How long does it take to walk around Uluru?
The Base Walk around Uluru is approximately 10km long, and takes three to four hours. Due to the heat, aim to start early and finish by 11am.
The walk around Uluru is one of the highlights of Australia’s Northern Territory.
Some visitors are upset because climbing Uluru has been banned. But they needn’t be – the walk around the base of Uluru has always been far more interesting than the climb.
This once-in-a-lifetime dune-top dinner experience, with special stargazing session included, is our top Uluru recommendation.
Circumference of Uluru
The circumference of Uluru is 9.4km. That’s according to the figure provided by Parks Australia.
The Base Walk track doesn’t religiously stick to the circumference of the rock, and there’s a short walk to the start from the Mala car park. But overall, the Uluru Base Walk is about 10km long.
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How long is the walk around Uluru?
The walk around Uluru should take around three to four hours for most people. Obviously, individual timings for how long it takes to walk around Uluru will vary according to walking pace and how many stops you make.
The Uluru Base Walk is not a difficult one in terms of obstacles or elevation gain. It can, however, get fiercely hot.
Most of the Uluru Base Walk is unprotected, and walkers are in direct sunlight. On some days, the national park management team closes off sections of the walk around Uluru at 11am due to the danger of heatstroke.
8 great Uluru experiences to book before you arrive
- 1. Understand Uluru’s caves, bulges, gullies and spiritual stories on a guided base walk.
- 2. Be awe-struck by the changing colours on a SUNRISE tour.
- 3. Eat great food on a dune top, and enjoy an expert-guided stargazing session during a once-in-a-lifetime desert dune-top dinner.
- 4. See an entirely different kind of dramatic outback scenery on Kings Canyon day trip.
- 5. Do a lap of Uluru by Segway.
- 6. See the big picture on an outback helicopter flight.
- 7. See Australia’s most spectacular light show – the Field of Light at sunrise.
- 8. Admire the colour-shifting giant rock domes on a Kata-tjuta sunset trip.
When to do the Uluru Base Walk
The best time to do the Uluru Base Walk is early in the morning, before it gets too hot. The Parks Australia advice is to start from the Mala car park, go clockwise around the giant inselberg, then aim to finish the walk around Uluru by 11am.
The Base Walk shows off several different sides to Uluru. Walkers will encounter caves, black streaks caused by waterfalls, surprisingly green gullies and possibly wildlife.
On the walk around Uluru, it quickly becomes clear that Uluru is more than just a standard photo opportunity.
Other things to do at Uluru include the Sounds of Silence dinner, scenic helicopter flights and Aboriginal dot painting workshops.
Which Uluru accommodation should I book?
Let’s not sugar-coat it: Accommodation at Uluru is expensive. Specialist Australian accommodation website Wotif lists Uluru accommodation for from $300. Check the top deals page to search through the options.
However, if you stay for three nights rather than two, hefty discounts tend to kick in.
The Uluru accommodation options are designed with different target markets in mind. Book which one fits you best.
- For the lowest prices: Ayers Rock Campground.
- For best quality: Sails in the Desert.
- For families and self-caterers: Emu Walk Apartments.
- For mid-range solidity: Desert Gardens.
More Northern Territory travel
Where to stop on the Camooweal to Tennant Creek drive.
Perth to Alice Springs road trip guide.
Where to stop on a Darwin to Uluru road trip.
Where to stop on a Tennant Creek to Uluru road trip.