Uluru weather: When is the best time to visit Uluru?

The best time to visit Uluru is between May and September when temperatures are cooler. During the summer months, the weather at Uluru is often dangerously hot and the Base Walk should be tackled early in the morning.

Uluru, the giant red rock rising above the desert, has become an Australian icon. And while it is no longer possible to climb Uluru, the monolith formerly known as Ayers Rock is definitely worth visiting. But knowing the best time to go to Uluru helps make the visit better

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 is partly because all manner of activities, from Uluru camel rides and dune-top dining to Aboriginal dot painting workshops or helicopter flights, can be arranged through the Ayers Rock Resort. But the big Ayers Rock attraction is taking on the base walk around Uluru.

This roughly 10km track circumnavigates Uluru, showing off a multitude of different sides to the rock. There are bulges, caves, gullies, unexpected plant life and sacred Aboriginal sites. The walk is relentlessly fascinating, and gives a far greater appreciation for Uluru than the standard sunset photos.

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

Red Centre temperatures & Uluru weather

But when is best time to visit Uluru? Uluru weather means timing is important. The Uluru Base Walk may be flat, but the trail around the perimeter of Uluru is exposed. In beating Red Centre sun, the Uluru Base Walk is very hard work.

The Uluru weather means the walk around the rock is potentially dangerous if sunstroke and dehydration kick in. If the temperature is expected to creep above 40˚C, the north-eastern section of the walk is often closed for safety reasons.

Uluru temperature in summer

Unfortunately, this is the middle of the outback. Red Centre temperatures around Uluru reach 40˚C or more alarmingly often. For this reason, if you want to do the Uluru Base Walk, timing is important.

On hot days, aim to have the walk completed by 11am before the heat gets too ferocious. Given the Uluru Base Walk takes three to four hours, this means setting off shortly after sunrise.

Best time to visit Uluru

Time of year is also important, if you’re going to take the five hour drive from Alice Springs. The best time to visit Uluru in the Northern Territory is not the same as the best time to visit Sydney or the Whitsundays in Queensland. Between November and March, the average daily high temperature at Uluru is over 30˚C. In December and January, the average daily high temperature at Uluru is a roasting 35˚C.

The Australian summer is, quite clearly, not the best time of year to visit Uluru.

April and October are borderline manageable months around the Ayers Rock Resort – the Uluru temperature is between 26˚C and 29˚C respectively. But the best time to visit Uluru is between May and September, when the Uluru weather is less like a furnace and nights can be surprisingly chilly.

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 Red Centre activities

Try a tour of the disappointing Mount Conner on the drive from Alice Springs to Uluru.

Take a scenic flight over Kings Canyon.

Walk the Larapinta Trail from Alice Springs.

Hiring a car at Uluru from the Ayers Rock Resort.

Tackling the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata-Tjuta.