Short answer: no, you cannot climb Uluru. The climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019 at the request of its Traditional Owners, the Anangu. You do need a park pass: $38 for an adult 3-day pass, and under 18s go free (checked October 2026). Uluru is 465 km from Alice Springs by road, about 5.5 hours of driving, or a short flight into Ayers Rock Airport at Yulara. Most visitors stay two to four days, and the cool months, May to September, are the best time to go.
Facts below were checked against the official Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park site (Parks Australia), Northern Territory Government parks pages and Ayers Rock Resort on 27 October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm the park pass before you go.
Questions: the rock, the name and the rules
Can you climb Uluru?
No. The Uluru climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019. The park’s Board of Management, which has a majority of Traditional Owners, made the decision in 2017. Climbing was not generally allowed under Tjukurpa, Anangu law and culture, and climbing the rock is now an offence under national environment law. Anangu welcome visitors to walk around the base instead.
Why was the Uluru climb closed?
Because Uluru is sacred to Anangu and the climb was never part of their law. The Board closed it once demand to climb dropped below the 20 per cent threshold set for closure, and the closing date fell on the anniversary of the 1985 handback of the park to its Traditional Owners. The official park site describes the closure as a cause for celebration, not sadness.
Is it Uluru or Ayers Rock?
Both names are correct. Uluru is the original name in the Pitjantjatjara language and has no English translation. Explorer William Gosse named it Ayers Rock in 1873 after Sir Henry Ayers, then Chief Secretary of South Australia. The official name has been dual since 1993 and is now “Uluru / Ayers Rock”. The park itself always uses Uluru, and so do we.
What is Kata Tjuta?
Kata Tjuta, once called the Olgas, is a group of 36 large domes about 45 minutes’ drive from Ayers Rock Resort, and part of the same national park. The name is Pitjantjatjara for “many heads”. Its best-known short walk is Walpa Gorge, a narrow valley between two domes. Every multi-day Uluru tour we sell includes it.
Can you take photos of Uluru?
Yes, with a few limits. Anangu ask visitors not to take or share images of people climbing the rock, and the north-east face is a culturally sensitive area where they ask for no photos or footage at all, because it has sacred sites that are meant to be seen in person. Look for the signs. Drones and other remote-controlled devices are not allowed anywhere in the park, and commercial photography needs a permit.
Questions: park pass and costs
Do you need a park pass for Uluru, and how much is it?
Yes. An adult 3-day pass for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park costs $38, and an adult annual pass is $50. Children and teenagers under 18 go free (Parks Australia, checked October 2026). You can buy online and scan the QR code at the entry station, or buy at the gate if online is not possible. The pass covers this park only, not Kings Canyon.
Is the park pass included in a tour?
On our multi-day Uluru tours, yes. Park entry is included on the 4, 5 and 7-day tours, and it is not included on the sunset day tour or the Segway and helicopter extras. Check the line on the tour page before you book. All the prices and inclusions are in one list: Uluru tour prices.
How much does an Uluru tour cost?
A guided Uluru sunset day trip is from $329, and a 4-day Alice Springs to Yulara tour with Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon is from $799. The 5-day loop back to Alice Springs is from $1,539. The full breakdown, with what is and is not included, is in how much an Uluru tour costs.
What is the cheapest way to get to Uluru?
From Alice Springs without a car, the simplest one-way option we sell is the Alice Springs to Ayers Rock Resort Coach Transfer from $269. If you want the rock, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon as well, the cheapest multi-day option is the 4-day swag tour at $799, with meals, camping and park entry included.
Questions: getting there and getting around
How far is Uluru from Alice Springs?
Uluru is 465 km from Alice Springs by road, and the park says to allow about 5.5 hours if you drive directly. The road is fully sealed. Ayers Rock Resort is about 450 km from Alice Springs, the nearest town of any size. Expect nothing in between except roadhouses, so fill the tank when you can.
