Last month, I got a chance to visit one of the most beautiful natural monuments in Australia, Uluru (Ayers Rock). As some of you may know, traveling in Australia can get expensive real fast, and Uluru is no exception, but there are some ways you can save costs and still enjoy everything the Australian Outback has to offer.
Today, I will list all the things I learned firsthand that I wish I knew before visiting Uluru, so you can plan your trip cheaply and easily.
Australia Travel Video
Uluru Weather
The cheapest time to visit is during the low season from October to April due to the high temperature of the desert. It gets really hot during midday, so we often stick to activities in the early morning and evening, while we spend our time in the pool in the afternoon.
It's not as bad, so if you don't mind the heat and are looking for more ways to save money, the low season is a great time to visit.
May to September is the high season, with weather ranging from breezy to really cold during the day and night. It is also the most expensive and crowded time to visit, so I wouldn't recommend it if you want to travel cheaply.
Uluru Tours & Activities
What to Pack for Uluru, Australia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Uluru, Australia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Where to Stay in Uluru?
The problem with Uluru is that almost all the resorts in Yulara, a town where you will probably stay during your time here, are run by one company, Voyages. Every booking from any hotel in the area will have to go through Voyages. Luckily, they do provide a few budget accommodations that are no more than decent.
1. Outback Pioneer Lodge (Hostel)
If you are traveling alone or in small numbers (2 - 4), this is your cheapest option. The price for a shared dorm room can be somewhere around AU$38 to AU$46 per night, which is dirt cheap compared to other options like Sails in the Desert (AU$460 - AU$998 per night).
During my stay, I chose a 4-bed dorm at the Outback Pioneer Lodge, and I had a blast! The lodge consists of a pool where you can cool down in the afternoon, an outback bar area (the only place that serves alcohol in the Yulara area) where you can grab beers, socialize with other backpackers, and enjoy live music at night.
Despite the norm of most hostels, where they will stuff as many travelers in a room, the staff here will try to spread travelers out into empty rooms so that it's not too crowded.
- Ayers Rock Campground (Budget)
- Outback Pioneer Lodge (Budget) 👍 Top Pick
- The Lost Camel Hotel (Mid-Range)
- Sails in the Desert (High-End)
- Uluru Kata Tjuta & Kings Canyon 3 Day Camping Adventure Tour (2.5 - 3 days)
- Uluru: Field of Light Sunrise Tour with Hot Drinks (2 hours)
- Uluru Base Segway Tour at Sunrise (5 hours)
2. Ayers Rock Campground (Campground)
If you prefer camping and have your camping gear with you, you can stay at the campground, which costs between AU$36 - AU$165 depending on the option you choose and the time of year.
Personally, I did not have my camping gear with me, and it seems that the lodge provided by the Outback Pioneer Lodge is adequate, so I decided to go with the first option.
Top 3 Things to Do in Uluru (Cheapest Tours)
The entry fee for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is AU$25 and is valid for 3 days after purchase. You can buy this from the hotel or, if you decide to go on a tour, the price may be included in the tour package as well.
Some people may suggest driving instead of going for a tour, but from what I heard, there's only one petrol station at Yulara and the gas prices can be expensive.
If there are more than 2 or 3 people, driving yourself can be a great option since nothing is near this area. It can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to reach Uluru or Kata Tjuta from the hotel area, and there are no other transportation options unless you purchase them from the hotel.
For me, as a solo traveler, I chose the tour option instead because it meant that I didn't have to manage my own transportation. The total cost of all the tour packages I spent during my 3-day visit was around AU$ 573. Here's the breakdown of the tour that allowed me to see everything in Uluru, along with a few hidden gems:
1. Kata Tjuta Sunrise and Valley of the Winds Half-Day Trip (AU$ 215)
The Kata Tjuta Sunrise and Valley of the Winds half-day tour includes:
The entry fee for the national park for 3 days.
2. The Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds Walks
The Valley of the Winds is an awesome two-hour trail walk in between the Kata Tjuta rock formation, allowing you to fathom the scale of these rocks in close proximity. The walk consists of a few good climbs that will get your hands dirty. The tour ends at the sunset spot, watching the Kata Tjuta shift colors as the sunset, while enjoying a glass of sparkling wine and snacks.
