How much does it cost to go to Uluru?

Uluru’s size, beauty, and cultural significance has seen tourists visiting for years, but there are a few costs you need to be aware of when planning your trip.

Uluru is a bucket-list item for many people, but you can’t just rock up one day; there are a few expenses that you need to plan for.

Park Passes

Uluru is situated within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The park spans more than 1300km squared and contains some of Australia’s best known cultural and natural wonders. Like most large national parks in Australia, you need a park pass to enter.

Park passes are $25 for adults and grant three consecutive day’s entry into the park. You can extend your pass to five days for no additional charge. The money from passes goes directly into maintaining park facilities, preserving the park’s World Heritage sites, and financially supporting the traditional owners and communities whose land you are on.

You can purchase your pass online before arrival or in person at the gates. When you arrive at the park, simply scan your ticket and the gates will automatically open for you. We suggest pre-booking passes to ensure the easiest access into the parklands.

Getting to Uluru 

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Alice Springs airport or a ten-minute drive from Uluru Airport. Flights arrive daily from most Australian capital cities however return flights can be expensive. It’s a good idea to book early and visit in off-peak times when flights may decrease in price.

If flying into Uluru airport, there is a free shuttle bus to Ayers Rock Resort; However, there are no taxi or public transport options in this part of Australia. If you’re not keen on the five-hour drive from Alice Springs airport, you can catch a second flight to Uluru.

Hire Cars

Remember, you are in the Australian outback so if you were hoping to get an Uber to your accommodation you won’t have much luck.

Unless you’re joining a tour, you must have a car. Privately run charter buses are available to and from Uluru however their prices are high, and it often works out cheaper to hire a car than pay for return charters each day. Plus, it has the additional benefit of you not needing to adhere to someone else’s timetable!

As there is not too much competition for hire cars near Uluru, pre-booking is essential to both secure your car during busy periods and guarantee yourself the best price possible.

Important things to remember

Uluru and much of the Northern Territory is remote outback, and it’s important to remember this when organising your trip. Many of the transport and access options you use in the city are not available here, so you need to be organised.

The easiest way to ensure that you forget nothing and have easy transport to, from and throughout the park is to join a tour. There are plenty of single and multi-day tours available that include park entry, transport, and sometimes even accommodation. Booking onto a tour will often cost less than if you were to organise everything yourself- who doesn’t love a bargain!

Related article: How do you get to Uluru?

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.