How To Get To Uluru And The Red Centre
Visiting Uluru and the Red Centre is one of Australia's most breathtaking experiences. The vast desert landscape is home to impressive natural landmarks and a rich Indigenous culture, making it a must-visit for anyone travelling through Australia. For first-time visitors, planning a trip to Uluru and the Red Centre can be a little bit confusing - after all, it's a rather remote location! Luckily for you, we've created this guide to help you navigate your journey to the heart of Australia, whether you fly, drive, or join a tour group.
Where is the Red Centre?
The Red Centre, also known as Central Australia, lies at the heart of the Australian Outback. Its dusty, rugged red plains, magnificent gorges, and mountain ranges are typically what comes to mind when people think of the Outback. The region is home to some of Australia's most sacred landmarks, like Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and Uluru. The Red Centre holds strong spiritual and cultural significance to the local Anangu people. Visiting is a fascinating way to connect with and learn about the world’s oldest living culture.
How to get to the Red Centre
There are several ways to reach the Red Centre, but flying is the quickest and most convenient option. The region has two airports, located over 300km apart, that serve domestic flights from across Australia. Choosing the right airport depends on your travel plans, so be sure you pick the one closest to your destination!
What are the Two Airports in the Red Centre?
The two airports in the Red Centre are Ayers Rock Airport (Connellan Airport) near Yulara, and Alice Springs Airport.
Ayers Rock Airport (Connellan Airport)
Ayers Rock Airport is the ideal airport for travellers heading directly to iconic Red Centre landmarks like Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Located just 16km from Uluru, the small airport has a complimentary shuttle bus service that can take visitors to local accommodation. You can catch diirect domestic flights to Ayers Rock Airport from major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, and Brisbane.
Alice Springs Airport
Alice Springs Airport is about 450km away from Uluru, so if visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site is your priority, stick to Ayers Rock Airport. However, Alice Springs Airport serves as a more central gateway to the Red Centre. Visitors who are planning to set off on a days-long exploration of the Red Centre, or visiting the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, are better off to fly to Alice Springs. Direct flights to Alice Springs Airport are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Katherine, and Darwin.
Flying vs. Driving to Uluru
Deciding whether to fly or drive to Uluru depends on a few different factors: how much time you have, what you want to see, and how confident you are travelling through the Outback. If Uluru is on your bucket list, here’s a little breakdown of your travel options:
Flying to Uluru from Major Australian Cities
The quickest and easiest option is to fly directly to Uluru by booking a flight from a major Australian city to Ayers Rock Airport. This is the best option for you if Uluru is your primary destination in the Red Centre. Direct flights are available from the following cities:
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Sydney: 3 hours 25 minutes
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Melbourne: 3 hours 5 minutes
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Brisbane: 3 hours 45 minutes
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Cairns: 2 hours 55 minutes
Just 6km from Ayers Rock Airport is Ayers Rock Resort, the most popular spot in the area for comfortable accommodation, whether you’d prefer a luxury hotel, a self-serviced apartment, or an outback campsite.
Flying to Alice Springs and Driving to Uluru
If you want to explore Red Centre beyond Uluru, consider flying to Alice Springs Airport and setting off on a self-drive adventure. The drive from Alice Springs to Uluru is approximately 4.5 hours, and filled with lots of beautiful scenery. Before you fly, be sure to arrange a reliable vehicle hire from Alice Springs Airport that’s ready to take on the rough, rugged terrain. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for unmissable stops like Glen Helen Gorge, Sandley Chasm, and Kings Canyon.
Self-Drive to Uluru from Major Cities
Want to extend your road trip? Why not skip the flight and drive all the way to Uluru? While this requires more planning and preparation, it will no doubt make for the adventure of a lifetime! If you have a solid, reliable 4WD, camping gear, and any permits or passes you might need, then you'll be set for an Outback adventure!
To give you a better idea of how long this might take, here are the approximate drive times to Uluru from Australia’s major cities:
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From Sydney - 30 hours (2,800km)
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From Melbourne - 25 hours (2,330km)
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From Brisbane - 34 hours (3,200km)
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From Cairns - 29 hours (2,700km)
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From Perth - 25 hours (2,000km)
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From Darwin - 20 hours (1,900km)
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From Adelaide - 17 hours (1,600km)
Check out our full guide on self-driving to the Outback complete with our best road trip tips.
Tours from Major Cities
If you'd prefer a more hassle-free Outback experience, or you want to make sure you tick off as many landmarks as possible, booking a multi-day tour from Darwin, Adelaide, or Alice Springs is the best way to experience Uluru and other Red Centre highlights.
Join a small group of fellow explorers and let expert guides show you the very best of the Red Centre, while keeping you as comfortable as possible. A major perk of joining a tour is that you won’t have to worry about driving, getting lost, or running out of supplies. Your tour company will have all of that covered so that all you need to do is enjoy the experience.
Top tours that take you through the Red Centre
