Ayers rock / uluru help

[kiwitripper64]

Hi, has anyone been recently to Uluru? We are there 6-9 July and plan on seeing the rock, sunrises and the Olgas. We are looking at renting a car, but someone suggested the local tours were better?
Any suggestions or tips
thanks

 

[straitman]

Hi, has anyone been recently to Uluru? We are there 6-9 July and plan on seeing the rock, sunrises and the Olgas. We are looking at renting a car, but someone suggested the local tours were better?
Any suggestions or tips
thanks

Can't help right now but the OzFest crew will be there in late May so can help after that. Are you aware that the accommodation offers free airport transfers :?:

 

[kiwitripper64]

Thanks, yes we wereaware of tranfers. We are just usure of distances, parking etc. Sometimes its worth getting a car and our own schedule and sometimes the tours are awesome

 

[straitman]

Thanks, yes we wereaware of tranfers. We are just usure of distances, parking etc. Sometimes its worth getting a car and our own schedule and sometimes the tours are awesome

Agreed.

Sorry I cannot help more. Try asking ozbeachbabe as she may have a better idea than me.

 

[docjames]

Have done it both ways. Car is very handy as you can "view at your own pleasure" whereas the issue we had with a tour was that you wanted to stay longer / look more and the tour was leaving!

Having said that, the tour did give info but a lot of that I'd already researched / it's on wiki etc. There's also an info centre and signs etc so you can probably do it without a tour if you want to set your own pace.

 

[Simo]

IMHO,

Would not waste your money on a car at Ayres Rock,

There is heaps of tour operators and they will organise it all for you and they know where to get the best views.

 

[Meggsy]

I'll be back out there with work next week. There is good arguments either way as docjames suggests above. The resort area is about a 5 minute drive from the airport and has free shuttle that meet each flight. The Rock and the Olgas are both with in a short drive from the resort and the beauty of self drive is you can see and do at your leisure (will have to buy an entry permit though). The benefit of the guided tour is the guides are generally very knowledgable and will give you information during the tours that you will not get on self drive options. If you have a car though you can also go further afield and do a day trip to Kings Canyon (tours also available). Personally I would take the tours on 1 or 2 days and hire a car for a single day or 2 if you wanted to return to some place of interest. Enjoy, it is a wonderful place.

 

[kiwitripper64]

thanks everyone.
Next question, to climb or not to climb?

 

[Meggsy]

Absolutely personal choice. The traditional owners strongly discourage and I notice that the climb appears to be closed more than it is open these days so you may not get to make a choice. The climb is well worth the effort if you choose to do so and if it is open you will not be climbing alone.

 

[boomy]

We rented a car and also drove to Kings Canyon which is even more impressive IMO.
For me it's more a matter of comfort, I don't like organised tours, prefer to do and see things on my own leisure.
Regarding climbing the rock, the locals ask you to respect their sacred site and not climb. It's also dangerous and can bring bad luck (so they say...).

 

[Caversham04]

We rented a car and also drove to Kings Canyon which is even more impressive IMO.
For me it's more a matter of comfort, I don't like organised tours, prefer to do and see things on my own leisure.
Regarding climbing the rock, the locals ask you to respect their sacred site and not climb. It's also dangerous and can bring bad luck (so they say...).

+1 for Kings Canyon. The sunrise canyon rim walk was superb.

At Uluru, check out the Sounds of Silence dinner (you watch the sunset, then have dinner under the stars, then an astronomer gives a show-and-tell on the night sky and the stars that can be seen). Also consider a helicopter flight for a different perspective of Uluru - make sure you get a window seat if they take the chopper with a 3-person back seat, though, else you won't see as much.

 

[DaveB]

We flew in to Uluru and out by Alice flying onto Darwin as part of a tour of the west. We hired a car which was good for also taking in Kings Canyon and Mount Conner ending at Alice where we then flew to Darwin.
I would not bother with a car for Uluru and the Olgas.

 

[smit0847]

Its a very expensive 'only need to do it once' type place to visit. Make sure you do everything you want to do in the one trip as its unlikely you'll want to go again.

