Two day explorer

Spend two full days in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park to get more of a feel for this amazing place.

From cultural activities to rock walks and desert sunsets, you’ll have no trouble filling a couple of days in the park.

Explore the landscapes and stories of our most iconic natural site.

Start the day with sunrise at Talinguṟu Nyakunytjaku. While you’re there, take the short Minymaku and Watiku walks to learn about Aṉangu culture and men’s and women’s business.

Head to the Cultural Centre for a coffee or snack and a chance to find out more about Aṉangu culture. Don’t forget to visit the info desk to find out which free cultural activities are on during your stay.

While you’re at the Cultural Centre, be sure to stop by the in-house galleries to check out some fantastic Aboriginal art. The galleries are Aṉangu-owned and operated, with all profits going back into the local community.

Drive to the Mala car park for our award-winning free ranger-guided walk. This walk starts at 8.00 am in summer and 10.00 am in winter, so you might want to swap it with your Cultural Centre visit during the hotter months.

From the Mala walk you can keep going and do the full Uluṟu base walk (about 3.5 hours) to get up close and personal with the rock. If you’re looking for something quicker, you can ride around the rock by bicycle (about 1 hour) or take the shorter Kuniya walk to Muṯitjulu Waterhole.

Then it’s time to eat lunch, relax and unwind. In summer or hot weather, we recommend staying in the shade or indoors for the hottest part of the afternoon. You could head back to the Cultural Centre, unleash your creative spirit at a dot-painting workshop or take a swim in one of the resort’s many pools.

Ayers Rock Resort offers a wide variety of free activities during the day. Ask at your hotel reception or the tour office in the Yulara town square for more information.

Once it starts to cool down, head back to the park. You might like to explore another section of the Uluṟu base walk or do the Liru walk, which takes you between the Cultural Centre and the base of the rock (1.5 hours return). For something a bit different, jump on a Segway and explore the base of Uluṟu without breaking a sweat.

For the quintessential Uluṟu experience, drive to the car sunset viewing area in time to enjoy the colours changing on the surface of the rock.

Other excellent places to watch the sunset at Uluṟu are:

• the Lungkata walk
• Kaṉtju Gorge on the Mala walk
• the second hut on the Liru walk
• Talinguṟu Nyakunytjaku. The main sunrise viewing area for Uluṟu is often empty at dusk and provides a stunning view of the sun setting next to the rock.

Once night falls, eat out at one of the many al-fresco dining options. There is something for every budget, from an outdoor BBQ in the park to the Sounds of Silence outdoor buffet and the exclusive Tali Wiru experience. Some dinners include star talks, giving you an insight into the spectacular night sky above Uluṟu.

After dinner, immerse yourself in Bruce Munro’s mesmerising Field of Light. Representing a meadow of desert wildflowers, this extraordinary installation features thousands of delicate coloured glass globes.

Discover the natural wonders and extraordinary geology of Kata Tjuṯa.

Get up early and drive to the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area to watch the sunrise. We suggest arriving about half an hour early to make sure you a good spot.

Experience the plants, animals and sheer rock walls of the Waḻpa Gorge walk (approximately one hour) before having a morning tea picnic at the Kata Tjuṯa sunset viewing area, which offers great views at any time of day.

Then you can escape to a world of peace, quiet and breathtaking landscapes in the Valley of the Winds. You can either do the full circuit (which takes about four hours) or a shorter walk to the Karu lookout.

The Valley of the Winds walk is sometimes partly or fully closed in hot weather – please check with the Cultural Centre for the latest information.

After that, we suggest taking a few hours to relax and unwind. You might like to explore the Cultural Centre further or go back to the resort for a rest, a swim or one of the daily activities.

This afternoon, return to the Kata Tjuṯa sunset viewing area to watch the domes changing colour at twilight. It takes almost an hour to drive to Kata Tjuṯa from the resort, so make sure you allow plenty of time. You’ll also need to leave Kata Tjuṯa at least 45 minutes before the park closes for the night.

After sunset, head back to the resort for dinner in the open air or at one of the many restaurants. If you didn’t experience Field of Light yesterday, we highly recommend an evening stroll through the meadow of illuminated glass globes.