Uluru & The Red Centre Holidays

Savour canapés and sparkling wine as the sun slowly sets over Uluru, with the sound of the didgeridoo setting the scene. Watch the coloured lights of 50,000 glass spheres illuminate the vast night sky while enjoying a three-course bushtucker-inspired buffet menu. Learn about the background and significance of the installation before following illuminated paths through the field.

• Duration: 4½ hours
• Start time: varies
• Departure days vary
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Tali Wiru means ‘beautiful dune’ in the local Anangu language and this open-air restaurant offers an intimate dining experience under the starry Southern Desert sky. Enjoy breathtaking sunset views of Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjuta whilst dining on a four-course dinner of world-class cuisine, premium Australian wine and indigenous storytelling.

• Duration: 4 hours
• Timings vary
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Spend an atmospheric evening dining beneath a sky full of lights. Wintjiri Wiru is a cultural experience at the Ayers Rock Resort. This immersive event begins on a platform for sunset with a cocktail with views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Once seated in the amphitheatre, guests are treated to a gourmet hamper celebrating native ingredients, paired perfectly with their choice of Australian wine or beer. As the sun sets and darkness falls, guests are treated to a spectacular display of drones, lights, traditional music, and Pitjantjatjara language, which come together to bring to life the Mala story under the desert sky. As the Anangu people are the custodians of the land, they hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share this story with guests, drones, light, and sound create an immersive storytelling experience.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Experience the serene beauty of Kata Tjuta during the early morning hours. As the sun rises, witness the iconic Central Australian landmark's changing colours. Enjoy a picnic breakfast while taking in the magnificent view. Walking through Walpa Gorge, you will learn about the diverse environment and how the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Take a moment to listen to the sound of the wind above and appreciate the scale of the rock walls surrounding you.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Spend an afternoon exploring Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, starting with a visit to the Cultural Centre, where you will have time to see the galleries and watch local Aboriginal artists at work. Afterwards, you’ll head to the base of Uluru, where your local guide will share the Aboriginal creation stories that give life to this giant formation. You’ll walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, where your guide will interpret the meaning of the ancient rock art and sacred sites you’ll see along the way. Finally, travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area, where you can relax with sparkling wine as you witness a famous Uluru sunset. After the sunset, you’ll return to Ayers Rock Resort.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Start time: 3pm
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Wake up early to visit Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, the Uluru sunrise viewing area. Witness the sun's first rays lighting the desert with hot tea or coffee. You’ll then visit the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta, enjoying panoramic views of the southern side of Kata Tjuta at a dune viewing platform before arriving at Walpa Gorge. Take time to explore the gorge and its unusual conglomerate rock formations. The 1.3km walking trail through Walpa Gorge follows the natural creek between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.

• Duration: 5½ hours
• Start time: 4.45am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

As you embark on a sunrise trek around Uluru's 12-kilometre base trail, you can immerse yourself in the culture, geology, and environment that define this remarkable monolith. Your guide will entertain you with the cultural stories and Aboriginal creation stories associated with this central Australian icon. During your journey, you’ll observe the sunrise, explore waterholes, and visit the rock art sites of the ancients while learning about Uluru's cultural significance to the Anangu people.

• Duration: 6 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Join a guide on a small group tour vehicle to explore the significance of Uluru – the most profound and culturally important monolith in Australia. Get to know Uluru's culture, geology, and environment as you stroll through Mutitjulu Waterhole, explore the Mala Walk, and visit rock art sites. Your guide will explain the significance of Uluru to the Anangu people and the local aboriginal community. Afterwards, head to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing area to witness an uninterrupted sunset over Uluru with Kata Tjuta in the distance, sipping on chilled sparkling wine.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Spend a full day getting to know Kata Tjuta and Uluru. Experience the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of a spiritual place as the colours of the sunrise change over Kata Tjuta. Enjoy a delightful picnic breakfast, then walk through Walpa Gorge to learn about this diverse environment and how the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Take some time to appreciate the sound of the wind high above and the vastness of the rock walls that surround you.

Later, you’ll join a guide and a small group to tour one of Australia's most profound and culturally significant monoliths, Uluru. Your journey will take you to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, followed by the Mala Walk and a visit to rock art sites. Your guide will share their knowledge of Uluru's importance to the Anangu people and the local Indigenous community.

