Ayers Rock / Uluru - not open for Aussies??

[opusman]

Regarding the climb: as others have mentioned, it closes due to various conditions: forecast or actual temperature 35C+, rain, wind, etc. I wouldn't have done it anyway (and once you stand at the bottom of it you realise how steep it actually is!), and we did the base walk around the Rock. Takes approx. 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and is great to see it from different angles and in different light. Would definitely recommend it.

+1 for the walk around. Amazingly varied scenery as you go around. It's not just the base of a rock, it's a whole desert ecosystem.
Whereas if you climb the rock, it's just a rock.

 

[Pushka]

+1 for the walk around. Amazingly varied scenery as you go around. It's not just the base of a rock, it's a whole desert ecosystem.
Whereas if you climb the rock, it's just a rock.

Seems like more of us have walked around it than climbed it!

 

[cmon0005]

I'm off to Alice and Uluru in May and read the reviews on TA about Sounds of Silence and almost convinced myself not to bother but as I've said earlier - trust AFF more than TA - anyone else got any comments on whether it's worth it or not - did think about just driving out to the bush with a picnic and a bottle of wine and watching the sunset

I read the TA reviews as well before going, and lucky I didn't go by some of the reviews on there, to be honest I think some people just expect because it's $195 pp they should be getting $200 champagne, michelin star restaurant quality.etc. But I thought the food was great, and a fairly good selection, the drinks are flowing thick and fast, but most of all the ambiance and the night as a whole to me is rated up there as one of the best nights I have had. It did get freezing cold in the night, we were given woolen ponchos which were great.
Not to say that everyone's reviews that are negative are over exaggerated though you will find some people will give a 'poor' rating due to one minor ailment, I tend to give a much more balanced review on hotels, experiences.etc.

Hope you enjoy it too!

 

[Anna]

It was 2002 when I did it, but the Sounds of Silence dinner was one of my best ever travel experiences. A picnic in the carpark would not be the same IMO. Yes you would get the same stars overhead but unless you are super-organised you would not get a beautifully set table with linen, glassware, candles and silver service, a guide pointing out the different constellations and the opportunity to try all sorts of different bush food eg crocodile, emu, native berries etc. Not to mention the opportunity to meet new people (some of whom I have subsequently visited overseas).

 

[harvyk]

Definitely do the flight over the rock, when I did it we were in a little 6 seater plane.
I was on a trip organised by my high school, so things like food and accom was sorted (in tents all the way from Canberra to Darwin).

I know it's not kosher to say it these days, but the view from the top is still pretty amazing. I don't remember exactly how long it took to climb, but I do believe we allowed for up to 4 hours. It's not an easy walk as the side is extremely steep, there is a length of rope to hold onto so you don't slip, and even when you are actually up there it's not actually flat, you'll need to climb up over sections of rock. That said there is a white dotted line which will show you the way to go.

From memory there is a visitors book at the top for people to sign.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Definitely do the flight over the rock, when I did it we were in a little 6 seater plane.

When I did it I was on QF5 =P
Granted, the view probably wasn't quite as good, but the wine was excellent!

 

[Daver6]

I'll add my vote the the Sounds of Silence dinner.

A walking through Kata Tjuta (Olgas) is definitely worth it too.

If you are worried about the price and standard of accommodation, best you don't even consider Kings Canyon (which by the way, is amazing and a must visit in my opinion).

 

[opusman]

If you are worried about the price and standard of accommodation, best you don't even consider Kings Canyon (which by the way, is amazing and a must visit in my opinion).

