Uluru in the summer - planning my first visit

[Warks]

So my free Amex flight expires soon and I looked up where I could fly with it. Surprised to see AYQ as an option (Uluru the rock formerly known as Ayers, which was formerly known as Uluru). Got me thinking about a trip out there. Too hot for Mrs Warks so I asked Thing 2 (F19) if she wanted to come. Of course! With uni over for the year and not having to pay for it. Booked her ticket with points (expensive on points but that's what they are for) and booked my free flight. Planning on the cheapest trip I can manage having just returned from nearly a month in the US which has drained the budget a little - gotta love a 65 cent dollar. So it's a camping trip which should be a dream in 35-40 degree heat... Most expensive campground I've seen at $40 a night for an unpowered site but they have a deal to stay 3 nights and pay for 2 which brings it down a bit. Also I managed to get ahead of the increase in price for the National Park. Going up from $25 for a 3 day pass to $38 (I think) from the end of the month. But I booked it online for next month and paid the lower price.

So I'm going to try and minimise the cost of this one while making it enjoyable. Hired a car through the airline which was about 30% cheaper than the online sales too, not sure why. Usually about the same or more when I travel to capital cities. We'll be self-catering too. I will take some food but there's apparently an IGA in the village resort which is surprisingly reasonable they say.

With the frenzy of people wanting to climb the Rock now gone it should be a bit quieter, not to mention the hot weather putting people off. Should be fun!

 

[AIRwin]

Brings back fond memories of my camping trip there as part of a uni excursion back in December 1997, except it was on a 4WD all the way from MEL with no air con... Don't miss Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas)!

 

[samh004]

My only recommendation would be to not do the Field of Light dinner which consists of shared tables, but instead look into the more expensive Tali Wiru dinner, as the experience is unlike anything else.

 

[Warks]

Someone was recommending the Field of Light dinner to me but they'd done it 20 years ago or so.

Not going to miss the Valley of the Winds (Kata-Tjuta)! Will be out very early for our walks as they close the track there when it hits 36C apparently.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Don't miss Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas)!

Agree and I actually prefer them. Go for a walk in the Valley of the Winds.

 

[RB]

7 yrs since we did it but we camped during our visit-pleasantly surprised by the shower/toilet/washing facilities at the time. Plenty of groups getting up for sunrise when we were there so no need for an alarm clock. There are a few details of our time there in my trip report (we were there in Sept)

 

[samh004]

Someone was recommending the Field of Light dinner to me but they'd done it 20 years ago or so.

A night at Field of Light: $265

• 4 1/2 hours
• Canapes with sparkling wine
• Three-course buffet menu
• Shared tables with other guests
• Self-guided walk through Field of Light
• Sounds of Silence - OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Uluru Tours & Experiences | Ayers Rock Resort

Tali Wiru: $375

• 4 1/4 hours
• Canapes with champagne (was Perrier Jouet when I visited)
• Four-course table d-hote menu
• Private table (maximum 20 guests each night)
• After dinner discover the night sky with the use of a very powerful laser pointer
• Brandy and cocoa by the fire before heading back to hotels
• Includes Field of Light pass
• Tali Wiru | Intimate Dining Experiences at Uluru | Ayers Rock Resort

 

[Warks]

Hmm. Both of those options are well above my cheapskate tour budget... Is there a $10 barbeque option???

 

[Meggsy]

I was out there last week and it is noticeably quieter already. There is an IGA, prices are inflated but still reasonable, considering location. Shop early in the day as they sell out of a lot of things and don't restock until the evening. You can get a bacon and egg muffin and the like for breakfast at the shell servo reasonably cheaply and there is a cafe and noodle place in the town square where you can also eat without breaking the bank. Flies will be horrendous at that time of year so get a head net or similar. The shell in the resort is the only fuel in town for your rental car return also. Enjoy, it's a wonderful place.

 

[jastel]

There are cheaper restaurants in the town centre bit, pizzas, burgers etc.
Even the store at the campsite sells coke, chips ice creams etc.
The town is an easy walk from the camp grounds or wait for the free shuttle.
I did a Field of Lights thing for $90, there was wine and snacks but were up on a sand dune and could look down on it...on the higher sand dune was the dinner one.
The track around the rock and Olga’s have water filling stations now as well.
A 12 v fan will be a great accessory...I powered mine off a small lithium jump starter pack inside the tent, also charge phones etc, and then charge it up the next day driving in to the rock etc.

 

[Warks]

Thanks. some great tips there. I knew about the flies but was sure to forget them until I arrived! They'd be bush flies which eat Aerogard three meals a day.

 

[Flying Fox]

I simply did the Field of Lights self guided walk. Much cheaper. Had a better meal at home.

If I want a great or fancy meal, I'll eat in a proper restaurant with a proper chef vs pay fancy prices for an average meal.

 

[theblank]

Be carefull in that camping ground, when I was there a Dingo stole my parmesan cheese!
No, I am not joking, who would make that up. He tried to get the Saxa salt bottle first, but obviously didnt like the taste. Teeth marks bit clean through the plastic.

He must have been eying us off for a while, just nicked it when we were carrying the stuff back to and from the BBQ, we were only about 20m away when he grabbed it.

mangy scrawny thing too.

