Australian Traveller was part of the first group to join the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, which delivers an experience like no other.
There’s no shortage of spectacular hiking trails in Australia. But I’m here to make a strong case that the new Uluṟu Kakararra Trail is the most beautiful and significant of them all. The Tasmanian Walking Company, in consultation with Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people (Aṉangu), the Country’s Traditional Owners, has launched the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk – a multi-day hike along the trail that traverses Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park inthe Northern Territory. Last week, I had the privilege of joining the inaugural test group for the hike – a historic 54-kilometre, five-day journey that, for the first time, allows visitors who are not Traditional Owners to sleep overnight within the park.
What sets this hike apart is that it presents a unique opportunity to walk between two geological wonders, slow down and connect with people, the land and a living culture that spans more than 30,000 years.
What to expect on the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk
Traverse the Uluṟu Kakararra Trail on Tasmania Walking Company’s Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk. (Credit: Tasmanian Walking Company)
Each day involves traversing the 500-million-year-old landscape along remote tracks with a team of highly experienced guides leading small groups of just 16 people.
Starting near the 36 colossal domes of Kata Tjuṯa, you’re immersed in the desert landscape as soon as your boots hit the red soil. Here you’ll walk the Valley of the Winds, which takes approximately three to four hours to complete across 7.4 kilometres and reveals stunning geological formations and unique flora and fauna. The site is of immense cultural significance to the Aṉangu people, and visitors are discouraged from taking photographs.
The trail stretches 54 kilometres. (Credit: Tasmania Walking Company)
Spend two nights camping under the stars. (Credit: Tasmania Walking Company)
Hear stories that stretch back tens of thousands of years. (Credit: Tasmania Walking Company)
Day two was the group’s favourite day. We rose at 5.30am to walk up a sand dune to catch the sunrise over Uluṟu, the most visually exquisite one I’ve ever seen. Another moment that really struck me was on day three, when, after spending a few hours weaving through spinifex and crossing the red soil, the landscape suddenly shifted to one that was blanketed in mulla mulla, a stunning wildflower with feathery mauve flower heads, which attracted hundreds of butterflies.
The final day of Tasmanian Walking Co’s new hike will end at Uluṟu, arguably Australia’s most iconic landmark. The massive sandstone monument stands at 348 metres high and is estimated to be around 550 million years old. On this day, we also tried our hands at spear throwing and visited the Muṯitjulu Waterhole and Cultural Centre.
Spectacular sunrises and sunsets await. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
The accommodations take travellers on a journey, with each night better than the last, starting with environmentally sustainable eco camps, followed by a private lodge. The first night is spent at Tjakura Camp, sleeping under the stars in elevated tents fitted with beds overlooking Kata Tjuṯa. A full-size kitchen and entertaining space reminiscent of what you’d find on an African safari is the perfect spot to relax. Night two is spent at Tali Camp, which showcases even more impressive views of Kata Tjuṯa and an indoor entertaining space with air conditioning. The final two nights are spent at the Mala Camp, which features private rooms and bathrooms that overlook Uluṟu, a spa (I highly recommend booking in for a post-walk massage), a saltwater outdoor tub overlooking Uluṟu and an air-conditioned living and dining area.
Each evening, the guides don their aprons and cook up a delicious meal for the group using local produce to enjoy while debriefing the day’s events. Packed breakfast and lunches (think burritos, salads and homemade sourdough) are also prepared to keep you fueled during the day.
Wi-fi along the trail is very limited, which turned out to be a blessing as it helped foster a sense of calm and disconnection from city life I didn’t know I needed. Having the opportunity to slow down, listen to the landscape, and hear stories that stretch back tens of thousands of years was a privilege I will never forget.
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Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge features a dining room with a view. (Credit: Tasmanian Walking Company)
Expect hearty, wholesome meals that showcase local produce. (Credit: Tasmanian Walking Company)
Traditional Owner and member of the APY Land Council, Tapaya Edwards, was instrumental in the development of this walk. “This is an important place for healing the spirit," he said. “People will come here and feel the land as they walk through it. The Spirit of the Dreaming will wash over them. The walk is going to blow their mind."
Is the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk ethical?
Tasmanian Walking Company worked closely with the Aṉangu. (Credit: Tasmanian Walking Company)
Developed in consultation with Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people (Aṉangu), the Country’s Traditional Owners, including Steering Committee Chair Tapaya Edwards, the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk is as much about people as it is place.
The carbon-neutral experience will create a minimum of 20 positions in the first 10 years of business, with revenue-sharing agreements being fed directly back to local Aṉangu communities. Respect is a guiding tenet throughout, with guests learning about Aṉangu culture and history through Indigenous-led storytelling sessions, educational workshops and lessons in land management practices along the way.
“Millions have stood before Uluṟu, but few have been invited by Aṉangu Owners to move through its landscape like this," said Tasmanian Walking Company co-owner, Brett Godfrey.
Can you join a shorter walk?
Yes. The Tasmanian Walking Company is also offering the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk – a fully-guided, four-day, 35-kilometre journey along the Uluṟu Kakararra Trail. The walk is designed for first-time walkers and international travellers, with shorter daily distances and one night at Yulara followed by two nights at the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge.