Yeah, Yulara is a palace compared with Kings Canyon

 

[joyvee]

My sister and I went and shared a one bedroom apartment. A comfortable spare bed was put in living area. We took frozen prepared meals with us in special container with ice blocks in our checked luggage to ensure it was properly refrigerated for the duration. Took breakfast cereal too. We bought fresh vegies, milk, bread etc when we got there. We hired a car, which allowed us flexibility and ability to avoid tourist buses. We also watched sunset and stars with wine and cheese in one of parking areas near rock. Only ones there. Wanted to go on helicopter ride but minimum of three needed so scoured resort until we found third person to share flight with us. We found the apartment spacious, better than a shared hotel room and not that more expensive. it is very different and I would go again if there were a special accommodation deal going.
I have a photo of my mum arriving there in '50's. She is standing on the airstrip near a small plane which was then directly in front of rock. She is all dressed up for the flight in a formal tailored suit.
Nowadays you are bussed into accommodation from the airport which is several kms away.Casual gear is the go. Wear natural fibres, e.g. cotton , if weather is hot and sticky. The camping area looked adequate for a family. We found the staff to be most helpful, ever cheerful and prices were what we expected for such a remote location.

 

[PLANT]

I did it via high top troopcarrier hire..... Can't remember the cost but had it 7 days+ cheaper....get fuel at depot outside Alice on way to rock. Parking spot at caravan park cost $50 A Night and then 3 day pass into rock/Olga's was $70 out something..... Took my own food from ALICE!

 

[QF WP]

Somehow missed this thread when it was initially posted, but thanks to the Freq Flyer News it will get a second wind

I was with serfty and the 35 or so others who went to Ayers Rock in May last year. Was on my bucket list and glad I have done it. Also fantastic hat we had a steering committee who organised everything and we had hired a bus.

However, juddles, you and your family are in a different predicament. I agree with looking out for the accom sales (particularly Accor) if you are looking to stay in some comfort. However, even the backpacker or standard accom didn't look too bad (as we dropped people who had booked there). Thankfully, we had planned dinners as well.

You'll never regret going there, even if there are some aspects that aren't up to scratch.


Will rustle up the photos.

 

[Simo]

I have been to Uluru a few times and you can do day trips from ASP.

 

[QF WP]

The only way to travel (somebody else driving):



At the time, there was a $25 access fee to the Park.

How can you turn up this view??



At least the airport is decent (for a small one) and these were the morning flights:

 

[pauleg]

We went a few years ago - it was great. It is better to walk around the rock base than to climb it IMHO. The Rock - dawn, dusk and in between are all good. The Kata Juta walk was also great. And the dinner under the stars with astronomers guidance was superb. Yes - pricey but you are a captive audience. Top place for a few days.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Uluru is expensive, but it is the middle of nowhere. It is worth going and and seeing Ulura and Kata Tjuta Try to get to the Valley of the Wind walk early just after sunrise as the temp is cooler and there were no other people for the first part of walk. The small plane sight seeing is much cheaper than the helicopter tour.
In Yalara there is small shopping centre with an IGA market, a small Vietnamese takeaway shop and the local restaurant that does good cheap( ish) pizza or restaurant food.
We splashed out one night and did the Tali Wiru dinner under the stars. They only have about 7 tables, amazing food and very good matched wine with really lovely staff. Ditch the kids and splash out.
The local bus company is Uluru Express. we used them and found the timetables ok and staff knowledge and able to give a few local tips.

 

[bertair]

Having flown from Sydney last year, with 4 nights accommodation at Desert Gardens Motel(including the best hotel breakfast anywhere), car rental from Thrifty, it was a bargain IMHO. Evenings were unbelievable under the stars. Nature's Planetarium.
Find your own peace and quiet away from the mobs who are at the set up sunset and sunrise view areas that are designated for you to be at, and you will be blown away.
There are a number of spots that are sacred so please do not take photos out of respect, but take in the view and experience what the camera cannot capture.
DO NOT CLIMB the rock. No only is it offensive to the local tribe, but downright dangerous.
Sooner or later it will be off limits to all if the fools insist that it is their right to climb the rock.

