Wednesday 8th February 2017 – Monday 13th February 2017
One of the main ‘to dos’ on my bucket list, written as I as researched Australia as my one way flight loomed, was a visit to Uluru, or Ayers Rock as it’s commonly known.
The Facts
- Uluru is a large sandstone rock which sits at the heart of the Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia’s ‘Red Centre’.
- The national park and many of its surrounding sites are sacred to the indigenous or Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people. The land was given back to them, the rightful owners, in 1985 and they lease the land back to the government so that it can be enjoyed by us today.
- It is thought to have started forming 550 million years ago. According to scientists, it sits on its side, with 2/3 of the rock still underground today.
We knew it wasn’t going to be a cheap trip and had decided that, in order to absorbe as much of the culture and history as possible, we would join a tour instead of attempting to drive to the rock ourselves. And so finally, we were on our way to Uluru. The flight time from Melbourne was around two hours, although there are flights available from most large airports, and lands you directly in the small township nearby to Uluru.
The whole town is owned by one company, the Ayers Rock Resort, and is split into higher end hotels and cheaper hostels. Being backpackers, we had opted for the cheapest option, the Outback Pioneer Lodge, and would stay here one night before the setting off on the tour the next day. Or so we though. Unfortunatly due to the tour we had booked on to not filling up, we were moved on to one departing the next day, meaning we had an extra night at the Ayers Rock Resort and one less on the other end of the tour in Alice Springs.
The hostel was so so but offered free entry to the resorts museum and art gallery, a free shuttle bus around the resort, access to the facilities such as swimming pools at other hotels and this view from the top of a viewpoint right by our room.

Slight tangent; last time I did a skydive (which you can read about here) the weather was pretty darn miserable. So bad that we had to wait for rain clouds to pass before even taking off and I could see nothing but cloud when dangling my feet out of the plane. So I was absolutely desperate for the chance to do another one in better weather and, when we realised we could jump OVER Uluru, to say we jumped at the chance would be an understatement. Ba dum chuch.
So, only hours after landing in Ayers Rock via passanger jet, we were taking off again in a small two plan plane, dressed in our sexy outfits and strapped to skydive professionals. The weather was perfectly clear (my guy kept telling me it was the best weather he had ever jumped in) and the views over Uluru were just stunning as we circled to 12,000 feet. And then, before I knew it, it was time to go and I was hurtling towards the ground before the parachute was pulled and we enjoyed a short but smooth ride back to ground. The feeling was just unreal and the views spectacular.
When booking the hostel, we also noticed that the resort were offering tickets to a trip called Field of Light and a bit of research into this revealed that the Field of Light was a huge, light up art instillation by British artist Bruce Munro. We booked on to see it immediately. On the evening of the tour we were picked up from the hostel on a large coach and transported to the field surrounding Uluru, which is covered in solar powered flower like lights which shine and fade from one colour to the next to appear as if a field of wild flowers. You are given an hour to walk amungst the field and take it all in. The effect was beautiful, but sadly not one that the camera will pick up without a long exposure, so please don’t cancel your trip based on my photographs. The installation has been renewed until 2018, so if you get the chance to see it I can highly recommend.
On our second day, we were woken at 4am to the sweet sounds of Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day‘, the perfect song to describe what was to come of our morning. We were all packed up and ready at to drive back to Uluru for breakfast whilst watching the sunrise, which was well worth it. From here, guide Emily’s music choices just got better, as the Lion King’s ‘Circle of life’ blast out from the speaker as the sun rose.
After sunrise, we all packed into the bus and drove the short journey to Kata Tjuta. We didn’t spend much time here as we had a long drive ahead but there was enough time to grab a photo and take in the view.
From here, we drove for around 40 minutes until we reached the Valley of the Winds. Here, we would follow a trail to the Kuru (1st) and Karingana (2nd) lookout. From here, we would walk back down the way we came. The walk was tough in the summer heat, and I’m glad we started early (we’d finished the 3 hour walk by around 8am) as the walk is known to close around 11am or if the temperature hits 36degrees. The views at the top and throughout though were so worth the climb.
Eventually, we arrived in Alice Springs ready for a hot shower and nice comfy bed. We all met again that night for dinner and drinks and to exchange Facebook pages. A wonderful end to a wonderful trip.
We’re now in Darwin, so that post will be next. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, I would love any feedback.
Kirsty x