Planning guide · Distances
Departure points differ between operators.
Planning a short trip to Uluru can be tricky. The distances are long, tours start from different places, inclusions vary and two days goes quickly. This guide covers what to think about before you check availability.
Four things to weigh up
Each one affects the others. A tour’s departure point shapes your travel time, and that changes how much of the two days you actually spend sightseeing.
01 Long travel distances
The Red Centre is vast, and Uluru is a long way from where most travellers start. On a two-day tour, a good part of your time may be spent travelling. Read each itinerary closely to see how it splits time between travel and sightseeing.
02 Different departure points
Operators don’t all start from the same place. Where a tour begins and ends affects how you get there, whether you need a night’s accommodation first and how you travel on afterwards.
03 Varying inclusions
Tours with similar names can include quite different things. Some packages may include guided sightseeing at Uluru and visits to Kata Tjuta. Flights to or from the Northern Territory, and accommodation before or after the tour, may not be included. See what varies.
04 Limited time
A two-day tour usually includes one overnight stay, where the itinerary says so. With so few hours, where you start and what’s included both matter more.
Begin with the start point, then plan everything else around it.
Before you compare sights or prices, find each operator’s departure location and the departure and return times in their itinerary. Then work back from there. Check that your flights or other transport line up, that you know where you’ll stay the night before and after, and that you’ll be at the meeting point on time.
The tours we list are run by independent Australian tour operators. We help you discover, compare and book them. We don’t arrange your flights, transfers or extra accommodation ourselves, so leave yourself enough buffer around the tour times. Our booking information page explains how this works.
Travel time vs. time on the ground
When you read an itinerary, look at how the two days are split. Some tours spend more time travelling and others spend more time at Uluru and nearby places like Kata Tjuta. Neither is wrong. It depends on where you’re coming from and what matters most to you.
A checklist for each tour you’re considering
Where does the tour depart from, and where does it finish?
What departure and return times does the operator’s itinerary list?
Is the overnight stay included, and what kind of accommodation is it?
Which sights are on the itinerary, such as Uluru or Kata Tjuta?
What isn’t included, such as flights, extra nights, meals or national park fees?
Does the tour run on your dates? Some run all year and others only in certain seasons.
Tell us your dates and preferred departure point and we’ll help you compare suitable tours.
Each tour is run by an independent operator, so itineraries, departure arrangements, inclusions and availability can vary. There are no guarantees about weather or sightseeing conditions.
