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There are loads of ways to experience Uluru’s magic without breaking the bank.
With a bit of planning and an adventurous spirit, a trip to the Red Centre can be surprisingly affordable. Set out on amazing walks, join free activities at the Cultural Centre, and set up camp at Ayers Rock Resort. These are our top tips for a budget-friendly trip to Uluru.
Don't miss the free galleries and displays at the Cultural Centre. Image credit: Tourism NT
Make the most of your park pass (kids are free!)
Before you start your adventure, you’ll need to get a Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park pass. (It’s quickest and easiest to get it online.) A park pass is valid for 3 days and are completely free for anyone under 18. Bring the kids! As well as entry to the park, you’ll get access to a bunch of free activities, and entry to the award-wining Cultural Centre. The centre includes galleries, displays, community-owned shops, and the Tjukurpa Tunnel, which tells the story of Uluru from the Anangu perspective. There’s a great picnic area behind the centre with tables, barbecues and spectacular views.
Explore the ancient domes at Kata Tjuta. Image credit: Tourism NT/Paddy Pallin
Set out on spectacular walks
The best way to experience the grandeur of Uluru and Kata Tjuta is to hit the walking tracks alongside the undulating, ancient rock. Start with the 10-kilometre Uluru base walk. The wheelchair-accessible track is divided into various shorter walks, each with its own distinctive attractions. At Kata Tjuta, the Valley of the Winds walk is a three-to-four-hour circuit among the domes, leading to magnificent lookouts, with shorter segment options. Both walks are as free as they are grand.
Get local insights on the free Mala guided ranger walk. Image credit: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia
Take a free, guided Uluru tour
To learn more about Uluru, take the free Mala guided ranger walk. The early-morning walk starts off down a pram-friendly and wheelchair-accessible route of about 2 kilometres. Stopping at various points along the way, the ranger gives insights into Uluru’s natural features, rock art, sacred places, local history and cultural traditions.
Learn about the rich storytelling traditions of the Anangu. Image credit: Tourism NT/Archie Sartracom
Join a bush yarns session
Anangu-owned Ayers Rock Resort hosts free morning bush yarns sessions at the Circle of Sand in the Town Square Lawn. You’ll hear local legends and lore, see hunting weapons and bush tucker tools and techniques, and learn about Anangu culture from experienced Indigenous guides. The yarns are a glimpse into the rich storytelling traditions of the Anangu and an opportunity to glean some insights into the local Pitjantjatjara language.
Camp at Ayers Rock Campground
Take the five-billion-star accommodation option: sleep under the stars at Ayers Rock Campground. The campground has tent sites and cabins, barbecues and outdoor kitchen facilities, and importantly, a swimming pool. The resort offers loads of free activities, including garden walks and didgeridoo workshops, and has a supermarket for all your self-catering needs.
Worth the drive: Kings Canyon at Watarrka National Park. Image credit: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
Hire a car
Uluru is about 15 minutes’ drive from the resort, and Kata Tjuta about half an hour away, so the cost of taking tours can quickly mount up, especially for families. Hiring a car also means you have the option of driving to Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon, some 300 kilometres from Uluru. Entry to the national park is free.