Uluru Segway tours: Are they worth the price?

It is arguably worth doing an Uluru Segway tour if the Uluru Base Walk sounds too much like hard work. But there are other things to do in the Red Centre that may be a better use of your time and money.

Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, has become a staple on the Australian tourist circuit. Despite the doubt that there’s nothing to do in Australia’s Red Centre but stare at the big red rock.

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.

This isn’t true, of course. You can no longer climb Ayers Rock (both the climb and the name have been retired). But there are plenty of things to do at Uluru. These include scenic flights over Uluru, desert camel rides and Aboriginal dot painting workshops.

Uluru Segway tour or Base Walk?

Another option is taking an Uluru Segway tour. But is this really worth doing? Well, a lot will depend on your attitude towards walking around the base of Uluru under your own steam.

The Uluru Base Walk is magnificent. It’s frequently captivating, and shows off several different sides to Uluru. It should be the number one item on your list if visiting the Red Centre, although you should start early in the morning to beat the heat.

This once-in-a-lifetime dune-top dinner experience, with special stargazing session included, is our top Uluru recommendation.

The Uluru Base Walk is about 10km long and flat, but exposed to the hot Red Centre sun. It should take three to four hours.

Some visitors might consider this a bit much, and for them, an Uluru Segway tour might be a more appealing option.

Uluru Segway Tours

Uluru Segway Tours offers a lap of the rock with considerably less physical effort. There are several tours available, but it seems a little bit pointless to do the ones that only go a quarter of the way around the monolith.

The Uluru Sunrise and Segway tour is therefore the best bet. All up, this Uluru Segway tour lasts around five hours, but a good chunk of that is spent on the transfer from the Ayers Rock Resort and learning how to safely use the Segway.

Also be aware that you can’t see absolutely everything on the Segway, which means Uluru Segway tours get mixed reviews. You have to get off and walk up to the caves, rock art and sacred Aboriginal sites, although the guide will lead you towards the Mutitjulu Waterhole.

Uluru Segway tour price

These early morning Uluru Segway tours tours pick up around an hour before sunrise. The $179 cost does not include the national park entry fee, presumably so those who’ve already paid it don’t get charged double. Bookings should be made online.

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.