I’m Visiting Uluru: Should I Stay at Yulara or Alice Springs?

You have many options when exploring the Red Centre!

Visiting Uluru is an experience that will take you back millions of years and transport you to a time of immense culture and spirituality. Situated in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, Uluru and its surroundings truly showcase the best of Australia. The Red Centre covers over 550,000 square kilometres (200,000 square miles), so there’s much to explore!

Although climbing the rock stopped in 2019, there’s still plenty to do in and around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. You can check out the views from a helicopter, join cultural walking tours, have dinner under the stars, or catch the sunset over the 348 metre monolith.

Uluru is often called the ‘Heart of Australia’ and is definitely the highlight of the outback. Don’t forget to check out the breathtaking Kings Canyon and the impressive Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas.

But Central Australia is so big! Where should I stay?

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the Northern Territory’s third largest town and is a cultural hub of Indigenous Australian history. Nicknamed Alice, the town boasts extraordinary natural landscapes, outback adventures, and a wealth of Aboriginal heritage and connection. Often referred to as the unofficial capital of the Northern Territory, Alice Springs is commonly thought to be the closest town to Uluru, but this is not the case.

Though Alice Springs is the nearest major town to Uluru, it’s about a 4.5 hour drive (450 kilometres) to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Despite the distance, it’s a great base for your adventures.

The drive is scenic, and you can pick from one day tours or multi day camping experiences where you can choose between sleeping under the stars or more comfortable outback setups. Plus, Alice Springs offers plenty of accommodation options, from luxury hotels and resorts to outback roadhouses and rural station stays!

Remember, you have lots of options in the Red Centre! Alice Springs is a great base for enjoying hot air ballooning, camel rides, wildlife parks, museums, historic sites, and a diverse range of Aboriginal cultural experiences.

Yulara

Credit: Tourism NT/Lola and Jira/Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park

Alternatively, there’s Yulara, a charming desert town just 20 kilometres from the base of Uluru, right on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Being the nearest town to Uluru, Yulara is perfect for travellers who want to be close to the rock without long drives. It has a conveniently located airport and plenty of shuttle services to bring you right up to Uluru!

You may be thinking that Yulara is the obvious option if you wish to see Uluru but keep in mind that you cannot actually camp within the national park, and the majority of the campgrounds and accommodations still lie outside the border. 

While many travellers enjoy a multi day outback adventure, it might not be ideal for everyone or fit into a busy schedule. Instead, you could stay at one of the local resorts, deluxe cabins, or pubs!

Exploring the vast Australian outback might be a once in a lifetime experience, so your choice of where to stay will depend on the type of adventure you’re after. No matter what you choose, you’re guaranteed to be surrounded by the enchantment of the Red Centre.

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.