Can you do a day trip from Alice Springs to Uluru?

Uluru is no doubt one of the most notable Australian landmarks. Visiting Uluru is a must as everyone should see the giant red rock at least once.

Driving from Alice Springs to Uluru takes about four and a half hours, meaning in total to get to Uluru and back would take at least nine hours. With that being said, and with the right organisation, it is possible to do a day trip from Alice Springs to Uluru.

Read on and find out the best ways to get to Uluru and what you can do in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Driving yourself

It’s possible to do the trip yourself driving either your own or a hire car. All you need to do is leave as early in the morning as possible so that you can be in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park by 10 to 11 AM. This way, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore the area before leaving Uluru around 8 PM if you want to be back in Alice Springs just after midnight.

When you’re in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for the day, there are a couple of things you must check out besides Uluru!

Kata Tjuta (Mount Olga or The Olgas) is a set of large domed rocks, all 36 of them! A long time ago, all these rocks formed a united landmark, but over millions of years, they were weathered down.

Mutitjulu Waterhole is one of the few permanent water sources in the area. It’s the perfect spot to find a tree to sit under for some shade and a quick rest. You’ll hear the birds around you and the water trickling.

We recommend always making a visit to the Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. You can spend around two hours in the culture centre and learn about the Anangu culture and the park’s national environment.

Join a tour

Alternatively, there are tours available for you to get to Uluru from Alice Springs. This is a great way to explore the area without having to drive yourself, or if you preferred your day already planned out for you.

This is our favourite one-day tour from Alice Springs to Uluru, where you can see so much more than just the big red rock. You’ll leave Alice Springs at sunrise and arrive at Kata Tjuta National Park over four hours later, ready for lunch. After your meal, you will walk into Walpa Gorge and see the domes while learning about the cultural significance of the Anangu people.

Next, we head to the Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn about how the Anangu people live here and discover the exhibits. Following this, there is also a guided cultural walk at Uluru’s base to see sacred sites. Then we will embark on another guided walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole to see First Nations rock paintings.

Before you head back to Alice Springs, you will enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner. You will be able to watch as the sun sets over Uluru with the sky lighting up with gold and pink before dusk takes over.

Now you know you can visit Uluru in a day from Alice Springs, what other sites and adventures do you plan to do when you’re at Kata Tjuta National Park for the day?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.