7 incredible Alice Springs to Uluru tours you’ll want to try

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From quick day trips to immersive multi-day adventures, these tours from Alice Springs to Uluṟu promise an unforgettable adventure.

Touring the Red Centre serves up eye-popping beauty at every turn. Whether you’re seeking a sophisticated Alice Springs to Uluṟu tour with top-notch hotel service or an action-packed experience where you sleep in a swag under the desert sky, there are a bunch of excellent tours out there.

1. Emu Run Experience

Ideal for those short on time but eager to witness the splendour of Uluru, Emu Run Experience offers an action-packed day tour that kicks off at 6am from your Alice Springs accommodation and travels to Uluṟu, while you listen to intriguing stories along the way.

Guide leads a group on the Mala Walk at Uluru
The Mala Walk is a powerful experience to have at Uluru. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

In the late afternoon, your guide will take you on the Mala Walk, which travels around the north-west side of Uluṟu where you can view Anangu rock art. Then travel by coach to another section of Uluṟu and start a guided walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole.

Before you set off to Alice Springs, you’ll be treated to a sunset viewing with a glass of bubbly and an Aussie barbeque. This trip is also available for pick up or drop off from the Ayers Rock Resort. 

2. Wayoutback Australian Safaris

For those looking to connect with nature, Wayoutback Australian Safaris offers a three-day camping safari that combines the adventure of outback camping with the awe-inspiring sights of Uluṟu, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta.

three people walking along the grass, Wayoutback Australian Safaris
Connect with nature on a tour with Wayoutback Australian Safaris. (Image: Tourism NT)

For your accommodation, you can pick from cosy safari tents or a traditional swag experience where you’ll sleep under the stars on a canvas-covered bed roll.

three people walking under a rock formation, Wayoutback Australian Safaris
See the awe-inspiring sights of Uluṟu, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta. (Image: Tourism NT)

3. Intrepid Travel

For the fun-lover, Intrepid Travel’s Uluṟu & Kings Canyon Adventure is a four-day action-packed journey that takes you from Alice Springs through the captivating landscapes of the Red Centre to Uluṟu and back to your starting point.

exploring across the rock formations in Uluru with Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel’s Uluṟu & Kings Canyon Adventure takes you from Alice Springs through the Red Centre to Uluṟu.

The itinerary includes viewing the changing colours of Uluṟu at sunset and sunrise, exploring the mystical domes of Kata Tjuta, and delving into the cultural significance of these sacred sites with an Aboriginal guide.

Group gathers at sunset with a wine in hand on an Intrepid tour of the Red Centre
Enjoy a sunset viewing with a glass of wine.

At night, you will sleep in tents with comfy stretcher beds and sleeping bags, with shared bathroom facilities a short walk away. For a non-camping, longer trip to Uluṟu, Intrepid Travel has a six-day adventure. Check out the variety of Uluru itineraries here.

a couple sitting outside their tent, Intrepid Travel
Go off-grid and sleep under the stars.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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4. AAT Kings – Uluṟu & Kata Tjuta Explorer

If you prefer to sleep surrounded by four walls rather than under the canvas, AAT Kings offers Uluṟu and Kata Tjuta Highlights, a two-day tour that showcases the grandeur of Uluṟu and takes you to the rock formations of Kata Tjuta.

an aerial view of the Uluru tour with AAT Kings
Tour around Uluṟu with AAT Kings. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Depending on your budget, you can choose to sleep in the Outback Hotel & Lodge, Desert Gardens, Sails in the Desert Hotel or Ayres Rock Resort.

the Kata Tjuta in Uluru
The grandeur of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) will leave you in awe. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

AAT Kings also offers transfers from Alice Springs to Uluṟu and vice versa and from Uluṟu to the Ayres Rock Airport, so you could travel by coach one way and fly the other.

a group of travellers at Kata Tjuta tour with AAT Kings
AAT Kings offers a two-day tour showcasing the wonders of Uluṟu and Kata Tjuta. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

5. SEIT Outback Australia

If you’re already in Uluṟu, SEIT Tours offers trips from Ayers Rock Resort that provide an in-depth understanding of the area’s Aboriginal heritage, rock art and traditional stories.

