Uluru
Highlights:
Inclusions:
Day 1 : Yulara
Arrive in Yulara, where your Australian Outback adventure begins. A small town at the southern end of the Northern Territory, Yulara is your gateway to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Make tracks across sunburnt plains to the captivating domes of Kata Tjuta, large red rock formations believed to be about 500 million years old. Continue to Australia’ most iconic landmark – Uluru. Arrive in time to witness a magical sunset. Watch Uluru change colours as the sun sets below the horizon, then continue to your camp where a hearty dinner awaits. Choose to bunker down Aussie-style and sleep in a cosy swag (bedroll) beneath the star-studded sky, or catch some shut-eye in a permanent tent.Total walking time: about an hour Accommodation: Permanent Tented Camp (shared facilities) (1 night) Special Information: This trip is flexible. As such, the described itinerary is only an example of the form your trip could take. Where you go and what you do can change depending on the group’s interests and weather conditions, however all trips will include visits to the following: Kata Tjuta, Uluru, Kings Canon, Palm Valley and the Western MacDonnell Ranges.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 : Uluru Sunrise
Wake early to catch an unforgettable Uluru sunrise, then get a closer look at this massive sandstone monolith on an unguided walk around its base. After your stroll, walk to the cave paintings near Mutitjulu Waterhole, where you will be met by an Anangu guide. Your guide will shed insight into the ancient rock etchings and the stories they tell, as well as the traditions of the land’s Traditional Owners. Next, visit the nearby Cultural Central to browse its extensive collection of Aboriginal arts and crafts. After a local lunch, set off on a three-hour drive to your exclusive campsite within Watarrka National Park. (Kings Canyon). Get acquainted with your surroundings, enjoy an on-site dinner and settle in for the night. Total driving time: approximately 3.5 hours Total walking time: approximately 2 hours Accommodation: Permanent Tented Camp (shared facilities) (1 night)
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 : Kings Canyon
After breakfast, pull on your hiking shoes and set off to explore Kings Canyon. Plunging 270 metres/885 feet to the canyon floor, walking its rim reveals incredibly beautiful sandstone formations carved by wind and water. Discover its Amphitheatre, Lost City, North and South Walls and the surprisingly lush Garden of Eden, which owes its cycads and plant life to a permanent waterhole down in the canyon. After lunch, there’s time to relax for a bit before heading along an iconic Red Centre dirt track to the Western McDonnell Ranges. Today driving time: about 5 hours. Today walking time: about 3 hours. Accommodation: Bush Camping (basic facilities) (1 night) Special Information: For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have a minimum of 3 litres of water with you. Please consider bringing your own refillable water bottles.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 : Western MacDonnell Ranges
Spend the afternoon exploring the Outback scenery of the Western Macdonnell Ranges. Visit one of the most photographed places in the Red Centre – Ormiston Gorge. Keep your eyes peeled for wallabies while admiring the colourful, sweeping walls surrounding its waterhole. Continue to Ellery Creek Big Hole, a popular spot for a refreshing dip. After a satisfying day spent exploring the MacDonnell Ranges, your tour leader will find a suitable place to set up your bush camp for the night. Total driving time: about 45 minutes. Total walking distance: up to 10 kilometres/6.2 miles. Accommodation: Bush Camping (basic facilities) (1 night)
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 : Eastern MacDonnell Ranges
Often overlooked for its western counterpart, the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges just might be one of the Outback’s best kept secrets. This is the home of the Arrernte people, the Traditional Owners of the land. Learn about their caterpillar dreamtime story on a short walk to Emily Gap, an important spiritual site to the Arrernte containing galleries of ancient rock paintings. Drive to Trephina Gorge, where you’ll set off on a one-hour guided walk to see its quartzite cliffs and rich birdlife. After exploring the best of the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges, it’s on to Alice Springs where your Outback adventure ends upon arrival in the late afternoon. Total driving time: approximately 1 hour. Your trip is set to finish at approximately 4pm in Alice Springs today, subject to any changes or delays in your schedule. Onward travel must be booked the following day.
Meals : None
Departs:
Select Sundays April to November - Joining point: Desert Gardens Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort or Airport (dependent on flight arrival time, confirm at time of booking). Please note pick up times from Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) do vary at different times of the year due to daylight savings and flight time changes. Please advise flight details at time of booking and contact us if you require further information.
Pick Ups:
WINTER SCHEDULE – No lunch included (2nd April 2023 - 30th September 2023)
If your flight arrives BEFORE 1:00pm your guide will meet you at the front of the Desert Gardens hotel at 1:45pm (Outback Pioneer @ 1:50pm). The Free Yulara Airport Shuttle is available from the airport to the Desert Gardens Hotel. No bookings are required, just look for the regular shuttle in front of the airport once you have collected your luggage.If your flight arrives between 1:00pm - 1:35 pm please meet your Adventure Tours guide at Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) @ 14:00pm. Please do not book any flights arriving after 1:35pm as you will not be able to join trip.
SUMMER SCHEDULE – Lunch included (1st October 2023 – 6th April 2024)
If your flight arrives BEFORE 11:00am your guide will meet you at the front of the Desert Gardens hotel at 1:15pm (Outback Pioneer @ 1:20pm). The Free Yulara Airport Shuttle is available from the airport to the Desert Gardens Hotel. No bookings are required, just look for the regular shuttle in front of the airport once you have collected your luggage. If your flight arrives between 11:00am - 12:45pm please meet your Adventure Tours guide at Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) @ 1:00pm. Please do not book any flights arriving after 12:45pm as you will not be able to join trip
Returns:
Central Alice Springs accommodation. This tour finishes on arrival in Alice Springs at around 6pm. Finishing times may be earlier during the summer months. Please take this into consideration when booking any onward travel out of Alice Springs. We cannot guarantee arriving in time to board the Ghan or any flight on this day. You will need to book an extra night of accommodation to extend your stay here, please contact our sales staff if you would like to arrange accommodation in Alice Springs after your tour.
What to Bring:
Water bottle (at least 1.5 litres)
Sturdy walking shoes
Hat and sunscreen
Towel and toiletries
Camera/phone and batteries or charger
Headlight or torch
Insect repellent/flynet
Luggage Limit:
15kg in soft bag plus carry on day pack. No hard cases please.
Dietary Requirements:
Please advise any dietary requirements at time of booking.
Extra Cost:
A sleeping bag is required for this trip. Bring your own, or pre-purchase from ATA