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Yulara is a town near the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the south of the Northern Territory, Australia.

[edit] Understand

Yulara, also known as Ayers Rock Resort, is a service town for Uluru, acting as an accommodation base for visitors to the park. It was constructed in the 1980s and is just outside the national park boundaries.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Ayers Rock Airport (Connellan Airport) (AYQ) is about 7km north of the Yalara town and resort. A free shuttle operates from the airport to the resort.

• Qantas and Qantaslink [1] fly direct from Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Perth, with connections from other cities.

The cost of the flight tends to reflect the lack of competition on the route. One may wish to consider flying to Alice Springs and hiring a car. This can be more economical if a long (3-day) stay at Yulara is on the itinerary, and is definitely more enjoyable if one plans to visit Kings Canyon or other sites between Yulara and Alice Springs.

[edit] Get around

There is a free shuttle that connects all the hotels and campground at Yulara.

Avis [2] and Hertz [3] have car rental offices at the airport. Both also have counters in the tourist information centre located in the shopping mall of the Yulara township. The roads connecting Yulara, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are all paved and maintained, so there's no real challenge to the driving. Car rental is the best (and only) option for independent travelers.

The kilometre limit on rental vehicles at Yulara (100 km per day) makes it impossible to hire a car for 24 hours and drive to Uluru and Kata Tjuta without paying a surcharge.

Cars can also be hired in Alice Springs. It is a 450 km drive to the resort from Alice, and should take between 4 and 5 hours. There are petrol stations along the Stuart Highway and the Lasseter Highway. Be sure to top off your tank when you can. In addition, if you have an early flight from Alice Springs and plan to drive back in the morning, be sure to top off the day before, as the servo in Yulara is NOT open 24 hours - and they won't be open when you leave pre-dawn.

Driving at night between Yulara and Alice Springs can be dangerous because of animals on the road, particularly kangaroos and cows (the entire stretch of road between Alice Springs and Yulara goes through cattle station land, and Lasseter Highway is not fenced in all the way).

• AATKings [4] and a few other companies run buses from the airport to the resort, and also from the resort to Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

• Uluru Express [5] offers unlimited access to the Park from your choice of hotel at Yulara for 2-days or 3-days at a cost of $145 AU or $160 AU, respectively, which includes your admission to the Park. This is a great deal for those who wish to see all the attractions in the park at their own pace. Other trips are available.

[edit][add listing] See

There are 4 lookouts in the 'town' area of Yulara, which give awesome views out onto the National Park. Each of the hotels/camp grounds have a lookout close to them, being the Emu Lookout for Desert Gardens, Emu Walk apartments, Lost Camel and Sails in the Desert, Pioneer Lookout for the Outback Pioneer Hotel and Naninga Lookout for the Ayers Rock Resort Campground. There is also another look out in the middle of Yulara Drive, called the Imalung Lookout.

Additionally there is a look out in the coach campground area, should you be travelling on a coach camping tour. This gives an awesome view of the resort, as well as Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

For an idea of the wildlife in the National Park, visit the Visitors Centre, located next door to the Desert Gardens Hotel.

Of course, the main thing to do is to get out to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, but the look outs in the resort tend to be forgotten about - and at Sunrise and Sunset they make for a different, yet awesome, photo.

[edit][add listing] Do

Arrangements can be made for helicopter tours of the area, ranging from quick, ten minute buzzes of Uluru to longer rides taking in Kata Tjuta and King's Canyon as well. For a more level perspective, visitors can try camel rides. There are also astronomy walks in the evening. Reservations must be made for all events, however. Offices are located throughout the resort.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Each of the hotels and campgrounds in the resort have a restaurant or two that is priced within the same range as the accommodation, although expect to pay a premium for the location. Be aware of the time of day, as meals may be 'on' or 'off', meaning that kitchens are not open at all times. Visitors are welcome to walk between each restaurant in the resort via the ring road or the footpaths that bisect the ring road.

• Outback Pioneer Barbecue, which sells burger patties from several different kinds of meat (and non-meat) and grills to cook them on. A salad and fruit bar is also included in the purchase price. There is a bar with live music in the eating area featuring "The Aussie Bush Music Show". You must prove you are a guest to be served alcohol.

• Rockpool - Served by the pool of Sails in the Desert Hotel, great tapas, inexpensive option compared to hotel dining. Great atmosphere outside.

• Desert Awakenings, occasionally available, is a breakfast version of the aforementioned Sounds of Silence. It includes a guided tour around the base of Uluru and ends at the Cultural Centre.

• The Sounds Of Silence Dinner is an extremely popular - albeit expensive ($145 per adult) - night under the stars. Advance bookings (e.g. 3-4 days) are essential even in low seasons. Coaches take diners from Yulara to one of a few dining areas out in the desert. Champagne (or beer, upon request) are served while the sun goes down over Uluru or Kata Tjuta and the inevitable didgeridoo plays. The clean, elegant dining area is lit by torches and table lamps. The food is served buffet-style, but it's cooked with the attention of a gourmet chef (considering the circumstances). Between the main course and dessert, an astronomer talks about the stars that are out that night, and telescopes are available afterward. There is also a bonfire. Reservations can be made at the various tour offices around Yulara. Ostensibly, reservations can be made over the internet as well, but it's a good idea to follow-up by phone, as coordination between the resort offices and the tour company are spotty at best.

• There is a guest kitchen at the Outback Pioneer. Groceries can be purchased at the Yulara Supermarket. You will need to be a guest of the resort.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Yulara offers a variety of accommodation from camping through to 5 star. The village is split up into sections depending on the accommodation type. All the hotels, the campground, the lodge, and the hostel are managed by Voyages, +61 8 8957 7888, fax +61 8 8957 7615, [6], [7].

Because of the remoteness, and the nature of the concession to a single operator, expect to pay a premium for accommodation. Don't expect large lagoon pools, or resort type activities at the hotels. The township can get quiet during the day as people take part in activities sightseeing within the park.

• Sails in the Desert. [8]. The 5-star hotel. Room rates are about $500 per night.

• Desert Gardens Hotel, [9]. Room rates are about $400 per night for a double standard room and $480 for a double deluxe room.

• Emu walk apartments, [10]. These fully serviced apartments accommodate about six people. Nightly rates are about $500 per apartment.

• Lost Camel Hotel, [11]. Room rates are about $400 per night. CD players in the room, very chick, very funky.

• The Outback Pioneer Hotel and YHA Lodge, [12]. Cost is $33 for a bed in a large dorm room or $37 for a bed in a 4 person room. Bring your own towel for showering.

• The Ayers Rock Campground, [13]. Tent sites, powered sites and cabins. A cabin is $150 per night and sleeps up to six people. A campsite for two people is $15.50 for a powered site and $13 for a tent site. Each additional person on a campsite is $11.50 per night, or $6 per for children.

[edit] Cope

There is a shopping centre which has a supermarket (with some produce and baked goods), take-away restaurants, gift shops, newsagents, an ANZ bank and ATM, and a post office. A photo developing service is available, as are cameras and camera equipment. There is also a petrol station in the resort -- It is NOT open 24 hours. It is advisable to top-up your tank the night before if you plan an early morning departure. The is also a hairdressers that does beauty treatments as well.