How far is Uluru from Kings Canyon?
About 324 km via Luritja Road, roughly 4.5 hours of driving (Tourism Central Australia). Alice Springs to Kings Canyon is about 473 km, around six hours, on the sealed route via Luritja Road. The shorter Mereenie Loop is unsealed and needs a 4WD. This is why multi-day tours exist: the three icons are a long way apart.
Can you fly to Uluru?
Yes. Ayers Rock / Connellan Airport (AYQ) at Yulara has direct flights from Sydney (about 3 hours), Melbourne (2 hours 40), Brisbane (3 hours 15) and Cairns (2 hours 50), on Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar (Parks Australia). The airport is 10 minutes from the resort. If you fly in, our 4-day tour ends at Yulara, so you can fly out of the rock instead of backtracking.
Can you visit Uluru without a car or a tour?
Yes, but you need a plan. The park says there are no taxis or public transport. Beyond the free shuttle inside the Yulara resort village, the options are a hop-on hop-off bus from the resort to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, a guided tour, or cycling and Segway rides around the base. From the resort, Uluru is 20 minutes away and Kata Tjuta is 45. A day tour is the simplest choice, such as the Uluru Sunset Day Tour from $329.
How many days do you need at Uluru?
Two to four days. Two covers the rock at sunrise and sunset, the base walk and Kata Tjuta. Add a third day for Kings Canyon and a fourth to slow down. A one-day visit works if you fly in, but you will spend much of it moving between sights. Our multi-day tours fit all three icons into 4 to 5 days; see Uluru tours compared.
Questions: when to go and what to expect
What is the best time to visit Uluru?
May to September. Daytime maximums are usually 20 to 30 degrees, it is dry, and walking is safer and more pleasant. Winter days are about 20 to 24 degrees with overnight lows of 4 to 9 degrees, and August and September are the best months for wildflowers (Parks Australia). Pack a warm layer for sunrise either way.
How hot does Uluru get in summer?
From October to March, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees. The park advises drinking plenty of water and not walking after 11am in the hot months. Some tracks close in the afternoon in summer because of the risk of heat stroke. Summer is also the season for storms, rain and big numbers of flies.
How long is the Uluru base walk?
The full loop is 10.6 km and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, and it is graded 3 (moderate) (Parks Australia). Start early from the Mala carpark and go clockwise, because there is little shade. Water, toilets and emergency call devices are along the route. On hot days you can do shorter sections instead.
How long is the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, and when does it close for heat?
The Rim Walk is a 6 km loop that takes 3 to 4 hours and is graded 4 (moderate to difficult), with a hard climb at the start. On days when the forecast is 36 degrees or higher, you must start before 9am and you cannot start after that (NT Government, checked October 2026).
Do you need a fly net, and what should you wear?
In summer, yes, a head net is worth it. The park says large numbers of flies appear in the hot months and head nets are sold locally. Wear a hat, sunscreen, sturdy closed shoes and light long sleeves for sun. In winter bring a jacket and beanie, because desert nights drop to single digits.
Questions: is it worth it?
Is Uluru worth visiting?
Yes, if you accept it as a place with a living culture, not just a photo stop. Sunrise and sunset colour changes, the base walk past Anangu rock art and waterholes, and the domes of Kata Tjuta are the reasons people go. The cost and distance are real, so pair it with Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta rather than a flying visit.
Is a helicopter flight over Uluru worth it?
For many people, yes, as the way to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta together as a landscape. The Uluru & Kata Tjuta Sunset Helicopter Flight is 36 minutes from $489. Flights loop around the rock rather than over it. Compare all three flights in our Uluru and Kings Canyon helicopter guide or the helicopter flight price list.
Book it
Start with the full list at Uluru tour prices, or browse Uluru and the Red Centre. The usual backpacker pick is the 4-day tour from Alice Springs to Yulara from $799. For a single evening, the Uluru Sunset Day Tour is from $329.
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