Uluṟu’s new Lodge Walk trims the kilometres, skips the camping and opens up one of Australia’s most powerful walking experiences to more travellers.
The Tasmanian Walking Company is gearing up to launch the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk in April 2026, but it has now also announced a shorter, lodge-based alternative designed for travellers with less time, less walking experience and zero interest in camping.
The new Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk is a modified 34-kilometre version of the 54-kilometre Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk tailored for people who want to experience the desert’s magic on foot without a tent.
Only one departure per month from June until September is on the calendar for this launch season, with plans to expand if it proves a hit with travellers.
All the highlights, less distance
The new Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk is a modified version of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk. (Image: Michael Peters)
Instead of five days of walking and two nights camping, this new itinerary focuses on shorter, high-impact walks through Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park that showcase the Red Centre’s most iconic landscapes.
Walkers experience Uluṟu’s base, explore sections of the Valley of the Winds, and stand on sandstone ridges overlooking Kata Tjuṯa, guided by experts sharing stories of Country and culture along the way.
Daily distances are reduced, and the pace is intentionally gentler, leaving time to rest, reflect and absorb the scale of the landscape without rushing.
Comfort takes centre stage
Sleep in a real bed. (Image: Michael Peters)
Enjoy dinner with a view. (Image: Michael Peters)
Pamper yourself after a big day. (Image: Michael Peters)
Socialise with the other walkers. (Image: Michael Peters)
The biggest difference from the Signature Walk is where you rest after a day on Country.
Instead of camping under canvas, guests on the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk spend the first night atDesert Gardens Hotel in Yulara, followed by two nights at theUluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge– a comfortable outback base inside the national park.
On the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, guests will spend two nights at private exclusive campsites and two nights at the lodge.
The lodge was developed in close collaboration with Aṉangu Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. It offers generous rooms, sweeping desert views and easy access to walking start points, with sundowners and shared meals replacing campfire chores.
The itinerary also includes a cultural opening on the first night with the Wintjiri Wiṟu Sunset Dinner, combining Indigenous storytelling, light and contemporary cuisine to introduce the ancient Aṉangu stories that define this landscape.
Why it matters
Lodge accommodation makes the walk more accessible. (Image: Michael Peters)
This new lodge-based version opens the outback walk to people who may never have considered a multi-day trek before.
For time-pressed travellers, photography lovers, people new to hiking, or anyone who wants the experience of walking on Country without hauling gear or sleeping in a tent, the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk offers a compelling new way to explore Australia’s spiritual heart.
Details
The walk is designed for travellers with less time, less walking experience and zero interest in camping. (Image: Michael Peters)
Price: From $3995 per person, twin share (compared with $5395 for the five-day Signature Walk).
Day 1: Wintjiri Wiṟu Sunset Dinner and overnight at Desert Gardens. Day 2: Uluṟu Base Walk with optional Gorge walk (10.7km). Overnight at Uluru-Kata Tjuta Lodge. Day 3: Camp to Camp walk (16.5 km). Overnight at Uluru-Kata Tjuta Lodge. Day 4: Karingana Lookout at Valley of the Winds Walk (5.4km).
Departures are limited this year, so early booking is recommended.
Uluṟu’s most powerful walk, without the camping. Shorter distances, lodge stays, and big Red Centre moments make the new Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk one of Australia’s most accessible multi-day hikes yet.
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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 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.
