Aboriginal art at Uluru: Maruku Arts dot painting workshops

Aboriginal dot painting workshops at Uluru are an excellent way to learn about Indigenous art while getting creative. They’re run by Maruku Arts.

Uluru in Australia’s Red Centre is best known for its sunrises, sunsets and the remarkable Uluru Base Walk. But there are plenty more things to do at Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) in the Northern Territory. These Uluru activities include Aboriginal dot painting workshops.

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.

Aboriginal dot painting workshops at Uluru

In the shadow of the giant monolith, Christine Brumby draws some of the key symbols in the sand. Target-like concentric circles are places, animals such as kangaroos and emus are reduced to the shape of their footprints, people are represented by a squashed C-like shape and highly simplified versions of the tools they’re associated with.

With the basics covered, it’s time to move to paints and canvas. The key is to tell a story through the symbols. Christine gets to work on a simple tale of a woman going out to collect witchetty grubs, and the novices are left to improvise.

History of Aboriginal dot painting

The gaps are filled in with dots, partially designed to show the landscape. It’s a technique that’s ubiquitous but not as long-standing as might be imagined. It originated in the 1970s in Papunya Tula, where several Aboriginal groups had been moved to. Because each group had information and stories that only those properly initiated within their distinct culture should know, the dots were used to obscure sensitive information.

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

Maruku Arts at Uluru

When finished, Christine takes her work to Maruku, the cooperative run by the region’s Anangu people. Maruku provides 900 indigenous artists across 24 communities with regular incomes. She’s handed cash from the till, and the painting goes off for framing. Those created by her eager pupils, however, go home as slightly shambolic souvenirs.

The Uluru dot painting workshop is bookable through Maruku, and costs $72.

Other Uluru activities include Segway tours, camel rides and scenic flights over the giant inselberg.

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 outback Australia

How long is the Darwin to Katherine drive?

Go on a 4WD tour from Rawnsley Park Station in the Flinders Ranges.

Cruise the enormous Lake Argyle in the Kimberley.

Swim in the Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Go fishing in the King River near Wyndham in the Kimberley.