Want to discover a lesser-known part of Australia? We check out Uluru, one of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks and what to do in the area!
If visiting one of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks – Uluru – is on your bucket list and gathering dust, then get ready to dust it down my friends. There’s a slew of new tourism offerings designed to showcase the magnificence of this iconic sandstone monolith in the heart of the Northern Territory’s arid ‘Red Centre’, ensuring an otherworldly experience for the whole family.
Click to read more:
The tours & experiences
Where to stay in Uluru
Why Uluru is perfect for families
Best time to visit
Getting there
About the iconic Uluru
Around 550 million years in the making, give or take, Uluru has been around for a while, but recently a number of exciting tours and experiences have launched that are even more enticing for the next family holiday adventure. I visited Uluru with my 14-year-old-daughter and can report it was one of the best mother-daughter adventures we’ve had together. We laughed, we learned, we lived an outdoor adventure of gargantuan proportions with a lesson in Australia’s oldest living culture.
The tours & experiences
There’s no shortage of tours and experiences to choose from around Uluru – 101, to be precise. At Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, families can embark on all sorts of exciting adventures, designed for all ages, including camel rides through the iconic desert landscape and guided cultural walks that introduce the rich heritage of the local Anangu people. The resort also offers a bunch of free experiences, like the astronomy guide, garden and bush tucker tours, where families can learn about local Indigenous culture, food sources and even taste native delicacies.
My daughter and I tried to fit as many tours into our three-day adventure as possible! Here’s what we enjoyed the most.
Number one for families with kids older than 12 years, is the Sunrise Uluru Segway Tour. It’s a wonderful way to not only see the sun rise spectacularly behind Uluru, but circumnavigate the entire site on segways that can reach up to 10km per hour. Uluru by Segways tour is a unique opportunity to play, race, roam right around the base of Uluru and enjoy a guided walking tour to boot where you’ll see the famous Muṯitjulu Waterhole.
For families who love bright lights and spectacular drone shows, then look no further than the Wintjiri Wiru – offered as either a Sunset Dinner, Twilight Tour or an After Dark experience. We chose the Sunset Dinner which meant we could indulge in a sunset drink with stunning views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, followed by a gourmet hamper filled with gorgeous cheeses and nibbles, with the finale being the unique drone and laser show telling a chapter of the ancient Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru!
If wandering dreamily through a fantasy garden covered with 50,000 lights sounds enticing, then I urge you to experience the Field of Light tour. We experienced the Field of Light Star Pass, which allowed us to enjoy drinks and tasty canapes while watching the sun set atop an exclusive dune top overlooking Uluru, then as darkness fell, the Field of Light installation came to life and we were able to walk through the pathways surrounded by deep red, violet, blue and gentle white light, while eagerly snapping photos.
Where to stay in Uluru
The Voyages Ayers Rock Resort is a bit like a compound in many ways. Regular coaches and buses service the hotels and accommodations so you really don’t need to hire your own car unless you want to venture further afield, like to Kings Canyon. Everything you’ll need is in or serviced by the resort and its facilities. There’s even a little township with a supermarket, specialty shops selling locally produced artisan products, Gallery of Central Australia (GOCA) selling a range of incredible indigenous art works, and the Red Ochre Spa, offering a range of treatments located within Sails in the Desert Hotel. The resort is also equipped with amenities such as pools, a variety of restaurants with kid-friendly menus, and childcare services.
Families with kids of all ages will absolutely love visiting the Uluru Camel Tours farm and wandering through the museum saddlery and animal petting farm. There’s tons to learn and see here and you’ll tick off seeing kangaroos and experiencing a camel tour from your bucket list!
The accommodation choices
There’s a range of family-friendly accommodations catering to all budgets and preferences around Uluru, and families are very well looked after at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, where you can be sure of great food options too.
We checked into the Desert Gardens Hotel for the incredible view! Our room featured a private balcony overlooking the desert landscape and Uluru – really, there’s nothing quite like waking up in a hotel room overlooking a UNESCO-heritage listed geological wonder.
Emu Walk Apartments is an excellent choice for families seeking a home-away-from-home experience, for spacious one or two-bedroom apartments, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a separate living area. These self-catering facilities provide the flexibility to prepare meals, making it ideal for families with children of all ages.
Families wanting to splurge can check into Sails in the Desert hotel. This hotel offers a luxurious stay with interconnecting rooms and suites with expansive grounds hosting a large pool – perfect for children to splash around in after a day of sightseeing. The onsite restaurant caters to all tastes, with a special menu designed for younger guests. Our favourite dining experience was the Ilkari restaurant for an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast or dinner experience that covers all the bases. I dare you to walk past the dessert section or the enticing chocolate fountain empty-handed!
Budget-conscious families can opt for the Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge, which offers a range of affordable options from hotel rooms to budget cabins. The communal kitchen and barbecue area provide a great space for families to hangout and cook together.
Why Uluru is perfect for families
Visiting Voyages Ayers Rock Resort and Uluru is perfect for families of all ages due to the diverse range of activities and amenities tailored to different interests. The opportunities to engage with the Anangu people and learn about their culture, traditions, and connection to the land meant we had the very rare chance to experience one of the oldest living cultures in today’s fast moving world.
Even though my daughter and I like doing different things when we go on holiday (I love wandering around an art gallery or experiencing a sunrise, while she loves hanging poolside and taking sunset videos for her socials), at Uluru, we threw ourselves into enjoying as many cultural and educational activities together because we had limited time there. We’ll always have wonderful memories to look back on from our time at Uluru.
Best time to visit
The Australian cooler or winter months (May to September) are the best time to visit because temperatures are milder, ranging from 10°C to 25°C, making the outdoor activities, tours and hiking much more comfortable.
Additionally, the chance of rainfall is lower, providing clear skies perfect for stargazing and uninterrupted views of the stunning desert landscapes. And, let’s not forget the flies! Australia is renowned for having some of the most relentless flies in the world – to combat this, consider visiting in cooler months and use face netting during your stay.
Location & getting there
Uluru/Ayers Rock, is located in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It lies within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, approximately 335km southwest of Alice Springs, the nearest major town. Uluru is a stunning geological UNESCO Heritage listed wonder and if you are lucky enough to be seated on the side of the plane that flies adjacent to it, you and the family will surely gasp for air at its sheer splendour and magnitude.
Flight route from Singapore to Uluru/Ayers Rock
To travel from Singapore to Uluru/Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ), you’ll typically need to connect through one or two Australian cities, as there are no direct flights. Here’s a common flight route:
Singapore to Sydney or Melbourne: Start with a direct flight from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to either Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) or Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Scoot offer frequent flights on these routes, with a flight duration of approximately 7-8 hours.
Internal Flights from Sydney or Melbourne to Uluru/Ayers Rock: From Sydney or Melbourne, take a domestic flight to Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ). Airlines like Qantas and Jetstar operate regular flights on these routes. The flight from Sydney takes about 3.5 hours, while the flight from Melbourne takes around 3 hours.
