bubbly and snacks upon landing.
To properly understand the size of Uluru and uniqueness of its surroundings you do need to take to the air. If ballooning doesn’t appeal, then get off the ground on scenic helicopter flight. From a helicopter, it is possible to see the impressive Uluru, view the shapes of Kata Tjuta, and appreciate the vastness of the surrounding outback.
A helicopter flight is an adventure in itself and the adrenaline starts to pump as soon as the blades begin to turn. After take-off, you will enjoy views of Mount Conner and Lake Amadeus before clapping eyes on Uluru. Passengers can also marvel at the scale of the desert and the colours of the sandy plains and terracotta rocks Kata Tjuta. The journey will also take in the township of Yulara and provide vistas of Longitude 131 luxury tented camp before returning to the airport.
Uluru is the jewel in Australia’s crown and there are very few places on earth that provide such an intense visual and sensual experience. These Red Centre excursions are designed to compliment the natural scenery and elevate your experience of Uluru and the surrounding area. Depending on how long you can stay in the area, I would also recommend joining a guided tour.
Whilst it is possible to explore independently, a local guide can give further insight and relay stories and facts about the area, which you would otherwise miss. They will also transport you seamlessly between each of the natural attractions and include local accommodation during your stay.
Uluru can be experienced in a number of ways, each offering a unique perspective on this ancient and awe-inspiring marvel. Whether you choose to witness the kaleidoscopic display of colours during sunrise and sunset, take in the magnificent Wintjiri Wiru light show, enjoy a gourmet meal under the stars or embark on a scenic flight for a bird’s eye view, you can’t fail to leave with a profound connection with this sacred site. Uluru is not just any destination; it is a transformative journey that leaves warming glow on those fortunate enough to have embraced its magic
Richard has more than 25 years of experience working within the travel industry. He has travelled widely in the USA, Australia and Africa and enjoys exploring National Parks and other wilderness areas.
