Finding
myself with a few weeks free before a new job started, I decided to
take a local holiday. Uluru is only 3 hours flying time, and there was
availability on flights and hotels at short notice, so I went - despite
the fact it was summer in the Outback, and the forecast was for 42
degrees.
The flight was great - Qantas, direct flight, and pleasantly empty. I
had a block of 3 seats to myself, and here's a tip - sit on the "A"
side of the plane on the way there, as the rock is on that side for
approach and landing, and the views are great. On the way back, try for
the opposite "F" side of the plane for the same view on take-off.
Also, they open the front and back doors on the plane at Uluru as you
disembark onto the tarmac, so put yourself right down the back and
you're also off the plane first.
I had booked a small automatic with Hertz, and as I was first off the
plane with no checked-in luggage, I was actually driving towards the
hotel 15 minutes after landing. Yulara is a large complex owned by the
Voyages group (when I was there, but it is up for sale), and is
essentially a little town of 4 hotels owned by the group offering
varying levels of accommodation. I stayed in the mid-range Desert
Gardens, in a Rock View room (hint, ask for an upstairs room with
balcony, as the downstairs view rooms have a very obscured view due to
the amount of vegetation). I was able to check in early, and went off
to the explore the room. Very nice, great view, and good size fridge.
Went straight out to the Rock - you buy a 25AUD 3 day pass to enter the
National Park, and that gives you access to the Rock and the Olgas (now
known as Kata Tjuta).
The rock is amazing - it's compelling and manages to be both exactly
what you thought and nothing like you thought at the same time. The
Olgas are stunning - and the Dune viewing area on the road to them is
very well worth it.
The sunrise viewing areas at the Rock give brilliant closeup views (but
with many, many people there), and the sunrise viewing area from the
Dune Viewing area on the approach to the Olgas gives a fantastic
landscape view. The driving is very easy - all tar roads, and lots of
places to get out and walk, with raised walking platforms and covered
viewing areas with seating. Drinking water is available in all viewing
areas as well.