7 incredible Alice Springs to Uluru tours you’ll want to try

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From quick day trips to immersive multi-day adventures, these tours from Alice Springs to Uluṟu promise an unforgettable adventure.

Touring the Red Centre serves up eye-popping beauty at every turn. Whether you’re seeking a sophisticated Alice Springs to Uluṟu tour with top-notch hotel service or an action-packed experience where you sleep in a swag under the desert sky, there are a bunch of excellent tours out there.

1. Emu Run Experience

Ideal for those short on time but eager to witness the splendour of Uluru, Emu Run Experience offers an action-packed day tour that kicks off at 6am from your Alice Springs accommodation and travels to Uluṟu, while you listen to intriguing stories along the way.

Guide leads a group on the Mala Walk at Uluru
The Mala Walk is a powerful experience to have at Uluru. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

In the late afternoon, your guide will take you on the Mala Walk, which travels around the north-west side of Uluṟu where you can view Anangu rock art. Then travel by coach to another section of Uluṟu and start a guided walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole.

Before you set off to Alice Springs, you’ll be treated to a sunset viewing with a glass of bubbly and an Aussie barbeque. This trip is also available for pick up or drop off from the Ayers Rock Resort. 

2. Wayoutback Australian Safaris

For those looking to connect with nature, Wayoutback Australian Safaris offers a three-day camping safari that combines the adventure of outback camping with the awe-inspiring sights of Uluṟu, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta.

three people walking along the grass, Wayoutback Australian Safaris
Connect with nature on a tour with Wayoutback Australian Safaris. (Image: Tourism NT)

For your accommodation, you can pick from cosy safari tents or a traditional swag experience where you’ll sleep under the stars on a canvas-covered bed roll.

three people walking under a rock formation, Wayoutback Australian Safaris
See the awe-inspiring sights of Uluṟu, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta. (Image: Tourism NT)

3. Intrepid Travel

For the fun-lover, Intrepid Travel’s Uluṟu & Kings Canyon Adventure is a four-day action-packed journey that takes you from Alice Springs through the captivating landscapes of the Red Centre to Uluṟu and back to your starting point.

exploring across the rock formations in Uluru with Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel’s Uluṟu & Kings Canyon Adventure takes you from Alice Springs through the Red Centre to Uluṟu.

The itinerary includes viewing the changing colours of Uluṟu at sunset and sunrise, exploring the mystical domes of Kata Tjuta, and delving into the cultural significance of these sacred sites with an Aboriginal guide.

Group gathers at sunset with a wine in hand on an Intrepid tour of the Red Centre
Enjoy a sunset viewing with a glass of wine.

At night, you will sleep in tents with comfy stretcher beds and sleeping bags, with shared bathroom facilities a short walk away. For a non-camping, longer trip to Uluṟu, Intrepid Travel has a six-day adventure. Check out the variety of Uluru itineraries here.

a couple sitting outside their tent, Intrepid Travel
Go off-grid and sleep under the stars.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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4. AAT Kings – Uluṟu & Kata Tjuta Explorer

If you prefer to sleep surrounded by four walls rather than under the canvas, AAT Kings offers Uluṟu and Kata Tjuta Highlights, a two-day tour that showcases the grandeur of Uluṟu and takes you to the rock formations of Kata Tjuta.

an aerial view of the Uluru tour with AAT Kings
Tour around Uluṟu with AAT Kings. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Depending on your budget, you can choose to sleep in the Outback Hotel & Lodge, Desert Gardens, Sails in the Desert Hotel or Ayres Rock Resort.

the Kata Tjuta in Uluru
The grandeur of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) will leave you in awe. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

AAT Kings also offers transfers from Alice Springs to Uluṟu and vice versa and from Uluṟu to the Ayres Rock Airport, so you could travel by coach one way and fly the other.

a group of travellers at Kata Tjuta tour with AAT Kings
AAT Kings offers a two-day tour showcasing the wonders of Uluṟu and Kata Tjuta. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

5. SEIT Outback Australia

If you’re already in Uluṟu, SEIT Tours offers trips from Ayers Rock Resort that provide an in-depth understanding of the area’s Aboriginal heritage, rock art and traditional stories.