 

[AIRwin]

Be carefull in that camping ground, when I was there a Dingo stole my parmesan cheese!

At least it was just cheese...

 

[Max Samuels]

I worked at AYQ for a year almost 20 years ago.... expect hotter than 40 degrees. Much hotter. I remember seeing buses rolling up strips of bitumen on their tyres as the road surface literally melted in the extreme heat.

Personally I am sad that the climb has been closed. I suppose yet another watering down of our cultural identity (yes, I am also Australian even though my ancestory goes back only 200 years I don't believe I am any more or less Australian than anyone else - but I suppose this a chat for another forum).

Anyway, the climb was amazing. I did it 20+ times. Every time as glorious as the one before. The view from the top simply amazing. The true vastness of the desert clear, and horizon so devoid of any objects that you can see the curvature of the earth.... and, before the SJWs who have never been there come out and attack me for my "controversial opinion", the way I saw it, the locals didn't care if anyone climbed the rock. I worked with heaps of them - tour guides, cultural experts etc. In fact, what I heard most was that they were afraid by banning the climb, people wouldn't come, and tourist dollars (their only income) would plummet... interesting to see how this pans out.

But... things to do if you cannot climb? It is basically a giant overpriced tourist trap. Rent a car, make your own snacks and pack your own bottle of champagne and go and watch the sunrise and sunset yourself. The tour companies have no special access to anything that the general public do not - it is all the same. And you wont be missing out on any insightful commentary either. The tour companies are given an "approved" script that they are "encouraged" to read from re the rock and the local culture - so basically akin to doing a tour in N. Korea I imagine. All the info you need about the rock can be found elsewhere on the internet and in books, and heaven forbid you might actually learn something that hasn't been censored by Nanny State!

They used to allow you to go off-road 4WD-ing in the neighbouring Mt Connor (privately held land so no Nanny State to stop you having fun - I can't remember who you ask for access).

But basically.... do the mornings, hide during the day, and then do the evenings again. The stars are amazing too. In fact, do the Olgas Valley of the Winds late in the arvo.... very late.... as late as possible before sunset - make sure you pack a nice dinner and some drinks. Watch the sunset at the Olgas, and then hang around for the stars... technically you are not supposed to be in the park after sunset but there really isn't anyone around to enforce it... and if a gestapo ranger does come your way, they will simply remind you that you gotta get going.

And if it rains? Get in your car and speed out to the rock and watch the waterfalls - really amazing to see.

 

[RB]

Thanks. some great tips there. I knew about the flies but was sure to forget them until I arrived! They'd be bush flies which eat Aerogard three meals a day.

Maybe consider Mosiguard-Deet free & we have found it good in a variety of locations

 

[Warks]

Maybe consider Mosiguard-Deet free & we have found it good in a variety of locations

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard of it. Most of the 'natural' products I've tried over the years have been worse than useless. OFF! (picaridin) is brilliant vs sandflies but no good vs bush flies. Aerogard and OFF! are reasonably good vs mosquitoes. Aerogard and other DEET products are okay against flies in general but when the numbers are insanely high they are no good. For the NZ sandflies (pure evil) the only thing I've found to work is the super high concentration DEET lotion which seems fairly nasty. The jury is still out on DEET but it's not something I'd like to bathe in each day, that's for sure.

 

[Max Samuels]

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard of it. Most of the 'natural' products I've tried over the years have been worse than useless. OFF! (picaridin) is brilliant vs sandflies but no good vs bush flies. Aerogard and OFF! are reasonably good vs mosquitoes. Aerogard and other DEET products are okay against flies in general but when the numbers are insanely high they are no good. For the NZ sandflies (pure evil) the only thing I've found to work is the super high concentration DEET lotion which seems fairly nasty. The jury is still out on DEET but it's not something I'd like to bathe in each day, that's for sure.

Just buy a net to put over your Akubra hat...
From what i recall the flies didn't bite but were just super-annoying.... the net worked a treat!

 

[samh004]

Hmm. Both of those options are well above my cheapskate tour budget... Is there a $10 barbeque option???

I guess you have to look it as a once-in-a-lifetime thing. That said, if I ever visited again I'd probably eat there again as it was a good experience and good food.

If I want a great or fancy meal, I'll eat in a proper restaurant with a proper chef vs pay fancy prices for an average meal.

They do have a proper chef and facilities. I don't limit where I eat to having a roof over my head, especially when you can dine under the stars. The meal wasn't average either, but I doubt I'll convince you of that, so I wont bother trying. Needless to say, if I have been there and you haven't, I should know if it was any good. It was.

 

[karen blancfield]

Someone was recommending the Field of Light dinner to me but they'd done it 20 years ago or so.

Not going to miss the Valley of the Winds (Kata-Tjuta)! Will be out very early for our walks as they close the track there when it hits 36C apparently.

Field of Light installation is a couple of years old.... impossible to have done it 20 years ago! The drinks and nibbles package then time spent wandering under the night sky through the installation is worth doing and won’t blow the budget you mentioned you are on. Enjoy this spectacular part of the world, a one off visit for most.