The experience being at of Uluru and Kata Juta is one my wife & I will always remember.
It wasn't expensive compared to some other Australian destinations and how can you put a price on a World Heritage experience anyway.
Go now while your family are at the age to appreciate it and experience what words cannot describe when you are walking in the quiet of Kata Juta on the Valley of the Winds walk. Finish off with the Walpa Gorge Walk and then see the sun go down over Kata Juta.
Priceless.
P.S. A good book about Uluru Kata Juta, "Uluru: Looking After Uluru/Kata Juta, The Anangu Way", by Stanley Breedon has been around awhile and is well worth reading before you leave home.

 

[davistev]

My family and I lived in a remote community 3hrs west of Uluru and therefore Uluru was our local town for doing our grocery shopping and eating out. I concur with the prices being expensive but they are actually cheaper than the remoter towns.

We rarely stayed overnight but always jumped in the pool, ate out at the restaurants and loaded the 4WD with food from IGA.

Unfortunately one must be a guest in order to drink alcohol at the hotels. But there is one exception and a very good tip if you just drove in from the bush and want a cold beer - head out to the airport, go to the departure gate after security and sit and enjoy your beer at the bar - wallah - a cold beer in Uluru without being a guest.

 

[CaptBob]

I went there with my partner about 5 years ago. I had points and it would be a "Free" trip. A few days in Sydney and a few days in Uluru, a car rental, hotels, and meals added up to a $5,000. free holiday.
The accommodations were not good, and were badly in need of a major upgrade. Only one or two die on the rock each year, however there are many unreported injuries. The lawyers will end up closing the climb,
to protect the owners. A tour company may be an alternative.

 

[Dick Savage]

Sorry, I realize I am still whinging

Well, no. Actually not. You are, sadly, but reporting.

Like every other of Australia's "tourist destinations," the Ayres' Rock neighborhood is held to ransom by stand-over and shakedown unions and various other un-and-anti-Aussie entities and facts of life -- and post-Roger-Douglas New Zealand, is not.

 

[briggsy81]

I did the trip last year in June with 3 other girlfriends, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Recommendations:
- The town centre has cultural shows and displays during the day. Get the kids involved in the dances, I got up there and did the emu dance - lots of fun! The fellas that perform it are fun and enjoy audience participation!

- For a family, the SoS dinner might be a little pricey, but the resort runs guided stargazing tours at night, which head out behind the town centre, and will be much cheaper for a family. The astroscientists were also in the town square during the day and you could view the sun through a telescope.

- Get the Stars app on your smartphone - self guided tour! It is so dark at night, just walk outside away from the hotel lights and look up. I saw numerous shooting stars, which will be fun for your kids to spot too.

- If you imbibe, I recommend taking some wine with you and keep it in your room to enjoy at your leisure! We took some wine/champagne with us when we watched the sun set at Uluru.

- Hire a car from the airport - the tour bus tickets will add up significantly for a family to get around. Lots of excitement as you drive out from the airport and the Rock slowly comes into view!

- Kata Tjuta!! It's an easy walk, despite the signage, there is only one rock scramble which is not tricky at all. Great views and really different to the Uluru landscape.

- Uluru itself is amazing, and really gave me goosebumps. The walk around is best, it's really varied with vegetation. There's even a waterfall if it's been raining recently! There are guided short tours with a local from the carpark area at ~10am - worthwhile.

- The camel tours are actually great; the operators are really nice, and you get a decent spread to enjoy afterwards. A fun way to view the rock at sunset or dawn.

- You will get a great view of Uluru as you arrive on the domestic flight anyway, and the pilot should point it out for the passengers.

As a geologist, I recommend the book "Uluru and Kata Tjuta: A geological guide" (Sweet, Stewart & Crick, 2012). I was that annoying person explaining the orogenesis of the rock as we wandered around (3hr walk = so much time for learning!) Did you know that Uluru didn't rise up, but the ground around it has actually eroded away, exposing the great rock!! </nerd>

Enjoy your trip!