Group walks around the base of Uluru
Delve into the cultural significance of Uluṟu on tour with SEIT. (Image: Tourism NT/The Salty Travellers)

Pick from the six-hour Uluṟu trek or the shorter Uluru highlights, where you will visit Mutijulu Waterhole on the Kuniya Walk and learn the Creation stories of Liru (poisonous snake) and Kuniya (python).

If you want to have a truly uniqueexperience, opt for SEIT’s Patji Homelands Tour. An Aboriginal guide will take you onto Aboriginal Lands, otherwise out-of-bounds for visitors. You’ll learn about the personal story of the Uluṟu family, while on their Traditional Lands. It’s a truly special tour that will leave visitors with a deep appreciation for the landscape and the stories held within it.

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6. Alice Springs Expeditions

If you want to look into arranging your own small group bespoke tour take a look at Alice Springs Expeditions. Host John Stafford has in-depth knowledge of Central Australia and has years of experience coordinating travel logistics for special interest tours, such as media events, art trail tours and car launches.

a 4WD entering Finke Gorge National Park
Craft a bespoke tour with Alice Springs Expeditions. (Image: Tourism Australia/ Shaana McNaught)

Tours take adventurers off the beaten track, so be prepared to sleep under the stars in a swag with cotton sheets inside a sleeping bag.

two people sitting in front of a bonfire in a camp, Alice Springs Expeditions
Nights are spent around the campfire before drifting off to sleep in a swag. (Image: Tourism Australia/ Shaana McNaught)

 

7. Art Tours of Australia

What better way to immerse youself in the landscape than painting it? Artist and guide Anna Dakin of Art Tours of Australia takes guests on art-inspired excursions across the Red Centre to learn and create. The 5-day Art and Culture Adventure begins at Alice Springs and takes in Uluṟu, where guests will take part in an Aṉangu-led dot painting class. A paintbrush is never too far out of reach – there are regular watercolour painting sessions hosted by Anna, where you’ll render the beautiful landscapes infront of you as you travel between Alice Springs and Uluṟu.

Australian Art Tours Wallaby
Anna Dakin runs Art Tours of Australia, taking visitors on art-focused excursions through the outback and Uluru.

For more incredible ways to explore the region, read our travel guide to Alice Springs.

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Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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Untouched wilderness & unexpected pub crawls: 8 experiences you’ll only find in the NT

(Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Sean Scott)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    The Northern Territory isn’t just different – it’s a whole new world. From the friendly locals and varied landscapes to its cultural layers, there’s nowhere else in Australia quite like it.

    The Northern Territory has to be experienced to be believed. The majesty of Uluṟu doesn’t quite hit until you’re standing before it. The untouched beauty of Arnhem Land strikes the heart in a way you can’t imagine. The quirky and friendly locals and the festivals they throw impart stories that won’t be forgotten. And that’s just the beginning. From natural hot springs and local larrikins to deep cultural ties and ancient stories, these are the experiences to be discovered only in the NT.

    1. Swim in pristine natural hot springs

    woman swimming in Katherine Hot Springs only in the nt
    Dive into Katherine’s crystal clear thermal springs. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Backyard Bandits)

    The NT’s natural hot springs are truly picturesque. Katherine’s crystal clear thermal springs sit on the banks of the Katherine River, framed by nature. Picnic grounds and scenic walking tracks make it easy to linger.

    In Elsey National Park, the teal waters of Bitter Springs have long been popular with locals. It’s not uncommon to spot turtles as you drift with the gentle current, palm trees waving on the banks. The park also contains Mataranka Thermal Pool, a sandy-bottomed swimming hole sitting at a cosy 34°C year-round.

    2. Explore the Red Centre Light Trail

    Light Towers Kings Canyon
    Head to Kings Canyon to see the Light Towers. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is more than just a place; it’s earned its name as Australia’s cultural heart. Here, a wealth of stories is held by its Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu. And while there are many ways to connect, in more recent years, the Red Centre Light Trail has offered visitors one more way to interpret all this landscape holds.

