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Uluru is more than a rock to photograph. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park covers 1,326 square kilometres and holds two of Australia’s most dramatic landmarks, Uluru itself (348 metres high, 9.4 km around) and Kata Tjuta, a cluster of 36 domes 25 km west. Park entry costs A$38 per adult for a 3-day pass, and these 16 things to do cover the walks, viewing areas and paid experiences worth your time. The Uluru guide hub links to the rest of the planning essentials.
Things to Do in Uluru: Sunrise and Sunset Viewing
Talinguru Nyakunytjaku Sunrise Platform
The purpose-built sunrise platform sits on the east side of the rock with a two-level viewing deck. It is a 15-minute drive from Yulara, free with park entry, and opens before dawn so you can watch the rock shift from grey to deep red as the sun rises behind you. Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise, which is around 6:30 am in winter and 6:00 am in summer, and see the best time to visit Uluru guide for exact sunrise times by month.
Uluru Sunset Viewing Area
The main sunset car park is on the west side of the rock, reached by a short drive from Yulara. The rock glows orange then rust red over about 40 minutes as the sun sets, usually between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm depending on the month. The car park fills 45 minutes before sunset in winter, so get there early and bring a drink.
Things to Do in Uluru: Walks and Hikes
Uluru Base Walk (10.6 km)
The flat 10.6 km loop circles the entire rock and takes 3.5 to 4 hours. It passes the Mala Walk, Kantju Gorge, Mutitjulu Waterhole and several culturally sensitive sites you are asked not to photograph. Start at first light in summer and by 8 am in winter, and carry at least 2 litres of water. The route is unshaded for most of its length, so check the Uluru weather by month page before you commit to the full loop.
Mala Walk and Kantju Gorge (2 km return)
This easy 2 km return track from the Mala car park ends at Kantju Gorge, an 80-metre rock wall that funnels the sound of wind and running water. It passes caves with Anangu rock art and is the route of the free ranger-guided walk, which runs daily at 8 am from October to April and 10 am from May to September.
Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole (1 km return)
A short 1 km return walk from the Kuniya car park leads to Mutitjulu Waterhole, a permanent pool at the base of the rock that holds water even in dry years. It is the best late-afternoon walk, with the rock towering overhead and wallabies often visible near the water. Allow 45 minutes and take the marked path only.
Valley of the Winds (7.4 km full circuit)
At Kata Tjuta, the Valley of the Winds is the park’s best hike, a 7.4 km circuit through sheer-walled gorges between the domes. It takes 3 to 4 hours and has two lookouts, Karu and Karingana. The full circuit closes at 11 am in hot weather and stays closed entirely when the forecast hits 36°C, so do it first thing in the morning and review the heat rules in our Uluru travel tips guide.
Walpa Gorge Walk (2.6 km return)
The shorter Kata Tjuta option is the 2.6 km return Walpa Gorge walk, a gentle path between two massive domes that takes about an hour. It is open year round, has a firm rocky surface and is the better choice if you only have a couple of hours at the Olgas.
Things to Do in Uluru: Cultural Experiences
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
The Cultural Centre sits near the rock and is free with park entry, open 7 am to 6 pm daily. It houses Anangu art and craft galleries, including Maruku Arts where you can buy hand-carved punu (woodwork) directly from the makers, plus displays on Tjukurpa, the Anangu law that governs the landscape. Budget 45 minutes to an hour.
Ranger-Guided Mala Walk
Park rangers lead a free 45-minute walk along the Mala Walk daily, explaining rock art, bush food and the history of the site. It departs at 8 am in summer and 10 am in winter from the Mala car park and requires no booking. It is the single best free activity in the park.
Things to Do in Uluru: Paid Experiences and Adventure
Field of Light
Bruce Munro’s Field of Light covers an area the size of seven football fields with 50,000 glass spheres that pulse with colour after dark. It runs nightly from about 40 minutes before sunrise and again from just after sunset, with adult tickets around A$45 to A$75 depending on the session and season. It sits alongside the Uluru events and festivals on the resort’s nightly calendar and has been extended to run through 2027.
Camel Tours
Uluru Camel Tours runs sunrise and sunset camel treks across the red dunes at the base of the rock, plus a shorter express ride. A 1-hour sunrise or sunset ride costs around A$95 to A$135 per adult, and a 2.5-hour morning trek with damper and billy tea runs about A$145. Book ahead in winter, when sunrise rides sell out.
Scenic Flights and Helicopter Rides
Fixed-wing scenic flights from Ayers Rock Airport loop over Uluru and Kata Tjuta and run roughly A$150 to A$250 for a 40-minute flight. Helicopter rides from the airport offer a closer view, with 15-minute flights from about A$145 and 30-minute Uluru and Kata Tjuta loops from A$280. Morning flights give the sharpest light on the rock.
Segway Tours
Guided Segway tours circle the full base of Uluru on a 2.5-hour ride with commentary, costing about A$149 per adult. They are popular with visitors who want the full base circuit without walking 10.6 km. Riders must be 12 or older and weigh between 45 and 117 kg.
Things to Do in Uluru: Dining and Astronomy
Sounds of Silence Dinner
This signature outback dinner serves a buffet of crocodile, kangaroo and barramundi on a dune-top with views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, followed by an astronomer-led talk under some of the clearest skies in Australia. It runs nightly from a pick-up at the resort and costs about A$250 per adult. Dress warmly in winter, as the desert night drops below 5°C.
Wintjiri Wiru Drone and Light Show
Wintjiri Wiru, meaning beautiful view out to the horizon, is a nightly show of 1,100 drones telling an Anangu creation story in light and sound above the desert. Sessions run after dark, with adult tickets from about A$165 for the standard viewing and A$295 with a dinner package. It launched in 2023 and runs every night of the year.
For where to sleep between activities, see where to stay in Uluru, and compare the different bases in our areas around Uluru guide.
