Uluru Tours & Day Trips

The best Uluru tours are timed to the light, so most itineraries are built around a sunrise, a sunset or both. Almost everything leaves from Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara, with coach pick-ups and transfers handling the trip into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Here's how the tours break down by time of day and style, and the Uluru region overview has the bigger picture if you're still planning the whole trip.

Sunrise tours at Uluru

Sunrise tours mean a very early start, but the rock is quiet and the colours shift quickly. The Uluru Sunrise and Field of Light Tour is a popular choice: a coach pick-up from Ayers Rock Resort, hot drinks at the viewing area, and time in Bruce Munro's Field of Light with views of both Kata Tjuta and Uluru. Breakfast isn't included, so eat before you go.

To get right up to the rock, the Uluru Morning Guided Base Walk departs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays about an hour before sunrise. It covers a 10.5km walk with a light breakfast, the Mala walk, Kantju Gorge, Aboriginal rock paintings and the Tjukurpa story, and returns at 11.30am from April to September or 11am from October to March. That return time can clash with airport transfers the same day, so check your flight.

Sunset tours at Uluru

Sunset is the classic Uluru moment, and there are a few ways to do it. The Uluru Sunset Tour with wine and nibbles departs daily from April to November (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from December to March), with an optional BBQ dinner that stretches the evening. The Uluru Sunset Viewing Tour with Sparkling Wine and Canapes leaves an hour and a quarter before sunset and gets you back about half an hour after the sun goes down.

If you'd like some walking first, the Uluru Cultural Tour with Sunset BBQ Dinner is a half-day option that adds the Mala trail, the Mutitjulu Waterhole and the Aboriginal Cultural Centre before the BBQ.

Day tours from Uluru to Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon is a long way out, so day tours from Uluru to Kings Canyon start early. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk tour from Uluru leaves Ayers Rock Resort at 4am from April to November (4.30am from December to March), stops for breakfast at Kings Creek Station and returns around 5pm. The rim climb takes up to three hours and needs moderate fitness, with an easier canyon floor walk as an alternative.

Short on time or energy? Helicopter flights over the canyon leave from Kings Canyon Resort in 8-minute, 15-minute and 30-minute versions, and the longest follows the George Gill Range. The full range is on the Kings Canyon tours from Uluru page.

Segway tours around the base of Uluru

Segway tours cover a stretch of the base that would take a long time on foot, with training, a guide and stops at the Mutitjulu waterhole and the Mala walk. Sunrise, sunset and afternoon departures are on the Uluru Segway tours page. The sunset Segway tour is a 5-hour outing that finishes with sparkling wine, the sunrise Segway tour includes a light breakfast, and the 4-hour afternoon tour adds Kantju Gorge.

Stargazing and evening tours

Once the sun has gone, the Uluru Astronomy Tour with Photography is a 2.5-hour session with transfers from Ayers Rock Resort, telescopes and binoculars, a look at Indigenous astronomy and a photo of you under the stars. Winter nights are cold, so pack a beanie and gloves.

Choosing the right Uluru tour

Coach-based sunrise and sunset viewing tours are the easier option for families and anyone who'd rather limit the walking. The base walk and Segway tours ask for more fitness, and Segway riders need closed shoes. If you can't decide, pair one sunrise with one sunset and leave the middle of the day free for a flight or the pool.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Uluru without a tour?

Yes, many visitors explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park independently. A guide adds cultural and natural history, and some experiences, such as Segway rides, only run as guided tours. National park fees apply and aren't included in every tour, so check the inclusions before you book.

What are the best Uluru tours with kids?

Sunset viewing tours suit most families. The sunset tour with wine and nibbles has child tickets for ages 2 to 15, the astronomy tour also covers ages 2 to 15, and the Uluru Cultural Tour with Sunset BBQ Dinner has child tickets for ages 3 to 15. The Field of Light tour has child and infant tickets.

What are the best Uluru tours for seniors?

Coach-based sunset and sunrise viewing tours involve the least effort, with a driver guide and commentary. The base walk and Segway tours need more fitness, and the Kings Canyon rim climb needs a moderate level of fitness.

How early do sunrise tours start?

Field of Light sessions are scheduled from 4.30am to 5.45am, and the Segway sunrise tour picks up about an hour before sunrise. Times shift through the year with the sunrise, so confirm your pick-up time with the operator.

Can I visit Kings Canyon as a day tour from Uluru?

Yes. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk tour is a 13-hour day, leaving Ayers Rock Resort at 4am from April to November and returning about 5pm, with breakfast at Kings Creek Station.

Whichever tour you choose, check pick-up times a day or so ahead, because sunrise and sunset move through the year. Flights, activities and cultural experiences all slot in around them.