    Wander the Light Towers at Kings Canyon and watch the Field of Light transform the land before Uluṟu as day turns to night. Also, be sure to take in Wintjiri Wiṟu by light artist Bruce Ramus, sharing the Aṉangu’s Mala story.

    Arrive in April to experience Parrtjima, a free annual 10-night festival of light, featuring installations, workshops and more.

    3. See unrivalled views from a helicopter

    helicopter ride over kakadu only in the nt
    See Kakadu from the air. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Sean Scott)

    There’s no better place in the world to hit the skies in a helicopter. Soar over thundering waterfalls, world-famous wetlands and the floodplains of Kakadu National Park. A bird’s-eye view brings a special type of magic to this one-of-a-kind landscape.

    You can also meet local characters on the pub crawl of a lifetime as you fly between some of the NT’s best and most remote pubs.

    4. Discover the start of Western Arrarnta art

    Hermannsburg Potters only in the nt
    Book ahead to visit Hermannsburg Potters. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ Felix Baker)

    Hermannsburg is one of the most unique towns in Australia. This historic mission town holds several claims to fame, including being the birthplace of Western Arrarnta art – a renowned style of Indigenous art using vibrant, naturalistic watercolours to depict Central Australian desert landscapes. Book ahead from April to September to visit Hermannsburg Potters, a collective of dedicated Western Arrarnta artists.

    Other options to see this art style near Alice Springs include the Araluen Arts Centre, Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye).

    5. Spot crocs on a cruise

    Crocodile being fed on a cruise on the Adelaide River nt
    Spot wild crocs up close. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

    The NT is the only territory that feeds wild crocs, putting the ‘wild’ in wildlife spotting experience. Join a cruise along the Adelaide River, just an hour from Darwin, to see these not-so-gentle prehistoric giants in their natural habitat.

    Be sure to stop into Humpty Doo or Noonamah for lunch on your way back to Darwin. Here, you’ll experience a real NT roadhouse.

    6. Experience local Indigenous cultures

    young participant at the Garma Festival Nhulunbuy arnhem land
    Time a trip to Nhulunbuy for the Garma Festival. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT)

    The NT offers some of the best opportunities to experience the world’s most ancient living culture. Head to Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem mid-year for the Garma Festival, Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, with four days of song, dance and art sharing Yolngu culture. Stop into Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre in nearby Yirrkala while you’re there, current home of the Yirrkala Church Panels. Painted in 1963, they form one of the first ‘title deeds’ to Country.

    Join a celebration of Indigenous music, art, culture and sport at the Barunga Festival, 80 kilometres from Katherine, every June. And year-round, book an Indigenous-led tour through Ubirr, one of the oldest rock art sites in Australia.

    7. Meet the larrikins of Alice Springs

    competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta
    Henley on Todd Regatta might be one of the NT’s whackiest events. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/

    Head to Alice Springs at any time of year and you’ll be guaranteed to meet some colourful locals. But to really get to the heart of the eccentricities, mark a few dates on your calendar.

    March brings one of the best Pride events in the world, fabAlice. Inspired by the iconic Aussie movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which was filmed in Alice Springs over 25 years ago, the festival has a strong focus on the art of drag and celebrates LGBTQI+ communities, as well as self-expression in general.

    Come August, Todd River’s typically dry, sandy bed comes alive with the world’s only dry river boating event, the Henley on Todd Regatta.

    8. Swim in a waterfall with no one else around

    Upper Cascades in Litchfield National Park
    Swim in the Upper Cascades with no one else around.

    So few of Australia’s most beautiful places remain untouched, but that’s not true in the NT. Take a short hike through monsoon forest in Litchfield National Park (just over an hour’s drive outside of Darwin) to reach the secluded Cascades swimming area. Here, take a dip in the lower or upper cascade pools, both surrounded by rugged bushland. And you’ll probably have it all to yourself.

    Plan your Northern Territory trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com.