It took me a long time to finally visit Uluru, but booking a 3 day Uluru camping tour turned out to be a fantastic way to experience the Red Centre.
I’d always imagined I’d get there on a road trip one day, perhaps hiring a car and exploring independently. A multi-day camping tour definitely wasn’t part of the plan.
But that’s exactly what we ended up doing.
We joined a tour from Alice Springs that took us to Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta and Uluru, sleeping in swags, hiking in the heat and watching Uluru at sunrise and sunset.
And I loved it.
The company we travelled with, The Rock Tour, no longer operates, so you can’t book the exact tour we did. However, similar three-day Uluru camping tours are still available, and our experience gives you a good idea of what this style of trip can be like.
Here’s what we did, what it was really like sleeping in a swag and what you need to know if you’re considering a similar Uluru and Kings Canyon tour.
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Finding the Best Uluru Tour
Multi-day group tours have never really been my preferred way to travel. I like the freedom of travelling independently, choosing what I want to see and changing plans as I go.
But the distances in Central Australia are huge, and once I started researching how to visit Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon in just a few days, a tour made a lot of sense.
I wasn’t looking for a luxury coach tour or resort package. I wanted to experience the Red Centre – hiking through the landscape, spending time outdoors and sleeping under the stars.
That’s what led me to The Rock Tour, a three-day camping trip from Alice Springs covering Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta and Uluru.
It was considerably more basic than the way I usually travel, but it sounded like an adventure.
Before our Uluru Adventures
We arrived in Alice Springs before the tour began, giving us time to get organised.
We’d be hiking in hot weather, sleeping in swags and travelling through some very remote parts of Central Australia, so we came prepared with plenty of water, sunscreen, hats and suitable walking shoes.
I’d also booked the Field of Light experience separately. It wasn’t included in our tour, but The Rock Tour arranged for us to be dropped off in Yulara so we could join the Field of Light transfer.
We were also warned that the itinerary could change depending on weather and conditions.
As it turned out, that was very useful information.
Day One – Kings Canyon
Our pickup time was 5:30 am, and after collecting a few more passengers around Alice Springs, we began the long journey towards Kings Canyon.
And I mean long. It’s almost 500 km by road from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon.
Most people went back to sleep. I’m terrible at sleeping on transport, so I’d come prepared with a nice thick book.
After stopping at Erldunda Roadhouse, we continued into the seemingly endless Central Australian landscape.
There were 17 people in our group and we were quite a mix – twenty-something European backpackers, travellers from South Korea ranging from younger adults to retirees, a mother and her teenage son, and Simon and me.
As we drove, I started noticing something I hadn’t expected.
It was green.
There had recently been rain and tufts of green grass stretched across the normally dry landscape.
Then our guide suddenly hit the brakes, pulled over and ran back along the road.
He’d spotted a thorny devil.
I’d seen thorny devils before in the area where I grew up, but some of our international visitors had never even heard of one. It was a fun introduction to one of Australia’s more unusual little creatures.
Hiking at Kings Canyon
We reached Kings Canyon around midday and immediately reached for the hats, sunscreen and water.
It was about 37°C.
After a quick lunch, we set off to explore Kings Canyon.
IThe climb was hot and sweaty, but once we reached the top we were rewarded with incredible views across the canyon and surrounding landscape.
Thanks to the recent rain, there was even a small waterfall flowing over one of the canyon walls.
Because of the heat, we weren’t able to complete the full Kings Canyon Rim Walk. After enjoying the views, we turned around and returned the way we’d come.
We’d each been required to carry three litres of water, and by the time we returned I think most of us understood why.
If you’re visiting now: on days when the forecast temperature is 36°C or above, you must start the Kings Canyon Rim Walk before 9 am. The shorter South Wall Return Walk must be started before 11 am. Always check current conditions before setting out.
Our Camping Plans Change
After the hike, we climbed back aboard and started driving towards Curtin Springs, where we were supposed to spend the night sleeping in swags at a bush camp.
There would be no showers, no facilities and nothing around us except what we’d brought with us.
Then the sky started getting darker.
And darker.
Eventually, the heavens opened.
Of all the things I’d expected from our Red Centre camping adventure, pouring rain wasn’t one of them.
When we reached Curtin Springs, our guide decided camping out in the bush wasn’t a great idea. Instead, we’d continue to Yulara, where we’d have some shelter if the rain continued.
We arrived at the campground just as the sun was going down, quickly set up our swags under a shelter and everyone pitched in to prepare dinner.
Best of all, because we’d ended up at the campground rather than the bush camp, there were showers!
After cleaning up, we sat around chatting over a few drinks before gradually disappearing into our swags.
It had been a very long first day – and we’d barely seen Uluru yet.
Day Two – Kata Tjuta and Uluru Sunset
There was one advantage to driving all the way to Yulara the previous evening – we got a little more sleep.
Of course, sleeping in isn’t really my style. I was up before sunrise and went for a wander around the campground, finding a spot with beautiful views towards Uluru as the sky changed colour.
By around 8 am we were on our way to Kata Tjuta.
Walking the Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta
Our first walk was the Valley of the Winds.
The first major viewpoint is Karu Lookout, but we continued further into the landscape towards Karingana Lookout.
It was hot and there were some steep sections, but the views through the towering domes of Kata Tjuta made the effort worthwhile.
Once again, the recent rain was obvious, with water running through sections that would normally be dry.
By the time we made our way back past Karu Lookout, the path beyond it had been closed because of the heat.
That rule still applies today. When the forecast or actual temperature reaches 36°C or above, the Valley of the Winds track beyond Karu Lookout closes at 11 am for the rest of the day. If you’re visiting during warmer weather, start early.
Afterwards, we stopped for lunch before finally heading towards Uluru.
Learning More About Uluru
Our first stop was the Cultural Centre, where we spent time learning about Aṉangu culture and the significance of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
There was also Aboriginal art to see, and I could have happily spent much longer watching the artists at work.
Some sites around Uluru and Kata Tjuta are culturally sensitive and visitors are asked not to photograph or film them. These areas are clearly signposted, so look for the signs and respect the restrictions.
Then we finally got up close to Uluru itself.
I’d seen thousands of photos of Uluru over the years, but standing beside it was completely different. From a distance it can look almost smooth. Up close, you see caves, crevices, water marks and enormous sections of weathered rock.