• Duration: 5½ hours
• Start time: 4.45am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Join a guide on a journey to Kata Tjuta and learn about the area's geological history. Witness a sunrise over the domes of Kata Tjuta and Uluru in the distance while enjoying a light breakfast. Then, you’ll embark on the Valley of the Winds walk, starting at the Karu Lookout. Your guide will share the area's significance to the Anangu people and how they have used the natural landscape for thousands of years. Follow the rocky path down to the valley at the base of the massive domes, watching for local birds and wildlife. As you reach Karingana, look for incredible views over the plain and domes before returning to Ayers Rock Resort in time for lunch.

• Duration: 6 hours
• Start time: 4.40am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Begin your day early with a trip to Uluru's base for breakfast. Your driver and guide will accompany you as you embark on the Uluru base walk at sunrise, starting at Kuniya Piti. On this sacred site, you'll hear the Tjukurpa story of the Mala Men and the local Aboriginal people's beliefs and laws. You'll continue anticlockwise around Uluru to the Mala Walk, one of the most significant habitation areas for the local Aboriginal people over thousands of years. The Mala Walk includes a visit to Kantju Gorge, where, after rainfall, water cascades over the side of Uluru and falls some 90 meters. After a brief break, you'll continue to the Lungkata Walk, where your guide will tell you the Tjukurpa story of the cheeky Blue Tongue Lizard. The next stop is the Mutitjulu Waterhole, once an essential water source for the Anangu people. Your guide will highlight the landscape's natural features and Aboriginal rock paintings and share more traditional stories about this special place. Finally, you'll walk back to Kuniya Piti, where your walk began, and board your air-conditioned coach for the short trip back to Ayers Rock Resort.

• Duration: 6 hours
• Start time: 5.15am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Experience the peace and stillness of the early morning desert under a canopy of stars. Witness the incredible transformation of colours and life as the sun rises and the desert comes to life, with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as an incredible backdrop. Accompanied by an expert guide, Desert Awakenings is a specially designed tour introducing you to this fantastic region's natural and cultural landscapes. As you watch the distant domes of Kata Tjuta come into view, you'll enjoy a delicious Aussie breakfast of bacon and egg rolls, along with tea, coffee, and homemade treats.

After breakfast, your guide will explain the region's natural history. As the daylight reveals animal tracks in the sand, you’ll gain insight into what activity occurred during the night. Once the sun is up, there’s a guided tour at the base of Uluru. The first stop is Kuniya, where you will take a short walk to the Mutitjulu waterhole. Visiting here will help you appreciate its cathedral-like proportions and why it is a powerful and spiritual place for Anangu, local Aboriginal people. Your guide will explain some of the rock paintings as told by the Anangu people. The next stop is the Cultural Centre, a vibrant and engaging learning place where Anangu's local lore is explained in detail.

• Duration: 6 hours
• Timings vary
• Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Tjoritja West MacDonnell Ranges is a kaleidoscope ancient landscape that extends for 100 miles from Alice Springs. Witness the shades of purple, maroon and orange as you travel through the outback, hearing about the region’s history and geology. Visit John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve where the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is laid to rest, before heading out on a couple of walks: one at the natural opening in the red rock, Simpsons Gap, where you may spot a black-footed rock wallaby; and the other at Stanley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye, a narrow slot canyon that’s been shaped by rain and flood waters that is of huge cultural importance to (and owned by) the Arrernte community.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 7.30am to midday
• Daily departures from Alice Springs
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Entry to the national park requires a NT Parks Pass which is not included in the excursion.

This full-day tour is an excellent introduction to the cultural hub of Australia’s Red Centre, Alice Springs (known as Mparntwe in Arrernte). Prior to your tour of town, there’ll be time to visit Alice Springs Desert Park, where you can learn about the arid landscapes that surround Alice Springs, the region’s native wildlife and the Aboriginal survival in these harsh environments. After lunch, it’s time to start the guide part of the tour; you’ll be led by a passionate and knowledgeable guide who’ll explain how a simple waterhole beside a telegraph station became such an important Northern Territory town in the 21st Century.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 7.30am to 6pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience