- Duration
- 1 day, about 80 km by car (≈ 8 h 55 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- drive
- Start
- Talinguru Nyakunytjaku
- Finish
- Uluru car sunset viewing area
- Pace
- moderate pace
- Best time
- April–September; in summer do all walking before 11:00
- Budget per adult
- pass A$38 for 3 days, free under 18Prices 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. Talinguru Nyakunytjaku~1 h at the stop
The main sunrise area: platforms on the dunes with Uluru on one side and Kata Tjuta on the other. Two short walks on Anangu life, 1 km and 1.5 km, are wheelchair accessible.
Tip: It is 30 minutes from the resort and in October the park opens at 5:00, so leave in the dark.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 15 min · 12 km
2. Uluru Base Walk from the Mala car park~3 h 30 min at the stop
The full 10.6 km loop, about 3.5 hours. Short on energy: walk just the Mala walk to Kantju Gorge, 2 km return.
Tip: Do not photograph the north-east face; Anangu ask this.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 5 min · 3 km
3. Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre~2 h at the stop
A mud-brick building opened in 1995 for the 10th anniversary of the park's handback to Anangu. Exhibits, the Maruku Arts and Walkatjara Art galleries and Ininti Cafe.
Worth knowing: The mud-brick building takes the shape of the two ancestral snakes, Kuniya and Liru.
Tip: Ininti runs 8:00–17:00 and is the only place to buy food in the park; it does not serve dinner.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 5 min · 3 km
4. Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole~45 min at the stop
A short 1 km return walk to a permanent waterhole and a rock art cave. If you did the full loop this morning you have seen it, so skip this stop.
Tip: After heavy rain waterfalls run down the walls here, which is worth coming back for.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 15 min · 14 km
5. Uluru car sunset viewing area~1 h at the stop
The classic Uluru shot: the sun sets behind you and the rock turns orange, then deep red.
Tip: Drive to the far end of the car park and bring chairs. Shoot the rock whole; no zooming in on details.
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.