Tour uluru

the rocket · Guru

Tour uluru

Possum3 · Guru

Thrifty has depots in Darwin, Alice and Uluru. www.thrifty.com.au/locations/nt Suggest you fly to Alice, pick up vehicle, drive to Olga's, Kings Canyon, Uluru then to Kakadu, Darwin hand back rental. Utilise cabin/motel where you decide to overnight.
Strongly suggest you see Aileron on your way north from Alice - It's a memory for a lifetime. northernterritory.com/alice-springs-and-surrounds/destinations/aileron

Mike Harding · Guru

The Rock is worth seeing if you are in the area but it's overrated and not worth making a specific trip to from the major centres - it's a rock.

Whenarewethere · Guru

We came in from the west in September on the Great Central Road. We walked along the smaller track at Kata Tjuta as we had not done that track, didn't bother with Uluru at all as we had walked around it in 2005.

Kings Canyon we would do again, take your swimmers with you, so nice to cool down in the very cool water.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Bald Rock near Tenterfield is much better, recommend to walk up the front & down the back track.

bobsa · Senior Member

You could fly into Alice and hire a car, enjoy a bit of the NT The desert park is well worth a visit , allow a full day get there early and enjoy the day

the bush medicine tour is great and to just sit in the huge bird cages is fantastic . OK Ok you might want longer fantastic place the NT

The drive into the Rock is easy you could stay at Curtin Springs on the way a great spot for a yarn

Please note that Uluru has been affected by " climb it change " hahaha

the rock worth a look if you have never been before, but is that a big rock ,King canyon and the Olgas are way better to walk around
There is a meteorite crater site not far from the turn off at Stuart HWY and the dirt road to Kings Canyon
not very far in so not much dirt driving then back track to the sealed road ,drive down to Eldunda and you have sealed the all of the way
Bob

-- Edited by bobsa on Sunday 16th of February 2020 05:05:16 PM

-- Edited by bobsa on Sunday 16th of February 2020 08:29:26 PM

TheHeaths · Guru

Calling Uluru a big rock is like saying Kings Canyon is a big crack in the ground, and The Olgas are a pile of rocks, quite frankly.

All of the 3 attractions have their own impact, and all 3 are worth seeing in their own right.

I would suggest 3 nights at Uluru, and 2 nights at Kings Canyon as a minimum to do the major walks. Generally tours are a bit rushed and quite tiring.

Bobdown · Guru

From Alice to Uluru about 480 k........a days drive.

Uluru to Kings Canyon....310 k.........a days drive

Kings Canyon to Alice.....480 k.........a days drive

Self drive tour can be done in 7 days comfortably.

Don't be fooled by Mount Connor, has got a lot of first timers tricked, well worth a stop though... biggrin biggrin biggrin

Cheers Bob

Greg 1 · Guru

Haven't been that way for quite awhile but all worth seeing. Not sure if you can still get out to Palm Valley which is also worthwhile. It's out past Hermansburg. When I went it was a 4wd track down part of the Finke river bed and was one that some experience in driving 4wds in heavy loose sand would be advisable.

2trout · Senior Member

We did something similar to what you are proposing. We flew into Alice, hired a campervan and headed for Ayres Rock. It is a fair drive of about 460kms- all on a good road. We also visited the Olgas, and Kings Canyon and then drove back to Alice before heading out to the Macdonnell Ranges. I think that you are pushing things trying to do what you intend in such a short time. All the 3 sites that you want to look at involve walking tours. Walking takes time. I really liked the walks in the Olgas and also Kings C. I'm afraid that you will spend most of your time driving and see very little. A campervan is a great way to go as you can park at Ayres Rock, eat tea and watch the sunset. Also, we found sites easy to get with a camper and even free camped a night or two. I would recommend that you wait until you have a little more time and include the Macdonnell Ranges and Alice Springs in your plans. I believe that about 11 days is good.

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

Had you thought about doing a trip on The Ghan, believe they have packages where you get off in Alice Springs for 3 days or so and do a tour of Ayers Rock, The Olgas and maybe Kings Canyon Canyon.b y escorted Bus tour. Check with the operator, just Google "The Ghan".

bgt · Guru

I've done the rock a couple of times. Even climbed it way back in 1985.
Last time the wife and I took a day trip from Alice in a bus. It was a long day. Befriended an American couple on the bus and spent the day with them. When we got to the rock they were gobsmacked at the rock. Not how wow it was but rather, "is that it?'. (We've lived in the USA for about 8 years. In an RV and traveled there a lot. If you know what the USA has to offer you can understand their disappointment).
Highlight of the rip was a bbq beside the road on the way back to Alice. The silence and the stars were something else.

See the rock at least once in your life. But temper your expectations.

Mike Harding · Guru

bgt wrote:
If you know what the USA has to offer you can understand their disappointment).

See the rock at least once in your life. But temper your expectations.

Quite.

the rocket · Guru

Thanks everyone.

Cupie · Guru

bgt wrote:
I've done the rock a couple of times. Even climbed it way back in 1985.
Last time the wife and I took a day trip from Alice in a bus. It was a long day. Befriended an American couple on the bus and spent the day with them. When we got to the rock they were gobsmacked at the rock. Not how wow it was but rather, "is that it?'. (We've lived in the USA for about 8 years. In an RV and traveled there a lot. If you know what the USA has to offer you can understand their disappointment).
Highlight of the rip was a bbq beside the road on the way back to Alice. The silence and the stars were something else.

See the rock at least once in your life. But temper your expectations.

Couldn't agree more WRT the comparison with what the good 'ole US of A has to offer in terms of spectacular scenery.

Actually I prefer The Olgas to The Rock. Climbed it in 2001 when I was much fitter. Just set yourself up in one of the narrow, bushy spots on a track thru the rocks of the Olgas & wait for the chatter of the tourists to die down & out come the birds. Fantastic.

But then again, we had a great time at Kings Canyon. Walked up the centre, then up to the top & around the rim. Topped off with a doors off helicopter flight over the whole thing & chased mobs of ferrals at tree top level across the plateau.

-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 21st of February 2020 12:19:12 PM

dogbox · Guru

Bobdown wrote:

From Alice to Uluru about 480 k........a days drive.
Uluru to Kings Canyon....310 k.........a days drive
Kings Canyon to Alice.....480 k.........a days drive
Self drive tour can be done in 7 days comfortably.
Don't be fooled by Mount Connor, has got a lot of first timers tricked, well worth a stop though...
Cheers Bob

I was taken thinking mt connor was the rock on my first trip in. my first thought was it must be big as it should be about a hundred miles away an I can see it