Group walks around the base of Uluru
Delve into the cultural significance of Uluṟu on tour with SEIT. (Image: Tourism NT/The Salty Travellers)

Pick from the six-hour Uluṟu trek or the shorter Uluru highlights, where you will visit Mutijulu Waterhole on the Kuniya Walk and learn the Creation stories of Liru (poisonous snake) and Kuniya (python).

If you want to have a truly uniqueexperience, opt for SEIT’s Patji Homelands Tour. An Aboriginal guide will take you onto Aboriginal Lands, otherwise out-of-bounds for visitors. You’ll learn about the personal story of the Uluṟu family, while on their Traditional Lands. It’s a truly special tour that will leave visitors with a deep appreciation for the landscape and the stories held within it.

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6. Alice Springs Expeditions

If you want to look into arranging your own small group bespoke tour take a look at Alice Springs Expeditions. Host John Stafford has in-depth knowledge of Central Australia and has years of experience coordinating travel logistics for special interest tours, such as media events, art trail tours and car launches.

a 4WD entering Finke Gorge National Park
Craft a bespoke tour with Alice Springs Expeditions. (Image: Tourism Australia/ Shaana McNaught)

Tours take adventurers off the beaten track, so be prepared to sleep under the stars in a swag with cotton sheets inside a sleeping bag.

two people sitting in front of a bonfire in a camp, Alice Springs Expeditions
Nights are spent around the campfire before drifting off to sleep in a swag. (Image: Tourism Australia/ Shaana McNaught)

 

7. Art Tours of Australia

What better way to immerse youself in the landscape than painting it? Artist and guide Anna Dakin of Art Tours of Australia takes guests on art-inspired excursions across the Red Centre to learn and create. The 5-day Art and Culture Adventure begins at Alice Springs and takes in Uluṟu, where guests will take part in an Aṉangu-led dot painting class. A paintbrush is never too far out of reach – there are regular watercolour painting sessions hosted by Anna, where you’ll render the beautiful landscapes infront of you as you travel between Alice Springs and Uluṟu.

Australian Art Tours Wallaby
Anna Dakin runs Art Tours of Australia, taking visitors on art-focused excursions through the outback and Uluru.

For more incredible ways to explore the region, read our travel guide to Alice Springs.

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Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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Red earth, light shows and ancient culture: discover the ultimate NT road trip

(Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Ben Savage)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    The Northern Territory is made for road trips, and this one hits all the highlights.

    Craggy mountain ranges, inviting waterholes, ochre soil: the landscape of the Northern Territory is asking to be explored by road and foot. There are many iconic road trips to choose from here, but none so all-encompassing than the roughly 3000 kilometres of sealed road that make up Explorer’s Way.

    Spend 14 days (or more, to really make the most of it) driving this route from Adelaide, hitting the NT near the small settlement of Kulgera before later finishing in Darwin. Along the way, you’ll find nearly all the territory’s most iconic sights.

    Discover some of the top highlights that make Explorer’s Way one of Australia’s most incredible road trips.

    1. Alice Springs

    echidna at Alice Springs Desert Park
    See the locals at Alice Springs Desert Park. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    Recently hitting the big screen again with the story of The Kanagroo Sanctuary, there’s a lot to surprise you in Alice Springs.

    Three distinct desert habitats – desert rivers, sand country and woodland – are recreated over 1300 hectares at Alice Springs Desert Park. Time your visit for a presentation or a free bird show.

    Later, turn your attention to the skies above, taking a dive into local astronomy at Earth Sanctuary. You’ll find a range of experiences, from a 90-minute toe-dip into the stars through to an overnight adventure.

    Alice Springs packs a surprising punch with its tasty dining options, including pub grub and unique brews at Alice Springs Brewing Co, tapas and pizza at Epilogue Lounge and tasty cafe fare at the quirky Page 27.

    2. Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park

    woman standing at Ormiston Gorge
    Dive into Ormiston Gorge. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Dom and Jesso)

    Beginning 15 minutes from Alice Springs and stretching across 161 kilometres, Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park is packed with striking ancient landscapes and inviting water holes.

    Visit Standley Chasm – traditionally known as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’ – to take in its bold red and orange hues, and to observe the diverse bird species, lizards and wallabies that call it home.

