Traveling to Uluru tips please

We did not enjoy our stay at Yulara, but you can learn from our experience.

Don't accept a camp site anywhere near the group sites.

We had tour buses full of backpackers opposite us and the noise they made and the language they used, well into the night left us without sleep, and having to explain some interesting words to our primary school aged kids.

We called the office for help but got no answer, the security patrols did nothing about it. I spoke to the bus drive and he did nothing about it. At midnight on the second night I called the Police. They took over an hour to arrive but did speak to the group with some success. Next night there was a different group and the process started all over again. I again spoke to the bus driver at about 1030 and told him I would call the Police if they were noisy after 11pm and by about 1115 they were starting to settle down but my kids were still awake at midnight.

We also had a problem with female backpackers in the male toilets which disturbed and embarrassed my 11 year old son to the point that he would not go to the shower or toilet without me.

On the positive side, the Rock is stunning and I recommend you do the walk around the base, and take the time to watch and note the colour changes throughout the day.

Some say you shouldn't climb the rock, we did. We read all the signs and discussed it amongst ourselves to make the decision. I am glad we climbed it but the family discussion was also a valuable part of the experience. The climb itself was not hard, it was not easy either but it was worth the effort.

If you want to do the climb go early, it is more likely to be open in the cool and stillness of dawn than in the middle of the day.

Kata Juta is also fantastic and we did one of the longer walks, take plenty of water and plenty of time.

If you are going into Palm Valley and I recommended you do, get there early because the camp ground does fill up. We were in the overflow which was nice and quiet but a long walk to the amenities. Again take your time and do a walk. We hooked up with a tour group. It felt a bit rude at first but the guide was happy for us to hang around in the background and pointed things of interest out to us and our kids as well as his guests. They may not all be that accommodating though.

We stayed in the resort at Kings Canyon it was very nice, the pool was most welcome and the tour groups here were better behaved than they were at Yulara.

Duncs

Hi jlAU,
at Yulara book a site numbering in the 100's as they are the best suited for Camper Trailers. We got stuck behind the office for a first night and we couldn't drive a peg in. We cancelled the next two nights, went to Kings Creek Station then came back to a much better site. No. 132 I think. The Unpowered sites are dumb for camper traliers as you just get put beside the bollareded off lawns. Have a great trip.

TJ

I would recommend you stay at Curtain Springs Homestead Roadhouse campground, rather than Yulara. More like bush camping, can even have a camp fire, showers and toilets. Basic but beaut, with all fuels available. Easy 80k drive to the Rock, without all the tourists, especially that time of year.

Others may have different thoughts, but that's MHO.

Fred

as pointed out by another Palm Valley is a must see an oasis in a desert with permanent water, and palm trees and cycads found no where else in the world dating back to the prehistoric. unfortunately it is getting crowded these days.

I hate booking ahead, but this place is one where you should if you want power.

If you are forced in to the great unpowered wasteland at the end of the Yulara campground, the last amenities block can become overused and run out of hot water. Consider driving to an amenities block that may be further away, but will have less patrons.

Do not be surprised to have to wait 30-45 minutes to check into the Yulara campground as the queues get very long mid afternoon.

We found the supermarket in Yulara to have reasonable prices and stock for food.

If you want to climb the rock, yes go in the morning. It was closed again by 11m the day we did it due to high winds.

2 days to get there, 2 days to get back leaves you 3-6 days only whilst you are there.

1 Day Uluru, 1 day Olgas 1 day travel to King's Canyon (reccomend the Station over the resort), 1 day at the Canyon, there is your time all taken up.
If you don't have a vehicle with good suspension (4WD), the road onto Palm Valler and West Mac ranges past Kings Canyon is a bit ordinary when you are loaded up with the family and gear.

Unfortunately you won't have the time to go onto Palm Valley or West Mac ranges, if you only have 7-10 days. Could throw in Woomera, Coober Pedy on the road up as well.

Take your time at what's feasible, don't try to do it all.

Thanks to everyone that have replied sofar. We are self sufficent as far as power goes, we have shower/hot water ensuit ( KimberleyKamper Platinum ) so some where quite would be good. as we will be saving on money for accomadation we thouhgt we would lash out for meals a couple of times so to be in or near resort would be helpfull. Yes the the trip will be quick unfotunately ( plan on doing longer trip at a later date) and we may break the trip up for a stop on the way. Maybe ad a couple of days and go back via Marree. thanks again for replies so far.

Must agree with Mark, above re time frame. Yulara Campground is not a very inviting place, & expensive. We stayed there , but would look at Curtin Springs
next time. We liked the walk around the rock, & the Valley of the Winds walk at the Olgas is superb...leave one day for this. The climb is a personal choice,the
girls may consider this a "must do". The sight of many tourists from nations to our north screaming & abusing NP Officers who had just declared the climb closed, was something we will never forget. The big tip is...go early in the morning
no matter what walk you plan. This includes the rim walk at Kings Canyon,
which many regard as the best of all. You may consider the Oodnadatta Track as
one way of making a round trip if this suits your location.
Enjoy.....oldbaz.

Make sure you drop into the Breakaways just north of Coober Pedy on the way up or back. We drove the track lots of times in the 80's and 90's and finally took a look in last year. Very impressive and only a few minutes off the main road. You can take the lop track back and see the dog fence as well.

Cheers

Pete

My Blogs from 2008 outline what we did and saw in the area. Although staying at Yulara CP was not the type of camping we enjoy, we chose to be on site rather than waste time and money commuting from a free camp.Kata Tjuta is larger, and has more interesting walks that Uluru, but both are worthwhile. We chose to do the walk around Uluru and not to do the climb.

Motherhen

We stayed at Uluru last month in a camper trailer with two children. I agree with what most people have already mentioned about the camp site, the main problem is that the large tour groups are not set up in any one particular area, but are scattered through out the camp site. This means that there are not many sites that are outside of noise range of a tour group, (very bad planning when they built it). Make sure you use the amenities before the buses arrive back in camp in the afternoons.

Regards Jon

Thanks every one for the replies,tips and ideas. Very much appreciated. Looking forward to the trip. jl

Hi whilst it has been nearly 20 years since we lived at Yulara for nearly 2 years it has always been one of the dearest in Australia. After a trip back with the girls I didn't think it was as dear as I remembered. Food at the supermarket had certainly improved in variety and price from what we remembered. If you aren't a regular remote camper the sounds of silence dinner is expensive but something my 2 kids (7&9) still talk about. Better than the very first one for staff that they trialled in 1992. Scenic flight well you can make up your own mind as after flying many thousand I am not the most unbiased reviewer. You should have a great time but DO NOT forget the FLYNETS, the worst flies I have ever encountered world wide are at Yulara at that time of year.