Camping At Ayers Rock Camp Ground (Uluru)
We camped at Ayers Rock Camp Ground at Yulara and it was great! Facilities are good, location is excellent and there is a range of free daily activities thrown in for good measure.
Ayers Rock Camp Ground Yulara
As a rule we avoid caravan parks whenever possible in favour of free or bush camping options. We also love a good station stay. So when we were looking up where to camp at Uluru and the only options was the Ayers Rock Camp Ground at Yulara we were a bit worried. Looking further in to it showed that it is in fact a caravan park.
Camped At Ayers Rock Camp Ground
We should not have worried at all as it turned out to be great. We booked an unpowered site about 8 months prior to arriving. We had heard a lot of stories about people turning up without a booking and the overflow area being full and them being turned away and we didn’t want to risk that happening. So we booked a long way out. It did lock us in to a set date but we had quite a few two and three night stays on the run in to Uluru so if something went wrong there was the option to cut one of those longer stays short and still hit our target date.
Cost Vs Value
The cost for three nights unpowered was $147.50. When you free camp mostly that sounds like a lot of money. But it turned out to be value for money. Our site fees included the use of showers and toilets and they were in good order and kept quite clean considering the number of people using them. It also gave us access to the washing machine and dryer and it was great to get a few loads done after being on the road for 10 days.
What we weren’t expecting from our stay was the access to a large range of resort facilities. Ayers Rock Campground is part of a huge resort. Cabin style accommodation through to top of the line hotel accommodation is available at the resort. There are shops, a post office, an IGA as well as a range of gift shops, restaurants and cafes. All in all it’s like a small city and your Uluru Campground booking gives you access to most of it.
The best thing we received with our booking was free access to a huge range of daily activities. The activities are all based around the local Pitjantjatjara culture and are educational by nature. The presenters at the three sessions we attended were knowledgeable and quite humorous with their presentations. If you do go to Uluru and stay at the Ayers Rock Camp Ground at Yulara I highly recommend you find the time to attend a few of the sessions. I have listed information on the sessions available below. Keep in mind that these probably change over time.
Free Daily Activities At Ayers Rock Camp Ground
Culture
Bush Yarns
Daily: Time: 10am, 10.30an, 3pm, 3.30pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: 10am & 10.30am Circle of Sand at Town Square Lawn – 3pm & 3.30pm Circle of Sand at Desert Gardens
Listen to the stories of Aboriginal culture and tradition where you will be shown men’s weapons that were used for hunting or women’s tools and techniques to gather bush tucker in the central desert. These sessions will also provide an opportunity to learn aspects about the local Pitjantjatjara language.
Bush Yarns
Bush Food Experience
Daily: Time: 1pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Location: Arkani Theatre
Learn about Australian and local bush tucker and how for many centuries local Indigenous groups would hunt, gather and prepare these bush foods. This will be followed by a fun cooking demonstration utilising a flavoursome Indigenous ingredient that you can try at home.
Bush Food Experience
Didgeridoo Workshop
Daily: Time: 11am and 3pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Location: 11am Town Square Fountain 3pm Town Square Lawn Stage
Listen to the enchanting sounds of the didgeridoo. Yidaki, the traditional Aboriginal term for the didgeridoo, was discovered in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. During this workshop, guests are invited to try and play the didgeridoo.
Didgeridoo Workshop
Paint Your Own Australian Animal
When: Tues, Fri, Sat & Sun | Time: 10am
Duration: 45 minutes
Location: Lungkata Room, Sails in the Desert Hotel
Paint and keep your own wooden stencilled, native Australian animal. Assortment of paint colours available per table.
Art
Gallery Of Central Australia (Goca)
Daily: Time: Open 9am -5pm and tour at 10.30am
Duration: 45 minutes
Location: Next to Arkani Theatre
The Gallery of Central Australia (GOCA) is a celebration of current and emerging Central Australian Indigenous artists. We work closely with Central Australian art centres, as well as independent artists and galleries, to showcase works from the region. Join us for a tour through GOCA. Discover the history of dot painting and how this links with the style of artwork produced by artists in the Central Australian region today.
Nature
Guided Garden Walk
Daily: Time: 9am and 4pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: 9am Circle of Sand at Town Square Lawn – 4pm Circle of Sand at Desert Gardens
Meet at the Circle of Sand at Town Square Lawn or Desert Gardens where your Guide will show you around the Resort Gardens highlighting the seasonal local flora, bush foods and trees native to Australia.
Astronomy
Capturing The Cosmos
Daily: Time: 2pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Location: Arkani Theatre
This astronomy documentary reveals the current research and technologies about radio astronomy, dark energy and Australia’s role at the forefront of radio astronomy. Proudly partnered by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia with ASTRO3D.
Narrated by Geoffrey Rush, written and directed by astronomer Dr. Tanya Hil. The screening is followed by a brief talk and Q&A session from the Resort ‘s resident Astronomy Guide.