Uluru, known as the ‘spiritual heart’ of Australia, is a must-visit place. A wide variety of unique and unmissable experiences are on offer, and if you’re travelling on a budget, or just looking for extra activities to fill your days, there are plenty of free things to do in Uluru and the surrounding area.
Bush Food Experience
![Bush Food of Australia aka Bush Tucker](https://viet36.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bush-Food-Experience-Uluru.jpg)
The Bush Food Experience is a free 45-minute tour that provides an insight into the food resources of the desert. During the guided tour you can sample seeds, fruits and spices. Your guide will explain how certain plants, fruits and spices can be used for different purposes. This tour is an excellent introduction to the foods of the Australian bush.
>>> Interesting facts about Ayers Rock – Uluru
Bush Yarn
Taking place in Yulara’s central square, the Bush Yarn lasts 30 minutes and features stories about the culture and traditional techniques used by Aboriginal people. This is an opportunity to learn about bush tucker (desert gathering and hunting) and to see traditional hunting implements such as spears and boomerangs up close.
Ecology and museum visit
You will be escorted by an Aboriginal guide through the Wintjiri Museum, which features an exhibition highlighting the culture, geology, flora and fauna of the region. Learn about Anangu land conservation and management practices, the history of Uluru and the development of Uluru tourism.
Garden Walk – Desert Gardens Hotel
This tour allows you to explore the gardens surrounding the Desert Gardens Hotel filled with flora typical of the region. Your Aboriginal guide will show you how local people traditionally lived using the resources of the bush for various food and medicinal purposes. You can also pick up a Garden Walk pocket guide from your hotel reception and explore the gardens at your leisure.
Mani Mani, Aboriginal cultural show
Offered only on Wednesdays and Sundays, the Mani-Mani theatre company’s show combines sound, light and 3D effects to transport you to the ancestral lands of Central Australia through the stories of Walawuru, Kakalyalya and Kaanka. A unique show not to be missed.
Walk around the base of Uluru
Although there is an entrance fee to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the benefits of visiting the site are invaluable.
![Visit Ayers Rock in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park](https://viet36.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Visit-Ayers-Rock-in-Uluru-Kata-Tjuta-National-Park.jpg)
Once inside the park, there are a number of walks and experiences that allow you to explore the area around the monolith. For example, you can take the 10.6 km Uluru Walk. It’s best to start in the morning when it’s cooler, and don’t forget to carry plenty of water with you at all times.
Walk to Mutijulu waterhole
The walk to the Mutijulu waterhole is a much shorter walk that leads to the waterhole where you can see many birds. Signage along the walk allows you to read the Aboriginal stories of Liru and Kuniya and learn why the place is still so special to the Anangu people. Other long walks around Uluru allow you to explore the monolith up close.
Walpa Gorge
![The view between two of the domes of Kata Tjuta, on the Walpa Gorge walking trail](https://viet36.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Walpa-Gorge.jpg)
The Kata Tjuta massif, which means ‘many heads’ in the local Pitjantjatjara language, is just a 20-minute drive from Uluru, and is just as impressive. The Walpa Gorge Walk is an easy 2.6km walk that winds through the domes of Kata Tjuta. It is the shortest and most popular route to Walpa Gorge.
Walk in the Vallée des Vents
Leave the crowds behind and explore the Valley of the Winds. This 7.4km trail takes around 4 hours to complete and takes you on a winding trail through the domes at the bottom of the valley. The walk can be challenging at times in some sections, but it’s well worth it. There are several viewpoints along the way, providing memorable photo opportunities. Make sure you wear appropriate footwear and always have water with you.
Sunset observation platform / Ayers Rock Resort
![Sunset in Uluru](https://viet36.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uluru-sunset.jpg)
The sunset viewing platform in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is one of the best places to enjoy this magical moment. Make sure you get there early as it can get crowded! You’ll see Uluru’s colours change from fiery ochre-red to deep purple as the sun sets; an unforgettable experience that you have to see to believe.
There are also other viewpoints around Ayers Rock Resort. You can get a map from your hotel reception.
Kings Canyon ridge walk
![Top 10 things to do in Uluru and surrounding area](https://viet36.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kings-Canyon-Uluru.jpeg)
When you visit Uluru don’t miss the chance to head to Kings Canyon, just three hours away. Do the iconic Kings Canyon summit hike, a 6km walk with spectacular views. From the top of the Canyon you can appreciate the sheer size of this extraordinary geological formation. The walk takes around three hours at a leisurely pace, with plenty of unforgettable photo opportunities along the way. Remember to wear appropriate footwear and always carry plenty of water with you. We recommend getting up early to do the walk in the cooler hours. Free WiFi is available so you can upload your photos to social media.
Kings Creek walk
For a gentler hike take the 2.6km Kings Creek Trail, which winds between two towering canyons. There are spectacular views of Kings Canyon and its sheer cliffs. Free Wi-Fi is available.
Kings Canyon Sunset Platform
Situated on the edge of Kings Canyon Resort, the sunset viewing platform is the perfect place to relax after a day’s walking and enjoy a drink from the open-air bar. Watch the colours of Kings Canyon change to orange-reds as the sun sets and the bush takes on golden hues. Free Wi-Fi is available.