    Cool off in one of several picturesque natural swimming holes, like Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge.

    3. Uluru & Kata Tjuta

    three women looking at Kata Tjuta at sunset
    Explore Kata Tjuta. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    Visiting the Cultural Heart of Australia is something everybody should experience. There are so many side trips in the Red Centre you could easily spend a week here, but to get the most out of a short time, park the car then get out on foot.

    Take the 10-kilometre Base Walk around the entirety of Uluru or join a free, ranger-guided Mala Walk along part of the base, learning about Tjukurpa (creation stories) and geology as you go.

    For a change of pace, wait until nightfall and wander through the iconic Field of Light display by celebrated artist Bruce Munro, or see the Wintjiri Wiru lightshow that shares the ancient Mala story using drones, lasers and projections.

    4. Tennant Creek

    pson looking at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) northern territory
    See the ancient granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Dom And Jesso)

    Tennant Creek was Australia’s third-largest gold mining town in the 1930s, and visitors can discover that history at Battery Hill Mining Centre – and even try their own hand at gold fossicking.

    For a completely different side of history, pop into Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre, which preserves and shares Warumungu culture through art, performance, a museum and more.

    Just outside town, find the ancient granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). A site integral to important stories held by the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Warlpiri and Alyawarra peoples, the boulders appear to almost have dropped out of the sky and seemingly continue to defy gravity.

    5. Mataranka

    aerial of people swimming in bitter springs northern territory
    Dive into Bitter Springs. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Ben Savage)

    A town made famous by the novel We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn (and a movie of the same name), Mataranka is also known for its sandy-bottomed thermal pool, Bitter Springs, within Elsey National Park. Follow a 500-metre loop track around these spring-fed pools that stay a toasty 34°C year-round, before choosing your favourite spot to dive into. Enjoy the local birdlife while you relax.

    Elsewhere in the park, find historical sites, several scenic walks and Roper River, which is perfect for boating and fishing.

    6. Nitmiluk National Park

    Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise
    Join a sunset cruise with Nabilil Dreaming. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Lachlan Gardiner)

    Nitmiluk National Park is sandstone country, with 13 stunning gorges and plenty of waterfalls waiting to be explored.

    One of the most beautiful spots can be found along the 62-kilometre Jatbula Trail, a five-to-six day bushwalk that follows an ancient Jawoyn songline from Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls). Numbers are restricted and book out quickly, so be sure to plan well ahead. Not up for the hike? Drive right up to the falls and enjoy a dip without the challenge.

    Elsewhere, explore Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Paddle a kayak through the river running through the canyon, or save your energy on a Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Cruise, discovering the stories and ways of the Jawoyn people while enjoying a candlelit dinner as the cliffs around you shift colour and glow with the changing daylight.

    Continue your cultural journey at local art centres like Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Art & Culture Centre or Mimi Aboriginal Art & Craft.

    7. Litchfield National Park

    cathedral termite mounds in Litchfield national park
    Be awed by giant cathedral termite mounds. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ As We Wander)

    Just over an hour’s drive from Darwin lies the beautiful Litchfield National Park. It’s famous for stunning waterfalls and swimming holes, including Buley Rockhole, Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Tjaynera Falls.

    Here you’ll also find hundreds of giant – and magnetic – cathedral termite mounds that are truly a sight to see. Ageing up to 100 years old, you won’t find mounds like these outside the northern parts of Australia. Stroll along the accessible boardwalk to see them up close.

    8. Darwin

    darwin street art
    Darwin art is streets ahead. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Mark Fitzpatrick)

    This list wouldn’t be complete without the territory’s capital city: Darwin. Situate yourself upon arrival with a stroll through the main streets, admiring the many art murals by local, interstate and international artists. They’re all remnants of the annual Darwin Street Art Festival, one of Australia’s longest running street art festivals.

    Stop to recharge along Darwin’s Waterfront Precinct, an area of delectable restaurants, public swimming pools and free events. And, of course, it would be wrong to leave the city without enjoying a bowl of laksa at Mindil Beach Sunset Market as the sun goes down.

    Learn more and start planning your Explorer’s Way road trip at northernterritory.com/drive.