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There is essentially one place to sleep near Uluru, the Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara, which runs five accommodation tiers from campground to five-star. The main alternative is to stay in Alice Springs 450 km away and make Uluru part of a self-drive loop. Below are the specific hotels to book in each area, with a luxury, mid-range and budget pick, and the Uluru guide hub has the rest of the planning.
Where to Stay in Uluru: Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort)
The Ayers Rock Resort is a single complex of five properties sharing a shuttle loop, the Town Square and airport transfers. All tiers sit 15 to 20 minutes from the rock and the things to do in Uluru, and every property includes the free resort shuttle. Book 3 to 4 months ahead for winter, when the entire resort sells out, and see the Uluru weather by month page to see why winter is peak season.
Suggested Hotels in Yulara
Sails in the Desert
The resort’s five-star flagship wraps white canvas sails around a central pool and gardens, with the Mulgara gallery and a fine-dining restaurant on site. Best for couples and travellers who want the most comfortable base after long desert days. Check rates and availability
Desert Gardens Hotel
Desert Gardens is the mid-range pick, with rooms that open onto native gardens and a pool, and a section of rooms with direct views across to Uluru itself. Best for families and first-time visitors who want the resort experience without the flagship price. Check rates and availability
Outback Hotel and Lodge
The Outback Hotel and Lodge is the budget tier, split between motel-style hotel rooms and simpler lodge rooms with shared bathrooms, plus a pub and beer garden that draw the tour groups. Best for solo travellers and backpackers watching their budget. Check rates and availability
Where to Stay in Uluru: Alice Springs (Self-Drive Base)
Alice Springs gives you real choice, from resort casinos to budget motels, at roughly half the price of Yulara. Use it as the start and end point of a Red Centre loop that also covers Kings Canyon and the West MacDonnell Ranges, and allow a full day’s drive each way to Uluru, the drive timing is in the best time to visit Uluru guide. The town also hosts the Parrtjima light festival each April, part of the wider Uluru events and festivals calendar.
Suggested Hotels in Alice Springs
DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs
The DoubleTree sits against the MacDonnell Ranges about 15 km from the airport, with two tennis courts, a pool and an 18-hole golf course next door. Best for couples and business travellers who want chain-hotel reliability. Check rates and availability
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Crowne Plaza Lasseters is a 4.5-star resort at the foot of the ranges with an on-site casino, sauna and spa, and the convention centre next door. Best for those who want nightlife and a resort feel in town. Check rates and availability
Desert Palms Alice Springs
Desert Palms is a 3.5-star collection of individual studio villas with kitchenettes and verandahs, set around a lagoon-style pool beside the Todd River. Best for self-caterers and families who want space and a low nightly rate. Check rates and availability
Where to Stay in Uluru: Curtin Springs and Camping
Curtin Springs Station offers basic rooms and unpowered camping about 85 km east of Yulara, and the Ayers Rock Resort runs an A$40-a-night campground with powered sites, a kitchen and pool. Camping outside designated areas is not allowed in the national park, and there is no accommodation inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park itself. For the full area rundown and which base suits your trip, see our areas around Uluru guide, and for getting between the bases see the Uluru travel tips page.
