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Coach tour from Yulara · Ayers Rock Resort hotels

Uluru at dawn, then Kata Tjuta

This tour does not go to Kings Canyon: it stays in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, near Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara) in the Northern Territory. It is the other half of a Yulara stay, with sunrise over Uluru and a walk into Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta.

Uluru Sunrise and Kata Tjuta Morning

About this experience

If you visit Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory, from Ayers Rock Resort, it takes a full day of its own: the Kings Canyon day tour runs 12 hours, with about 3.5 hours on the road each way by Tourism NT's drive time. That leaves a morning at Yulara for the rock itself. This 5-hour coach tour picks you up at your Ayers Rock Resort hotel for sunrise over Uluru from Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, with tea or coffee in hand and a guide explaining the history of the park.

From there the coach drives west to Kata Tjuta, also called the Olgas. After a viewing stop you walk into Walpa Gorge, which the listing calls a gentle but rocky track among rare plants and spearwood shrubs. Guests say the guides are knowledgeable, the morning runs on time, and Kata Tjuta exceeds expectations; one reviewer warns the gorge is rocky and uneven for anyone unsteady on their feet. The coach then returns you to Yulara.

It is a big-coach trip, with up to 65 people, and it has a 4.6 rating from 611 reviews. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta park ticket is extra: per the listing, adults over 18 pay AUD 38, children go free, and the ticket is valid for 3 consecutive days and must be bought online in advance. It is a different ticket from the NT Parks Visitor Pass you need at Kings Canyon, and our NT Parks Pass guide explains that one.

  • Sunrise over Uluru from Talinguru Nyakunytjaku
  • Tea or coffee while the light comes up
  • A viewing stop at the domes of Kata Tjuta
  • A guided walk into Walpa Gorge
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off at Ayers Rock Resort

How the day runs

  1. Before dawnPickup at your hotel

    The coach collects you from your Ayers Rock Resort accommodation in Yulara.

  2. SunriseTalinguru Nyakunytjaku

    Watch the first light on Uluru from the viewing area, with tea or coffee.

  3. MorningKata Tjuta viewpoint

    The coach heads west of Uluru to a lookout over the domes of Kata Tjuta.

  4. Mid-morningWalpa Gorge walk

    A walk into the gorge on a rocky track, with the guide on plants, animals and geology.

  5. About 5 hBack to Yulara

    The coach returns you to your hotel, with time to spare before an afternoon flight.

Walkers seen from behind facing Uluru across red desertUluru glowing red in low evening light

What's included

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off at Ayers Rock Resort
  • Tea and coffee
  • Experienced, accredited local driver-guide
  • Air-conditioned coach
  • Commentary throughout

Not included

  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park ticket (AUD 38 for adults over 18, per the listing; children free)
  • A visit to Kings Canyon
  • A walk at the base of Uluru

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You're at Ayers Rock Resort and have one morning for Uluru and Kata Tjuta
  • You're doing the Kings Canyon day tour on another day of your stay
  • You fly out in the afternoon
  • You like a guide to explain the landscape and culture

Skip it if

  • You expected Kings Canyon: book the Kings Canyon day tour for that
  • You want to get close to Uluru on foot: guests say the sunrise lookout keeps you at a distance
  • You prefer a small group: the coach takes up to 65
  • You can't manage rocky, uneven ground

What guests say

★★★★★

Very good tour and the guides, Dani and Regi, were amazing. They were knowledgeable and friendly, and made sure the tour was prompt so we could visit everywhere with enough time to enjoy ourselves. Thanks for a great tour!

Maddison · Sep 2026
★★★★★

We were so happy to see the sunrise view in Uluru, and visit Kata Tjuṯa. If we didn’t join the tour, we would have missed the impressive scenery.

Koichi · Aug 2026
★★★★★

Nice tour. Our guide Hayley was very knowledgeable and friendly. We also made an extra stop to admire the panorama since we were ahead of schedule.

Ingrid · Aug 2026
★★★★★

The tour was very well organised! Our guides, Jim and Hayley, definitely made the trip feel extra special. They both had extensive knowledge about the area and culture. [...] We then travelled to Kata Tjuṯa (the Olga’s) which exceeded our expectations!

Lindsay · Jul 2026

Tips before you book

  • Buy the Uluru-Kata Tjuta park ticket online before the day. It is valid for 3 consecutive days, so it also covers your own visits on the next two days.
  • The NT Parks Visitor Pass for Kings Canyon does not cover Uluru-Kata Tjuta, and the Uluru ticket does not replace it. Budget for both if you visit both parks.
  • Bring a jumper for the dawn start in winter, comfortable walking shoes and a 1-litre water bottle, as the listing suggests.
  • Flying out the same day? The listing says the tour fits flights departing after 1:00pm from April to May and August to March, and after 1:30pm in June and July.
  • Pack a head net for the flies. Parks Australia recommends one for walkers at Uluru-Kata Tjuta.

Read next:

Frequently asked questions

Does the Uluru sunrise tour go to Kings Canyon?

No. It visits Uluru and Kata Tjuta in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and returns to Yulara. Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park is a separate full day from Ayers Rock Resort on the Kings Canyon day tour. To see all three places on one trip, look at the 3-day camping tour.

Is the Uluru-Kata Tjuta park ticket included?

No. Per the listing, adults over 18 pay AUD 38, children are free, and the ticket is valid for 3 consecutive days. It must be bought online before the tour.

How hard is the Walpa Gorge walk?

The listing calls it a gentle but rocky track. Guests say it is uneven underfoot, so wear proper walking shoes and take your time.

Can I do the Uluru sunrise tour and the Kings Canyon day tour in one stay?

Yes, on different days. Each one starts early from Ayers Rock Resort; our guide to Kings Canyon from Uluru helps you plan a stay of two or three nights around them.

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Sunrise over Uluru with a hot drink, then a walk into Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta.

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Sunrise over Uluru with a hot drink, then a walk into Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta.

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