3. Uluru Sunrise and Guided Cultural Base Walk
The Uluru sunrise experience was astoundingly breathtaking! Probably one of the best sunrise experiences I have had in years. Not only did the colors of the rock shift, but the beautiful gradient of colors in the sky that the sun created during dawn was beyond beautiful.
One Tip: When you are at the sunrise viewing platform, don't go with the crowd and stand at the platform; you will get nothing but photos of the crowd. There will be a walkway you can go down to avoid the crowds.
The great thing about this tour is that it combines all the highlights of Uluru in one package, while offering the flexibility for you to choose what to do and when to do it during your 3-day stay. If you want to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta in one go at your own pace, you will enjoy this tour.
Book the Kata Tjuta Sunrise and Valley of the Winds Tour
2. Astro Tour Walk (AU$ 39.50)
Astro Tour will allow you to learn more about the constellations you see from the southern hemisphere through a guided journey among the stars. It starts off at 9:35 PM at the Sails of the Desert resort and a few minutes walk to the stargazing area where the guide, Nick, explains each constellation while pointing several telescopes for us to enjoy.
If you are into stars or genuinely interested in astronomy, I highly recommend this tour. In the end, the guide will point the telescope at the moon, and you can take a detailed photo of it with your camera as a gift for people back home.
3. Kings Canyon Day Tour (AU$ 199)
One of the best-kept secrets of the red center. The Kings Canyon Day Tour is the best tour of all the four tours I was on, hands down. The tour starts off at 4:30 AM with a long 4-hour drive, a 3-4 hour trek up a mountain, a challenging rim walk, and another 4-hour drive back to Yulara.
The diverse rock formation was a welcome change from the smooth sandstone you see at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. The rim walk was the ultimate outback adventure I've been looking for out in the desert. If you like walking and adventure, this is highly recommended as well. I can totally say it was worth the early wake-up.
Book the Kings Canyon Day Trip
4. Camel Sunrise/Sunset Tour (AU$ 119)
For the Camel Sunrise/Sunset Tour, you can either take the sunrise tour or the sunset tour. The tour will allow you to ride a camel through a guided trail overlooking both Uluru and Kata Tjuta while the sun is setting or rising.
It was pretty awesome and the guide was great, but the King's Canyon day tour overshadowed it for me. So, if you are short on cash, I would suggest you invest in the 3 tours I mentioned above.
Book the Kings Canyon Day Trip
Other Cost-Saving Tips for Uluru
- Go during the low season: October to April is the low season in Uluru, and most accommodation and tours are considerably cheaper to match the decrease in demand. Even though the weather can heat up pretty fast, the tours are usually organized during the morning and evening when the heat isn't as bad. Flies are also out in full force, but a simple net cap will solve this problem. Or, if you are like me, a few days with these flies, and you will soon get used to it and consider it as part of the outback experience.
- Bring your own food: Food at the hotels and lodges can cost from AU$20 up to AU$50 per meal. If you are looking to save costs, prepare a few snacks for breakfast so you will be spending one meal less than you usually do.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
11 Comments
Hi Pete!!!, thanks so much for sharing your tips here, they are so usefull for us who are planing to go there.
If you don't mind please can I ask you where did you book your acommodation?, I saw in internet that every page show me so high prices to book in Outback Pioneer Lodge.
Fantastic article! Thanks for the recommendations :)
Great tips! Thanks heaps
Thank you!
Hi
We would like to visit Aiyers Rock from 26th to 29th May 2021.
Please advise accomodation and travel plan packages if any.
Thanks & Regards,
Rao
0402 963 134
Hey Rao, I do not know any travel packages but for accommodation, you can check out the Where to Stay section on this page for available options.
Outback pioneer lodge has been closed due to covid, the best option now is return flights uluru airport, and book a 4 day tour for $595 aud which includes all meals & camping under the stars as well as...Uluru sunset/sunrise, Uluru base walk, cultural centre visit, Valley of the winds, Kings Canyon rimwalk, air condition bus with pick up and drop off at the airport.
Hey Reyli,
Thank you for the heads up! What a shame! I love that lodge and it was the only few budget accommodation out there. That's a good deal you've got especially for those who are looking to do all that! Much less of a hassle as well. Thanks for the update!
Hello Pete
We are a group of boomers considering a trip to Uluru early 2025. Thanks for the tips and advice. Really useful and makes it easy to plan our trip.
Thank you! Travel safe and enjoy Uluru!