All your Uluṟu camping questions answered

We’ve laid out everything you need to know about camping near Uluru: from the best time to go to choosing the right campsite for you.

When planning a trip out to Uluru, it won’t take long for the costs to add up. So why not try and save some money, and get in some quality Mother Nature time, with a camping trip out in the outback?

If camping isn’t quite your thing, we’ve rounded up the best accommodation options in Uluru. But if you don’t mind a stay without the bells and whistles, read on.

Uluṟu camping grounds

Ayers Rock Resort Campground

This is the closest campground to the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park where you can set up your tent or caravan at its powered and unpowered sites. While prices for this might seem more than your average campsite for the level of facilities (from around $40 for an unpowered site), it is a pretty good deal when you consider the other options nearby.

Ayers Rock Campground is the closest to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

Facilities include a swimming pool, communal barbecue facilities for a morning fry-up, a self-service laundry and an outdoor kitchen. Are fears of wildlife driving you from packing a tent? Book a berth in one of their mixed four-bed dormitories, or level up with one of the family cabins. This may also be a good option when camping in winter, where temperatures can drop below zero degrees celsius at night, or in summer when they rise significantly. Dogs are welcome at the campsite.

Free camping near Uluṟu

Curtin Springs Wayside Inn

The closest thing to free camping can be found around 100 kilometres away from the monolith, at the Curtin Springs Wayside Inn. This roadside inn-meets-working cattle farm-meets-paper mill-meets-campsite is an experience in local outback hospitality. It has facilities such as its homestyle restaurant, coin laundry, walking tours across the nearby salt lake, and tours of the local paper mill, Curtin Springs Paper.

Curtin Springs Wayside Inn offers free unpowered sites, but you’ll be a fair distance from Uluṟu.(Image: Tourism Australia/Global Headquarters)

But the real highlight for budget-weary travellers is that it offers free unpowered campsites and relatively cheap powered sites. Powered sites can — and should — be booked in advance as they are swiped up quickly, but booking in advance for unpowered sites is not available. Barbecues are available. And the water situation? A $4 per person per shower charge applies and it costs $10 to fill up your tank. Black water cannot be dumped, and an onsite store sells petrol and food.

The serenity is momentarily interrupted by the birdlife. (Image: Tourism Australia/Global Headquarters)

Camping tips for Uluṟu

Can I camp on the roadside on the way to Uluṟu?

It is illegal to camp on the side of highways on your way to or out of Uluṟu. You can only camp in structured, specially set up campsites.

It may be tempting to camp on the roadside, but it is actually illegal to do so.

When is the best time to camp at Uluṟu?

If you are taking the DIY route, and aren’t glamping, autumn and spring are generally considered the better times to camp in the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. The days don’t reach the scorching highs of the summer — making the tent all that much more bearable — and you won’t have to load up on thermals that you will probably need in winter.

the Ayers rock/Uluru sandstone formation

Spring and autumn are generally the best time to visit Uluṟu. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Can I bring my dog?

Pets are not allowed in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuta National Park itself. Do not leave the dog on its own when you go out exploring for the day, but ask around to find out what dog-sitting options there are available.

Can I light a campfire at Ayers Rock Campground?

You can only light a fire at the Ayers Rock Resort campground if it is winter and in the absence of a fire ban. Plan ahead and bring firewood (you must not gather wood in the park nearby, or, heaven forbid, chop down trees), and a firepit that raises it off the ground.

Are there snakes in Uluṟu?

Yes, there are snakes in Uluṟu. But don’t panic just yet! While there are 13 species in total, five are either non-venomous or blind. Of the remaining venomous eight, only three are considered dangerous: the Western Brown, the Desert Death Adder and the liru or King Brown or Mulga snake.

While this last one is the most venomous, like with many of Australia’s snakes, it’s all about keeping an eye out and keeping clear if you spot one.

All about the new accommodation

The new accommodation offering from the Tasmanian Walking Company will open to guests on the four-night Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk in 2026. It will include two environmentally conscious camps and the exclusive Luxury Lodge, all nestled deep within the World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk Accommodation in the Northern Territory

The exclusive accommodation is part of the new Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk.

On the first night, hikers will hunker down at Camp One, which offers sweeping vistas of the iconic red-dirt landscape. Wash your first day on the trail away with a hot shower before getting snug in your thoughtfully designed canvas tent for a good night’s rest.

Camp Two, where guests stay on their second night, is similar in style and offers the same amenities, including flushing toilets. Here, you can treat yourself to a foot spa before heading out onto the designated stargazing deck to see the Milky Way in all its glory. Keen cosmic observers can even opt to camp out under the stars in a cosy swag.

Spacious canvas tents allow for full immersion in the ancient landscape.

Nights three and four of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk will be spent at Tasmania Walking Company’s impressive new Luxury Lodge. Guests are invited to rejuvenate with a massage or facial at the onsite Wellness Centre before relaxing with new friends in the communal lounge or retreating to private sleeping quarters.

While full details are yet to be released, the lodge is designed specifically to spotlight the surrounding scenery in all its raw, unfiltered beauty and integrate unique features that will work to fully immerse guests throughout their stay. Uninterrupted views of Uluru also allow for thoughtful reflection on your journey, amplifying a real sense of connection to and respect for Country.

Reflect on your transformative five-day journey at the Luxury Lodge.

It’s important to note that all accommodation along the way is twin share, so most solo travellers will need to bunk up with a fellow hiker. While single rooms can be requested upon booking, 75 per cent of your full fee is required as a supplementary payment.

What to expect along the way

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk has been developed in close consultation with the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people (Anangu), the Traditional Owners of the land. All up, the hike spans 54 kilometres across this vast and ancient landscape, earning itself a place among Australia’s most unforgettable hikes before it even opens to the public.

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk in the Northern Territory

The Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk span 54 kilometres.

During the day, guests will tackle different sections of the trail with an experienced guide, from the soaring domes of Kata Tjuta to the 550-million-year-old Uluru, the sacred heart of Australia. Along the way, you’ll witness ochre-rich dunes, mulga woodlands and ancient outcrops, as well as hear Ancestral stories and learn about caring for Country. If five days isn’t enough (and it rarely is in this magical place), tack on an extra week or so to experience everything else Uluru has to offer.

Bookings for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk are now open, with availability from April 2026 to September 2026. Prices start at $5395 per person and include all accommodation, transfers, meals and a selection of beverages, as well as a mandatory national park pass.