 

[joyvee]

My sister and I hired a car as we wanted the flexibility to do our own thing when we wanted to. Took cheese and nibbles and wine and drove out to watch the sunset on Uluru and then the stars emerge in their brilliance. It is just personal preference as to what your preference is. Amazing place to visit. Food is a tad expensive. we flew in with our own frozen meat casseroles in suitable containers and just bought salads and fruit. JoyV

 

[kiwitripper64]

Thanks everyone. Lots of helpful advice that has helped us in pre-planning. It will be a once only visit, but we have been thinking about this for 10 years or so. The opportunity has arisen and so we are off. We are hoping to spoil ourselves with the Tali Wirin dinner.

 

[AdMEL]

We rented a car and also drove to Kings Canyon which is even more impressive IMO.
For me it's more a matter of comfort, I don't like organised tours, prefer to do and see things on my own leisure.
Regarding climbing the rock, the locals ask you to respect their sacred site and not climb. It's also dangerous and can bring bad luck (so they say...).

+1 for Kings Canyon. The sunrise canyon rim walk was superb.

At Uluru, check out the Sounds of Silence dinner (you watch the sunset, then have dinner under the stars, then an astronomer gives a show-and-tell on the night sky and the stars that can be seen). Also consider a helicopter flight for a different perspective of Uluru - make sure you get a window seat if they take the chopper with a 3-person back seat, though, else you won't see as much.

I also thought that Kings Canyon, in particular the rim walk for sunrise, was more impressive than Uluru. At the time I went (new year a couple of years ago), Uluru was closed as it was too hot and windy. From what I understand, it is only open approx. 100 days a year, as it closed when it is too windy, rains, or the temp is above 35. I don't think Sounds of Silence was operating due it being off season (I would have liked to have done it).

With regard to food, I was impressed with the freshness, quality and price at Kings Canyon Resort restaurant, considering its remoteness.

Just be aware that almost all rental cars only have a 100km daily inclusion, which is nowhere near enough to get to Kings Canyon and back. There are a couple of ways to get unlimited kms, including booking through the resort, rather than direct. It doesn't always work out cheaper though. Also, be aware that rental cars are usually prohibited from driving at night (or do not provide any insurance cover), due to the high risk of hitting animals.

 

[boomy]

Just be aware that almost all rental cars only have a 100km daily inclusion, which is nowhere near enough to get to Kings Canyon and back. There are a couple of ways to get unlimited kms, including booking through the resort, rather than direct. It doesn't always work out cheaper though. Also, be aware that rental cars are usually prohibited from driving at night (or do not provide any insurance cover), due to the high risk of hitting animals.

Hertz gives 200km daily. The distance between Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon is ~650km return so if you keep the car for minimum 4 days it should cover most of the sightseeing in Ayers Rock and the drive to Kings Canyon.

 

[AdMEL]

Hertz gives 200km daily. The distance between Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon is ~650km return so if you keep the car for minimum 4 days it should cover most of the sightseeing in Ayers Rock and the drive to Kings Canyon.

How did you get 200km/day with Hertz? Whenever I've checked, including just now, their website only provides 100km/day.

 

[boomy]

How did you get 200km/day with Hertz? Whenever I've checked, including just now, their website only provides 100km/day.

You are right, I checked now and it's 100km on the website. Strange, I managed to get 200km when I was there in 2012 for 4 days. I need to recall how I did it. I may used some gift certificates for that booking.

 

[suze2000]

I went to Uluru at Xmas. WRT accomodation: if you can, I would recommend you get the most expensive you can. We stayed at Emu Walk Apartments, and while I would say it was adequate for the location, it wasn't the best. I would also add that you don't need a view of the rock to enjoy your stay.

Definitely do the Sounds of Silence, it's unforgettable.

I would get a car, but I prefer self-determination. We drove a car from Alice to Sydney on a special deal, so mileage wasn't an issue. But we once hired a car from Darwin - which also had limited mileage - and in the end, the excess cost wasn't that great (we had it for a week and drove to Kakadu etc), so it might be worth actually calculating how much the extra mileage will cost you and then deciding about whether it's worth it. You could always get a car, use it to trundle about Uluru and The Olgas and take a bus tour to Kings Canyon, if you wish to go.

We chose not to climb the rock as it is disrespectful and also looked downright dangerous.