Take the family to Uluru for a special holiday experience they’ll never forget.
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Families are well catered for at Uluru, with accommodation options and activities suitable for kids of all ages: from easy walks and painting workshops to camel safaris and helicopter flights.
Here are some top Uluru family activities.
Visit the cultural centre first
It’s a great idea to make the Cultural Centre your first stop at Uluru so you can learn about the local plants, animals, and Aboriginal art and culture in this region. Wander through the flora and fauna displays – the kids might recognise things they see on their walks. Pick up a visitor guide before you go.
Walk around Uluru (or part of it!)
Choose from six established walks, from short ones suitable for very young children to the full 10.6km loop around the base of Uluru. All walking trails are clearly signed and most are suitable for prams. Two great family options are the Mala Walk in to Kantju Gorge to see Aboriginal rock art (2km return) and the short Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole (1km return). There are often ranger-guided walks too. Pack your water bottles and you’re ready to go!
Watch the changing colours of Uluru at sunset
The whole family will never forget the spectacle of Uluru changing colours as the sun sets—one of the best times to see Uluru. As the sun hits on its way down, the rock changes from a sizzling red to burnt orange to a deep purple as the light fades. The sunset viewing areas are easy to get to, with clear signage showing the way. Pack a rug and a picnic and find your place on the sand dunes as you wait for the show to start.
Join a dot painting workshop
The kids will love sitting with local artists at Maruku Arts, a collective of some 900 Anangu artists from 20 remote desert communities around Uluru. You’ll all learn about their traditional art, symbols, tools and the ways of the desert and create your own piece of art to take home. You might even pick up a few Pitjantjatjara words. Kids from age five and up are welcome, and there’s a special family rate too.
Glide around Uluru on a Segway
If your kids are at least 12 years old, a Segway ride is a novel and fun way to experience Uluru. Take your riding and safety lesson, then glide around Uluru while you learn about the geology, see ancient Aboriginal rock art and hear about Anangu culture from your experienced guide. Tours range from 2.5 to five hours and are for groups of up to 12. The bigger kids will love it.
Take a camel, chopper, Harley or bike
Walking isn’t the only way for the family to do Uluru. Take a sunrise or sunset camel tour around Uluru, then wander around the fully working saddlery afterwards, where the kids can read up on the 130-year history of camels in Australia.
See Uluru from above in a helicopter or light plane – the view from up there is amazing. Jump on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle or a three-wheel trike for a quick 30-minute spin or the ultimate sunset tour. Hire a bike and ride around Uluru at the family’s own pace.
Walk through the domes of Kata Tjuta
Take the family to explore the other famous landmark in this area: Kata Tjuta, 36 steep domes found 50km from Uluru. There are three established walking trails, including the renowned Valley of the Winds walk, a four-hour circuit that takes in two spectacular lookouts and goes into the heart of Kata Tjuta.
There are two easier walks: the short walk to the Kata Tjuta dune viewing area (600m return) for amazing panorama of the domes and the slightly more challenging Walpa Gorge Walk (2.6km return).