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Details
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge features an outdoor saltwater pool. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
Pricing: The five-day walk starts from AUD$5395 pp/twin share.
Day 1: Kata Tjuṯa and a guided Valley of the Winds Walk to private Eco Campsite 1 (8.4 kilometres).
Day 2: Arc east across the rolling dunes to Eco Campsite 2 (16.5 kilometres).
Day 3: Continue across desert landscapes with cultural interpretation (16.5 kilometres). Overnight at the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge.
Day 4: Uluru walks, including Muṯitjulu Waterhole and Cultural Centre (12.3 kilometres) with optional base walk (8 kilometres). Overnight at Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge.
Day 5: Lodge to Ayers Rock Resort (0.8 kilometres) and departure.
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
Hard to reach and harder to forget, East Arnhem offers something rare in modern travel: the chance to slow down and experience Country on its own terms.
The sky feels bigger in East Arnhem. It stretches wide and uninterrupted above rouged earth, stringybark woodland and beaches so empty they seem to belong to another era. The coastline curves for kilometres without a footprint and the horizon runs on forever.
For comedian Lou Wall, the scale of the place was the first thing that hit them.
“The sheer openness,” they say. “The sky feels infinite and the land stretches out endlessly. It’s pretty breathtaking visually.”
But the physical landscape is only part of the story. The real reward isn’t only the scenery but the shift in perspective the journey brings. Visitors stop trying to tick off the destination and a real engagement takes over.
“It made me never want to travel again,” Wall jokes. “In that I never wanted to leave East Arnhem.”
Getting there
Sail along the remote coastline on an expedition cruise.
Reaching East Arnhem is part of the adventure. Travellers typically fly into Gove Airport near Nhulunbuy via Darwin or Cairns, or arrive by expedition cruise along the remote coastline. Others make the journey overland along rutted dirt roads that cut through East Arnhem’s small pockets of monsoon forest.
However you arrive, there’s a distinct feeling of crossing into somewhere different. Permits are required to visit the region, reflecting the fact that this is Yolŋu land where communities and traditional owners maintain deep cultural connections to Country.
The extra planning becomes part of the experience. By the time visitors arrive, they understand they’re entering a place not just of respect, but also patience and curiosity.
At one with nature
East Arnhem’slandscapes leave a strong imprint. For Wall, one place in particular still lingers in their memory: Ngalarrkpuy, also known as Lonely Beach, near Bawaka Homeland.
“I genuinely felt like I was living inside an Instagram filter,” they say. “One of the most stunning feats of nature I’ve ever seen. The water was so clear I swear I could see even the fish smiling.”
Across the region, natural experiences unfold at a slower pace. Fishing, beachcombing and island hopping reveal the rhythm of the coastline. The tides shape daily life and the vastness of the landscape makes even simple moments feel downright cinematic.
For visitors with limited time, Wall says the Bawaka Homeland experience is unmissable.
“I just left and I’m already planning when I can get back there.”
The sense of remoteness is part of the appeal. In a country where many beaches are crowded and well-trodden, East Arnhem’s coastline still feels wonderfully wild.
Immersing in local culture
Experience authentic moments with the locals.
Culture is woven through every experience in East Arnhem. Visitors have the opportunity to spend time on Country with Yolŋu guides and knowledge holders who share stories and traditions that have been passed down for generations.
For Wall, one of the most powerful moments came during a conversation with a Yolŋu elder.
“I got to meet a traditional elder, Mayalil, in Nhulunbuy,” they say. “Listening to her talk about her home made the land feel alive in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”
The region is also home to internationally recognised Aboriginal art centres where artists shape works deeply connected to land and family knowledge.
Music carries the same cultural energy. East Arnhem has produced globally recognised artists such as King Stingray and Baker Boy, blending Yolŋu language, storytelling and contemporary sound.
Wall experienced this musical spirit first-hand.
“A jam session around the fire was it for me,” they say. “Letting the deep joy and history of their music wash over me…and meeting a few of the King Stingray musicians was unreal.”
These moments of human connection often become the most memorable part of a visit.
Spotting local wildlife
Step into a world where nature reigns.
The wildlife of East Arnhem adds another layer to the experience. The region is home to an extraordinary range of animals, from waterbirds and turtles to dugongs, dolphins and the formidable saltwater crocodile.
Wall admits they didn’t actually spot a croc during their visit.
“Devastatingly, I didn’t see one,” they laugh. “But with all the stories from the locals I definitely gained a healthy respect for caution.”
Some of the most memorable wildlife encounters can be surprisingly small., At Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island, Wall remembers walking along the beach one morning and watching it come alive.
“As you walk through the sand you see hundreds of crabs scurrying into their holes as you pass by,” they say. “Such a small thing, but it was completely magical.”
Moments like this reveal the quieter rhythms of East Arnhem, where even the smallest creatures seem to play a part in the landscape.
Visitors who make the journey soon learn the most important travel tip of all.
“Go in open-minded with a sense of curiosity,” Wall says. “Be prepared to ditch your plans. The land and the locals will guide you on an adventure no spreadsheets could ever compete with.”
And most importantly, they add, don’t rush.
“The land and people deserve your time and attention. You’ll be all the better for slowing down.”
For more information on visiting East Arnhem, head to eastarnhem.com.au.
