I went on a 3-day tour of Uluru and the surrounding areas with The Rock Tour and I can highly recommend the experience. We spent 3 days hiking in stunning outback landscapes and learning about Aboriginal Culture. Read on to discover my honest experience and additional information you need to know for your trip to the Australian outback.
The 3-Day Tour
The Rock Tour has a number of different tour options. I would have loved to spend longer or even exploring Australia’s Red Centre on my own. However traveling on my own I decided to go for the 3 Day Uluru - Alice Springs to Alice Springs, as it would enable me to see as much as possible of Uluru and the surroundings in just 3 days.
Day 1: Uluru
The tour started with a 1pm pick up from the Yulara - Ayers Rock airport. The first stop of the tour was the Cultural Centre. There is a big exhibition that teaches you about the Aboriginal culture and the National Park.
After visiting the Cultural Centre we drove to Uluru, where we did the Uluru base walk. There are a number of small caves with indigenous rituals and paintings to discover. Furthermore you learn about the painting methods and the meaning of the symbols. The walk finished at the Mutitjulu Waterhole. We then drove to the sunset viewing stop. There is s big car park and you will find a lot of other people there. Watching the sun go down next to Uluru is just a magical experience. We also had dinner at this stop. Afterwards we drove to the campsite, where we prepared our bed for the night - a swag.
Day 2: Kata Tjuta
We left the campground early in the morning to make sure we were at the Uluru sunset point in time for sunrise. We were happy to see that we were there with only a handful of other people. We had breakfast before driving to the next stop Kata Tjuta. I was so surprised that there are similar rock formations close to Uluru. And in my opinion Kata Tjuta is even more beautiful and interesting than Uluru. We went on a guided walk through to the Valley of the Winds. We hiked directly to Karingana Lookout and then hike back which took us around 2.5 hours. Most of the hike is pretty flat with occasional extremely steep sections. From there we then had a long drive to our camp for the night. We did a few stops along the way for lunch and to see Mount Connor and Salt Lake.
Day 3: Hike in Kings Canyon
It's another early start for day 3, so that we could make it to King's Canyon in time before it became too hot to hike. There are a number of different hikes that you can do at King’s Canyon, however we did the 6km full circuit which took us 3 hours. The loop starts with a very steep uphill walk along what is known as Heart Attack Hill. It’s very steep but it’s doable and once you reach the summit you will be rewarded with beautiful views over the surrounding area. After Heart Attack Hill the rest of the walk is pretty flat. We finished the hike and went on for lunch. We then drove to Alice Springs with occasional stops. The tour ended around 5pm and we met later for dinner at The Rock Bar.
How to prepare for your trip in the outback
I wish I’d known and been better prepared for this trip. That is why I share this list of things to help you prepare for a trip in the Australian outback.
Fly repellent
One of the things I was not ready for on my outback trip were the flies. They are so freaking annoying. Nobody told me there would be so many flies everywhere! You will be pestered by flies. They will fly in your ears, nose and mouth.
The best remedy agains flies are the ridiculous looking fly nets. Even though they look a bit silly I would highly recommend them and I regret that I didn't take one! Learn from my mistakes 🙂 I bought a repellent that you apply on your exposed skin and the smell keeps the flies away but unfortunately it didn't work at all. All of these can be bought at the shops in Yulara or Alice Springs but I found them too expensive. Try to get one before traveling in the outback.
Sunscreen
Don't forget your sunscreen! In the Australian desert, make sure to bring a high SPF one and don’t forget to reapply on a regular basis. The sun there is stronger than what you are used to.
Water bottles
The Rock Tour Bus always had a tank of fresh drinkable water on board, however you will need your own water bottles to fill up. You will have to bring two 1.5L bottles when you get off the bus and start hiking.
Food
When I made my booking I wrote in the additional comment section that I am vegan. The tour is actually pretty vegan friendly, however I recommend bringing your own snack or fruit. Whatever you desire.
Pack the right clothes
As the tour involves a lot of hiking it is essential to take some comfortable walking shoes. Take some light clothes and layer your t-shirt and long sleeve. Most of the days I wore a long leggings as that is what I feel most comfortable in wearing while hiking. The temperatures drop considerably at night and you will want a hoodie or long sleeved top for the evenings/ nights - just an extra layer.
Pack a small bag
The Rock Tour will store your luggage in a trailer in the back of the bus. I found it pretty easy to pack all my essential things in the backpack and take another smaller one packed with snacks, camera, money, etc. to take on the bus with me.
Visiting Uluru was a magical experience for me, and I am happy that even though it took me 3 years, I managed to book this tour. I was a bit concerned I would be doing a huge trip just for a big red rock in the middle of nowhere and waisting my money on it- as it surely is quite an expensive trip! But it is a once in a lifetime trip and looking back I am glad that I went on this tour.
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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write them in the comment section below. ⇣
xx
Nina