Can you walk around Uluru?

Can I walk around Uluru by myself?

Yes. The Uluru Base Walk is a 10.6 km loop of about 3 hours 30 minutes, Grade 3, and you can walk it without a guide.

Parks Australia advises starting early from Mala car park and walking clockwise. The loop links the Mala, Kuniya, North-east and Lungkata walks described below. Walk with another person, as Parks Australia recommends.

If you do not have a car, the hop-on hop-off pass runs between Yulara and Uluru from sunrise to sunset, with pickups at Desert Gardens, Sails in the Desert, the Campground and the Outback Hotel and Lodge. It has no guide, and the park pass is not included.

Can I walk around Uluru for free?

No, a park pass is required to enter the park. Under-18s enter free, and the ranger-guided Mala walk is free for park visitors.

Parks Australia offers a 3-day pass and an annual pass. Buy it online, which is recommended, or at the entry station if you cannot buy online. Print it or save it to your phone and scan its QR code to open the gate; iPhone users can add it to Wallet. The NT Parks Visitor Pass does not cover Uluru-Kata Tjuta.

Once inside, ranger-guided activities cost nothing extra. The ranger-guided Mala walk runs daily from Mala car park, starting at 8:00am from October to April and 10:00am from May to September.

What time can you walk around Uluru?

Within park opening hours, which change by month. In summer, start at dawn and finish before 11:00am.

Parks Australia advises against walking after 11:00am in summer and recommends avoiding the hottest period, 2:30pm to 6:30pm. Some tracks close in the afternoon in summer because of the high risk of heat stroke. All visitors must leave the park by closing time.

What are the shorter walks at Uluru?

The Mala, Kuniya and Liru walks are short and Grade 2. The North-east and Lungkata sections close on very hot days.

• Mala Walk: 2 km, 1 hour 30 minutes, Grade 2. This is the route of the ranger-guided walk, and part of the Mala (rufous hare-wallaby) Tjukurpa.
• Kuniya Walk and Mutitjulu Waterhole: 1 km return, 30 to 45 minutes, Grade 2. There are no toilets but there is an emergency call device, and it is one of the busiest spots in the park.
• Liru Walk: 4 km, 1 hour 30 minutes, Grade 2, from the Cultural Centre to the base of Uluru.
• North-east Walk: 4.4 km, 1 hour 45 minutes. Closes for the day from 11am at 40C or above.
• Lungkata Walk: 4 km, 1 hour 30 minutes. Closes for the day from 2pm at 40C or above.

The season shapes which walks are practical; see the best time to visit Uluru.

What should I carry on the base walk?

Water above all: Parks Australia advises at least one litre per person per hour. Add a hat, sun protection and, in summer, a fly net.

For a walk of three and a half hours, that means several litres each. Avoid sports drinks, diet cordials and caffeine. Most walks have emergency radios, and you can call 000 or 112 from a mobile. Keep your distance from any king brown snake (liru) you see, and never touch or feed dingoes.

In summer, a protective head net makes a real difference against the flies. Start as early as the gates allow, and turn back if you feel unwell.

Sunrise, the full base walk with breaks and an outback picnic breakfast, in a small group of 11 at most.

Uluru Base Walk at Sunrise, Small Group · 6 hours · free cancellation up to 3 days before

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What are the best guided tours around Uluru?

For the full loop with a guide, the small-group base walk. For a short walk with a ranger, the free Mala walk. For sunrise with less walking, a coach tour.

The guided trek of the Uluru base lasts about 6 hours and starts about an hour before sunrise, with pickup from Ayers Rock Resort hotels. Per the listing, it covers sunrise, the full base walk (about 10.5 km per the listing, flat with breaks), the Kuniya walk to Mutitjulu, the Mala walk to Kantju Gorge and an outback picnic breakfast, for a maximum of 11 guests. Check the listing for whether the park ticket is included.

The sunrise coach trip spends its walking time at Kata Tjuta's Walpa Gorge instead. The 3-day camping tour also includes the full base walk on day 2. For more choices, read which Red Centre tour is best.

Can you take photos on the base walk?

Yes, in most places, but taking any photos of culturally sensitive sites is prohibited. These sites are marked by signs and shown on park maps.

Anangu also ask that you do not capture images or footage of the north-east face of Uluru. Wide shots from a distance are fine, but avoid showing details on the top-left side of the rock. Drones and other remote-controlled devices are prohibited in the park under the EPBC Act, and penalties apply. Visitors are asked not to film inside the Cultural Centre building or precinct.

Commercial or public use of park images, including by influencers, bloggers and content creators, requires a media permit.

Can you still climb Uluru?

No. The Uluru climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019. The base walk is the way to experience the rock up close.

Uluru is sacred to Anangu, and climbing was not generally permitted under Tjukurpa. Signs asking visitors not to climb had stood at the base since the 1990s, and in November 2017 the Board of Management voted unanimously to close the climb. As former chairman Sammy Wilson put it, closing the climb is not something to feel upset about but a cause for celebration.

Walking respectfully around the base, listening to a ranger and visiting the Cultural Centre are the best ways to learn about the place. For gentler ways to see it, read the easiest ways to see Uluru.

Frequently asked questions