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Uluru has no traditional neighbourhoods. Instead, visitors base themselves in a handful of areas spread across hundreds of kilometres of desert: the purpose-built town of Yulara next to the rock, a couple of remote station and national park stays, and the gateway town of Alice Springs 450 km away. This guide lays out each area, what it suits and what rooms cost, and the Uluru guide hub covers the rest of the trip.
Areas Around Uluru: Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort)
Yulara is the only town anywhere near Uluru, a planned resort settlement opened in 1984 about 20 km from the rock and 6 km from Ayers Rock Airport. It holds the Town Square with an IGA supermarket, cafe, post office and tour desk, plus the Ayers Rock Resort’s five accommodation tiers ranged around a central resort loop. Staying here puts you 15 minutes from sunrise at the rock and close to every one of the things to do in Uluru, but it is also the most expensive option, with rooms from about A$180 for a dorm bed up to A$800 a night at the top end.
Areas Around Uluru: Curtin Springs Station
Curtin Springs is a working cattle station and roadhouse on the Lasseter Highway, about 85 km east of Yulara. It offers basic motel rooms from around A$180 a night, a campground, fuel and a licensed restaurant, and suits self-drivers who want a cheaper, quieter base with a real outback feel. It is a 45-minute drive to the national park entrance, so add an hour of driving to your day, and time your visit using the best time to visit Uluru guide.
Areas Around Uluru: Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park)
Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park sits about 300 km northeast of Uluru and is the standard add-on for a three-to-four-day Red Centre loop. The rim walk is a 6 km circuit with a steep first climb, and two lodgings serve it: the Kings Canyon Resort with rooms from about A$250 and a campground, and the more basic Kings Creek Station. Stay here one night between Uluru and Alice Springs rather than as a base for the rock itself, and check the Uluru weather by month page for walking conditions before the climb.
Areas Around Uluru: Alice Springs (Gateway Town)
Alice Springs is the regional capital, 450 km (a 4.5 to 5 hour drive) northeast of Uluru, and the hub for flights and the Ghan train. It has the widest choice of hotels, from about A$120 for a motel to A$300 for the top end, plus supermarkets, petrol and mechanics. It suits road-trippers doing the full loop, and it hosts the Parrtjima light festival in April, one of the region’s Uluru events and festivals. As a day-trip base for Uluru it does not work, the return drive alone eats 9 hours.
Areas Around Uluru: Quick Comparison
- Yulara: closest to the rock, most expensive, best for short stays and sunrise chasers.
- Curtin Springs: cheaper outback roadhouse, best for self-drivers on a budget.
- Kings Canyon: a one-night add-on for the rim walk, not a base for Uluru.
- Alice Springs: gateway town with the most hotels, best for loop trips and the train.
Once you have picked a base, see our where to stay in Uluru guide for specific hotel recommendations in each area, and Uluru travel tips for how to get between them.
