Uluru, the Desert resort
- Danielle Willis
- Aug 14, 2016
- 3 min read
I wasn’t really too sure what to expect when I arrived in Uluru. Would it be a dusty, traditional outback town? Or a busy tourist resort lined with endless souvenir shops and fast food retailers?
The answer I got? Neither. It turned out to be a rather quaint little town built especially for us travelers, consisting of all that we could require, from a small supermarket to a hair and beauty salon, as well as restaurants and cafes looking to tantalize our taste buds.
While we’re on the topic, in terms of where to eat, my two favorite stops were the Kuluta Academy Café, with its wide range of freshly prepped sandwiches and colourful salads, and the Outback Pioneer Café. Now this place for me was particularly special. Why? It was a DIY BBQ with traditional Aussie charm. I’m talking more than just ‘shrimps on the barbie’, I’m talking fresh Barramundi drizzled with lemon wrapped in foil and grilled to perfection. Now THAT is where it’s at. However I am being biased towards my love for fish and there were also steaks, kangaroo and emu sausages to choose from which all looked equally as good. What’s even better, is that you can then shimmy on down to the salad bar and pile your plate high, even going back for desert if your jeans aren’t bursting at the seams from being a little too full.
After a nice feed, you’ll want somewhere to lay your heads down for the night and catch up on some rest, and I’m pleased to say that Uluru is not short of options to choose from. Whether its camping that tickles your fancy, a cosy apartment, or something more luxurious like the five star rated ‘Sails in the Desert’, you really can tailor your Ayers Rock experience to suit your needs.
Personally I was on a backpacker budget, so our group stayed in lodges at the Outback Pioneer hotel. However I would not recommend this if you have more than a few dollars spare, as it was very basic, cramped and rather cold at night.
Speaking of it being a little on the chilly side, bear in mind that Ayers Rock resort is based in the desert and so It can get really quite cold at night and during the early morning. So be prepared and take a few extra layers and most certainly a coat.
Furthermore, there is a variation of activities on offer in Uluru for tourists to get the most from their stay in the desert. These include helicopter flights, camel and Harley Davidson rides as well as skydiving and aboriginal experiences. The list is endless! Hence you can be sure that your time spent here will be action packed and unforgettable.
During my time here I basically didn’t stop. I woke up before the crack of dawn to watch the Sun rise over Uluru and I also watched the sunset accompanied by champagne, cheese and biscuits. Oh and that was before the extra activities I had planned the following day...
I had long wondered what it would be like to experience a helicopter flight, so chose to explore Uluru and the neighbouring Kata Tjuta rock formations by air. Although the tour was quite expensive, ($285 for 40 minutes) it was extremely worthwhile and a memory I will cherish for life. After all, it is only by flying alongside these unique Australian landmarks that you can truly appreciate their size and presence.
Later in the evening, I also visited the Field Of Lights, a global art phenomenon crafted by universally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro. The installation comprises of over 50,000 twig like stems crowned with frosted glass spheres which illuminate in picturesque multicolour as the night draws in on Australia’s Red Centre. However, I believe it departs during March 2017, to further exhibit its beauty elsewhere in the world. So I suggest you get there quickly to experience it in the magic of Uluru, because my guess is that it won’t be returning for quite some time.
So there you have it. Uluru resort told as it is, an exclusive crowd pleaser oozing with natural beauty. If you’re planning on visiting Australia at some point in the future, then Uluru is definitely one to add to the bucket list, and let’s be honest, you’d be daft to leave it out.
