Does Yulara have a permanent population?

Yulara is the Northern Territory has a semi-permanent population. It is essentially the company town of the Ayers Rock Resort, but more than 1,000 people live there.

Yulara in the Northern Territory is best known as the home of the Ayers Rock Resort. This is where almost everyone stays when visiting Uluru, the big red rock that has become an Australian icon.

For many visitors heading to Yulara, however, there is some confusion over whether Yulara is a real town, or just the resort.

Is Yulara a town?

The answer to whether Yulara is a town or a resort lies somewhere between the two. Realistically, it is just the resort and allied operations. But it is such a big resort that the facilities of a town have built up around it.

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.

Does Yulara have a permanent population?

The Yulara population is semi-permanent. Essentially, you don’t come here to live unless you’re working there. It’s not like you’re going to see a house, buy it and move in. Yulara is effectively a company town.

However, the Ayers Rock Resort employs around 870 staff – and not just working in hospitality at the resort itself.

The Resort is also responsible for maintaining secondary roads in the area, including those that head to signature experiences such as the Sounds of Silence dinner and Wintjiri Wiru experience.

Managing the facilities and back-office staff at Ayers Rock Airport also falls under the Ayers Rock Resort’s remit.

What is the population of Yulara?

Given that Yulara’s population is semi-permanent, the population fluctuates. Putting an exact figure on the Yulara population is difficult.

In peak season, however, the number of staff, their families and visitors  put the Yulara population well into the thousands. Because of this, Yulara is the fourth biggest town in the Northern Territory.

The Resort runs the Gallery of Central Australa, a childcare facility, a school for children up to Year 7 and a School of the Air centre for students up to Year 12.

Things to do in Yulara

Most visitors won’t care what the population of Yulara is, however. They’re here to see Uluru, and take part in several activities. These include Segway tours around the base, outback helicopter flights and the Field of Light installation.

Highlights include seeing the Uluru sunset and completing the base walk.

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

Be wowed by the Wintjiri Wiru sound, light and drone show at Uluru.

How long is the Pine Creek to Darwin drive?

The best stops on a Mackay to Darwin road trip.

What’s the best way to get from the Ayers Rock Resort to Uluru?

Take a Darwin Harbour brunch cruise aboard a 20 metre schooner.