Uluru car rental: Do I need a car at Uluru?

It is possible, but not necessary, to hire a car at Uluru. You can get around on shuttle buses and tours. Thrifty, Avis and Hertz have outlets at Ayers Rock Airport and Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara. Expect to pay around $159 a day for a rental car, however. And watch out for the 100km distance limitations.

Before booking an Uluru rental car, consider that, for somewhere in the deepest Australian outback, Uluru is amazingly well set up for visitors. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, Uluru has become a hub of tours and activities. These include camel rides, dining on sand dunes or Aboriginal dot painting workshops.

Compare Uluru rental car prices for your travel dates.

Experiences are centred around the nearby Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara, which is where the vast majority of visitors to Uluru stay. The Uluru tourism industry is highly centralised, and well-developed. This means it is perfectly possible to explore Australia’s Red Centre without hiring a car. Whether you want to do the Uluru Base Walk, head to the sunset viewing area, or do the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata-Tjuta, you’ll almost always be able to get there with a shuttle bus or organised tour. Ditto for scenic flights over Uluru in a helicopter.

However, to explore the Red Centre under your own steam, it’s a good idea to hire a car at Uluru.

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

Uluru rentals: Car hire at Ayers Rock Airport

The easiest way to hire a car at Uluru is via the rental car desks at Ayers Rock Airport. International chains Thrifty, Avis and Hertz all offer Uluru car rental. The airport is 6km north of Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara– it’s an easy 10 minute drive.

If, however, you just want a car for one day rather than your entire Red Centre stay, it’s also possible to rent a car at the Ayers Rock Resort. Complimentary coach transfers to and from the airport are offered by the resort, as well as a free shuttle service around the resort.

Uluru car hire prices

Car hire costs at Uluru are expensive, however. A standard rental car such as a Mitsubishi ASX will cost from around $109 a day – but that’s based on a week’s hire.

Very few people stay at Uluru for a week, and a three day Uluru car rental will cost around $159 a day.

Kilometre limits on Uluru rental cars

Another issue is the distance limits imposed on Uluru hire cars. Typically, you’ll be given 100km for free, then charged extra for every kilometre on top of that. Given it’s 52.4km from Ayers Rock Resort to Kata-Tjuta, this gets expensive very quickly.

Car rental in Alice Springs

The other alternative is to fly into Alice Springs, the hub city of the Red Centre, then drive to the big red rock. The good news with this plan is that car hire in Alice Springs is generally much cheaper. Expect to pay around $81 a day for a three day rental. The bad news is that it takes the best part of five hours to drive from Alice Springs to Uluru through the Northern Territory outback. And there’s not a great deal to see on the way, barring a few Stuart Highway roadhouses and the elusive Mount Conner.

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.

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

What are the Aboriginal six seasons in the Northern Territory?

Get drunk at the Daly Waters Pub on the drive from Tennant Creek to Katherine.

How long is the drive from Alice Springs to Tennant Creek?

Enjoy the Sounds of Silence Dinner from a dune top next to Uluru.

Which road should I take from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs?