A Night at Field of Light, Uluru

Imagine standing beneath a wide, starry sky at Uluru as a field of softly glowing lights stretches out before you.

This is the Field of Light Uluru, a unique art installation by internationally celebrated artist Bruce Munro that transforms the Northern Territory desert into a landscape of colour and light.

While you’ve come here to see Uluru, one of Australia’s most famous landmarks, this experience offers yet another memorable way to see the outback at night.

Planning a visit can raise questions, though: What’s the best time to go? Which ticket option offers the best views? And is it worth it?

In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know to make the most of your night at the Field of Light, including my own tips to help you plan your visit with ease.

Having experienced similar night events around the world, I can say that Field of Light truly stands out. Its sheer size alone is

I’ll cover the essentials and the extras, so you can decide if this unique Uluru experience is for you, and avoid any surprises along the way.

Let’s get started with what to expect from a night at the Field of Light.

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What is the Field of Light?

The Field of Light is a huge art installation on the outskirts of the Yulara settlement near Uluru.

Often you will hear it described as the Uluru lights, the Uluru light show, or even the Festival of Lights, Uluru, but in reality, it is kilometres away from the famous rock.

The Uluru art installation created by Bruce Munro contains more than 50,000 hand-blown light bulbs covering an area of seven football fields out in the red centre.

The light installation is aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku in the local indigenous language, meaning “looking at lots of beautiful lights”.

The glass spheres gently sway in the afternoon breeze. They are all linked together by fibre optic cables, and as darkness falls, the lights turn on.

The lights are all powered by solar panels that are located at various places amongst the lightbulbs.

There are a variety of colours scattered throughout the field, and every few seconds they change, like a breeze blowing across a grassy field.

This installation was brought to Uluru as a temporary exhibit but became so popular that it has remained a lasting feature.

For visitors, it’s a way to experience the stillness and beauty of the desert after dark, in a place where nightlife isn’t really a thing

The Field of Light offers several ways to experience it, from self-guided walks to more immersive tours that include views of both sunrise and the night-lit installation.

How to Visit the Field of Light

There are three options for visiting the Field of Light Uluru:

• General admission where you just wander around the field
• Star Pass which includes drinks and canapés in an elevated spot overlooking the lights before walking through them
• Dinner includes a 3-course bush tucker-inspired buffet, didgeridoo performance, a star talk, walk through the lights, and more.

When we visited, we did the general admission option. We were doing a 3-day tour from Alice Springs and were able to include this as an added extra.

Field of Light is not too far from Yulara, but the only way to see it is to jump aboard one of the buses designated.

The bus is included in the price of the ticket, and picks up at a few locations around Yulara. You cannot drive to the Field of Light yourself.

When I did the tour pre-covid there were three basic “departures” each night for the Field of Light. Currently there is only a single departure time, but that may change again in future.

The time of the tours is based on the sunset, with the first departure half an hour after sunrise. A bus will pick you up from your Yulara accommodation or an agreed pick-up point within the town.

The drive out to the site is only about five minutes from the last pickup in town.

On arrival, you will be met by a guide and will be given a short talk on what the Field of Light is, and instructions on how to get around.

It is very dark except for the lights themselves, and some other low white lights that mark the path.

There are two different paths that visitors can take through the lights. The shorter one is only about 300m long, the longer path about 700m.

Visitors are instructed not to use flash photography, and tripods are not to be taken into the area of the lights – although they can be set up and used on the main road right to the side of the lights which could still give some great photos.

If that’s still not enough, you can get up before dawn and do a Field of Light sunrise tour to see it all again.

It is recommended to book Field of Light tickets well in advance on the official Ayers Rock Resort website – I would recommend two weeks in advance for the basic tickets, perhaps even longer for one of the other experiences.

You may be lucky to get last-minute tickets, but it does regularly sell out.

My Field of Lights Review

So what did I think? I have to say overall I was blown away by the size of the installation! This is seriously one big piece of art!

Photos can absolutely not do the size of it justice and you really do need to go and visit to appreciate just how much ground it covers.

Many of the promotional photos show the Field of Lights with Uluru in the background as the sun goes down.

If you do one of the basic departures, you will not see this for two reasons. Firstly, they begin after sunset, so it is already dark and there is only the lights to be seen.

Secondly, to get views of Uluru you need to go up into the dunes to a viewing platform – and this is only part of the more expensive packages.

This means you need to consider carefully what you might like to see.

My only criticism – and it didn’t really bother me but it might many other people – is that the path really isn’t very well lit. Expect to find small bushes at the edges that do not show up in the limited light.

Perhaps take a small torch or use the light from your phone if you are concerned this might be an issue.

While overall this is an expensive activity when you are visiting Uuru on a budget – basic tickets start at $48AUD ($32USD/€29) – it reflects the remoteness of the Uluru location and the sheer scope of the project.

While there are other similar displays by Bruce Munro around the world, this one is by far the largest, in an amazing landscape.

If you have come all the way to Uluru, then you should also definitely see this! After all, there is not a lot else to do at Uluru at night!

Some More Field of Light Uluru Images

Confession time – I am no professional photographer! Having said that, I still want to show you some of the photos I took while in the Field of Light to give you an idea of what you might see.

With no tripods allowed, these photos are all taken holding the camera as still as I could.

Field of Light FAQs

1. How long does the experience last?
You can typically spend 1-2 hours exploring the installation. Tour times vary depending on your ticket, with options to view the Field of Light at sunset, after dark, or at sunrise.

2. Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, some of the tours are accessible for wheelchairs and visitors with limited mobility. It’s recommended to inform the organisers ahead of time if additional assistance is needed so the appropriate arrangements can be confirmed.

3. Can I bring a pram?
Unfortunately, prams are not permitted at the Field of Light due to rough or uneven terrain, which can make for unsafe conditions. For families with young children, a baby carrier may be a suitable alternative. Some options do not allow young children.

4. Can I take photos?
Absolutely! Visitors are welcome to take photos, though it’s best to turn off the flash to capture the lights more clearly and avoid disturbing other guests.

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