Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

In the middle of Australia, in Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park, stands the landmark of the continent, the red monolith Uluru. Early risers will be rewarded here, because in the early morning you will find a beautiful red-light landscape with the moon in the background. In the evening the submerging sun makes the rock glow again, so that there is once again an opportunity to admire it in its full splendor.

Distances

In order to get a glimpse of how far the distances are, we have compiled the most important routes. If there are no distance but time indications, these refer to an average speed of 60 to 80 km / h, since The Uluru is not allowed to drive any faster.

Melbourne to Alice Springs: 2.255 km
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon (unsealed roads): 322 km
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon (sealed roads): 475 km
Alice Springs to Yulara / Ayers Rock Resort: 446 km
Yulara / Ayers Rock Resort to the Mala Cultural Center: approx. 30 min.
Uluru by car: approx. 30 min. And 25 km
National Park Entry Station to Walpa Gorge (Kata Tjuta): approx. 45 min.

Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park Facts

There are three types of tickets: a 3-day pass for AUD 25 (approx. EUR 17.50), an annual pass for AUD 32.50 (approx. EUR 22.50) and the Northern Territory Residents Pass including all persons In a car for AUD 65 (about 45 euros). Children under the age of 16 may be free of charge.

The opening hours of the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park vary according to the month:

December to February: 5:00 to 21:00
March: 5:30 to 20:30
April: 5:30 to 8:00 pm
May: 6:00 to 19:30
June and July: 6:30 to 19:30
August: 6:00 to 19:30
September: 5:30 to 19:30
October: 5:00 to 20:00
November: 5:00 to 20:30
Cultural Center: 7am - 6pm
Information desk: 8am - 5pm

Overnight Stay:

Since the Uluru is the main attraction in Australia, you have to think a little bit about how to keep the tourists going. This has resulted in a resort that has grown into a small village today. Here there is everything: gas station, supermarket, a post office and various restaurants. You can also find all types of accommodation here, there is something for every purse. There is exactly one campground at the Ayers Rock Resort. The list of things offered here is almost infinite. There are some free activities and also some for money. They are listed here.

Free:

Every morning at 8:00 am there is  ranger guided, which lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.
All walks at Uluru and Kata Tjuta can be done without rangers.
Didgeridoo play: every day 12:30 to 13:00, Resort Town Square
Spear and boomerang: 11:00 to 11:30, meeting at the Town Square Lawn Area
Wakagetti Culture Dances: 16:00 to 17:00 Town Square Lawn Area

Charges:

Various flights (airplane or helicopter) from AUD 110 per person for a 20-minute flight
Camel ride from AUD 80
Motorcycle tours from AUD 99
Walk can also be done with a guide, prices vary depending on the agency.
Astro Tour for AUD 40.50
4WD adventure to Mount Conner for AUD 260
Walk at Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The temperatures in the Outback rise quickly in the morning hours. This means that one can have quite 35 ° C in the morning at 10:00 clock. For all walks, therefore: the sooner, the better. Some walks will be closed from 11:00 am or from 36 ° C (which first arrives). Many hikers are exaggerated and their condition, which at these temperatures is certainly different than at home. Per hour you should take at least 1 liter of water, if you want to walk.

In the center of the continent there are many unpaved roads, but the main tributaries are always asphalted, so that they can be driven with the car. From Port Augusta on the south coast as well as from Darwin in the north, the Stuart Highway takes you into the Outback. In Erldunda, the Lasseter Highway then branches off to Uluru. Very useful for the route planning with the camper are the tourist information, which can be found in every small town. Pay attention to your water supply and the fuel gauge. Shopping and caravan sites can be found in ulara, about 20 km from Uluru.

Ayers Rock:

The cultural and natural monument has been a national park since 1977. For the Australian aborigines, the Anangu or Aboriginees, the site has been of special spiritual and cultural relevance for thousands of years. The numerous rock paintings and "sacred sites" at the Uluru are testimony. In 1871 Uluru received the name Ayers Rock from the European explorer William Gosse. The red sandstone monolith, stands 348 meters out of the Australian outback. But this is only the tip, the rest, up to six thousand meters deep, is below the surface.

The Ayers Rock, is over 500 million years old and sacred to the aborigines of Australia. Along the trails, numerous information boards provide information about the Aborigines and their faith.

Alternatively, you can get free guided tours of the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park, which are partly accompanied by indigenous people or by local rangers, first-hand stories of the dream time. Anyone who has always wanted to climb the center of Australia has the opportunity to do so in a beautiful, windless weather. The number of climbers is, however, limited, which is why pre-registration is useful.

Accommodations for campers are rare in this region, so it is recommended to book beforehand. The only campground near the Uluru is the Ayers Rock Campground - Ayers Rock Resort. After an exciting and memorable day in the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park, the pool of the camp offers a refreshing dip. For the physical well, all guests can use the common kitchen, here interesting conversations between many different nationalities arise.

Traveling to the center of Australia with the camper offers you close-up insights into a culture that we do not know, and this magnificent landscape that enchants us. Enjoy the typical image of the red continent during camping.