- Duration
- 1 day, about 160 km by car (≈ 6 h: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- drive
- Start
- Kata Tjuta dune viewing area
- Finish
- Field of Light
- Pace
- moderate pace
- Best time
- April–September; Valley of the Winds before 11:00 in the heat
- Budget per adult
- park pass plus Field of Light from A$50, child A$39Prices as of: October 2026
Getting there
Fly into Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ): Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Ayers Rock Resort hotel guests ride a free AAT Kings coach, no booking needed. There are no taxis or public transport in the park, so you need a hire car, a tour or a hop on hop off bus pass. From the resort it is about 20 minutes to Uluru and about 45 minutes to Kata Tjuta.
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. Kata Tjuta dune viewing area~45 min at the stop
A panorama of the Kata Tjuta domes with Uluru on the horizon. Busy at sunrise, quiet at sunset.
Tip: Keep at least five domes in frame, as the park asks. Drones are banned in the park.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 15 min · 12 km
2. Valley of the Winds to Karu Lookout~1 h 30 min at the stop
The short version: 2.2 km return, about an hour. The full 7.4 km loop takes 3–4 hours.
Tip: On this walk Anangu ask that the domes are not photographed at all.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 10 min · 6 km
3. Walpa Gorge~1 h at the stop
An easy 2.6 km return path into the gorge between the domes, with a wheelchair-accessible section.
Tip: Bring a packed lunch: no food is sold anywhere near Kata Tjuta.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 50 min · 55 km
4. Field of Light~1 h 30 min at the stop
Bruce Munro's installation: more than 50,000 glowing glass spheres in the desert, ten years old in 2026.
Tip: General admission from A$50, child A$39; the Star Pass with canapes and sparkling wine from A$137. Transfers run from the hotels.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.