09 Apr, 2024

World-class camping at Ayers Rock Campground, NT

by Allison Watt

Australia’s Red Centre, particularly Uluru, is a must-see destination on many a traveller’s bucket list. For caravanners, Ayers Rock Campground — part of Ayers Rock Resort — offers a world-class camping experience and a great base from which to explore this fascinating region.

It doesn’t matter how many pictures or videos of Uluru you’ve seen — your first glimpse of this iconic red monolith will literally take your breath away.

Uluru is high on the bucket list of many Australians and overseas visitors, and caravanners are among the biggest groups of visitors to the Rock, travelling in their thousands every year.

Just 20km from Uluru, Ayers Rock Campground is located within the Ayers Rock Resort and is the only campground in the area. The resort is operated by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and includes the luxurious Sails in the Desert (luxury accommodation), Desert Gardens Hotel (lush gardens and the resort’s only Rock View rooms), Emu Walk Apartments (family-friendly), The Lost Camel Hotel (contemporary boutique hotel) and the Outback Hotel & Lodge (laid-back, affordable and fun).

Unwind in an air-conditioned cabin, hook up your caravan, campervan, motorhome or camper trailer at one of the powered campsites, or pitch your tent under the shade of native desert oaks and sleep under the stars. The campground also provides a range of services and facilities including a swimming pool, barbecues and outdoor kitchen, and self-service laundry facilities to make the great outdoors truly enjoyable.

Guests at the campground can hop on the complimentary shuttle bus for access to the resort’s restaurants and bars, shops, a well-stocked IGA supermarket, petrol station, Tour and Information Centre and art gallery. There are also free daily activities including guided garden walks and Indigenous bush yarns.

The campground combines the freedom of outback caravanning together with the comfort of full resort amenities, plus a range of complimentary activities seldom seen in campgrounds — all within a short drive of Uluru. This allure saw it voted as Best for Couples in Jayco’s national ‘Greatest Escapes’ poll in 2023, while the resort’s approach to responsible tourism means that it is ECOTourism Australia accredited for Advanced Ecotourism and Respecting Our Culture — making it even more appealing to savvy campers.

Stay longer

Guests often find they don’t allow enough time to see and do everything and are encouraged to book longer stays to fully experience all the campground, resort and surrounding area have to offer.

Matt Cameron-Smith, CEO of Voyages, said: “We keep hearing from campers and caravanners that they wish they’d booked a longer stay at Ayers Rock Campground — they don’t realise just how much there is to do until they arrive. It’s a camping holiday that gives you the best of both worlds, perfectly blending freedom with comfort in the spiritual heart of Australia: Uluru.”

To inspire travellers to make the most of the campground and its facilities, Ayers Rock Resort is offering savings of 30 per cent at Ayers Rock Campground on stays of four nights or more, until 15 May 2024.

Unique experiences

Ayers Rock Campground is the gateway to Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, as well as a range of iconic Uluru experiences that connect visitors to the Indigenous heritage of the region and Anangu people — the Traditional Owners.

One of those experiences is the mesmerising Wintjiri Wiru. This world-first, world-class cultural storytelling and drone experience has set the industry standard for Indigenous community consultation. Working closely with a group of senior Anangu, every single element of the experience — every light, colour, sound, voice, storyline, Inma (song), movement and word — has been designed to ensure it is told the right way. Importantly, this story belongs to the Anangu, so it’s important the Anangu benefit from the story being told. That’s why every visitor who experiences Wintjiri Wiru plays a vital role in delivering long-term benefits to the Anangu.

Wintjiri Wiru (Acknowledgement statement: As custodians of the land, Anangu hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share their story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru, RAMUS designed and produced an artistic platform using drones, light and sound to create an immersive storytelling experience)

Other unmissable experiences include the enchanting Field of Light, where 50,000 radiant frosted-glass spheres gently bloom with rhythms of coloured light; the magical Sounds of Silence, an evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky; and Outback Sky Journeys, where an experienced guide takes guests through the evolution of the Universe.

There are not many campsites that offer culturally immersive activities free of charge. At Ayers Rock Campground, they include:

Gallery of Central Australia (GoCA) Tour: Immerse yourself in the vibrant Central and Western Desert Indigenous art scene at GoCA with a free educational tour available daily, showcasing work from 22 Indigenous community art centres throughout the region.
Bush Food Experience: Learn about and sample Australian and local bush tucker.
Bush Yarns: Listen to enthralling, and important, stories of Anangu culture and tradition.
Capturing the Cosmos: Discover more about Uluru’s night skies with a documentary, Capturing the Cosmos, followed by a Q&A with resident astronomy guide.
Guided Garden Walks: Learn about native plants and their many food and medicinal uses with a local expert.
Paint Your Own Australian Animal: Kids can create their own special souvenir to take home.

Accommodation options

Ayers Rock Campground offers an outback camping experience with resort facilities and has accommodation options to suit every budget and season.

Accommodation options within the campground include 14 two-bedroom cabins, 207 powered sites, 383 unpowered sites as well as a group and coach campground.

Facilities include a swimming pool and shared camp kitchen. For campers who love to socialise on their journey, nothing beats the Outback BBQ and Bar. Travellers can cook themselves a cut of meat — like beef steak, kangaroo, emu sausages and barramundi — and then meet up with fellow explorers to enjoy nightly live music and an ice-cold drink at the bar.

To make booking even easier, fixed seasonal pricing has just been introduced, offering peak, shoulder and low season price points. And to cater to the growing drive market, nine additional powered sites and five unpowered sites are now available.

Pitch your tent or park your rig under the shade of native desert oaks and sleep under the stars. Unpowered sites start from $45 a night and powered sites from $55 a night.

Recently refreshed two-bedroom, air-conditioned cabins are priced from just $195 a night.

Holidaying in outback Australia

An outback caravanning trip transcends the ordinary. Ayers Rock Campground is not just a place to rest; it’s a gateway to an authentic cultural experience.

Under the desert sky, the campground fosters a connection with the earth and with the local Indigenous community, the Anangu. It’s a place where strangers become friends, brought together by a common appreciation for nature, Aboriginal culture and the wonders of the outback.

And you can’t forget the amazing outback sunsets, which are kaleidoscopes of colour; every day is different. The quietness is perfect for people who live a busy lifestyle.

The best time of the year to visit Uluru is during the cooler months of April to October (peak season rates), while November to March offers shoulder and low season rates.

Plan your trip

In 2024 Ayers Rock Resort celebrates its 40th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the resort will be planning a variety of celebrations (more to be revealed soon).

Each year during NAIDOC Week (7–14 July 2024) Ayers Rock Resort comes alive with festivities making it the perfect time for travellers to visit and celebrate Indigenous culture. Like previous years, the resort’s program of events will include live bands, Indigenous film screenings, dance ceremonies (Inma), markets and more.

If you’ve never travelled to the Red Centre, leave your white sneakers at home. Water, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are essential bits of gear that will ensure you are comfortable whatever time of year you visit.

The 10km walk around the base of Uluru is a must-do experience to see and explore the Rock in its magnificent entirety. This can be done on foot, bicycle or segway — or with an Anangu-led walking tour to discover the rich history and colourful stories that bring the famous red monolith to life, uncovering cultural knowledge about the region that only the Anangu can share.

The resort gets some great feedback on TripAdvisor: great value, spotless and well-maintained amenities, crystal-clear views of the Milky Way, beautiful desert surroundings, a lovely pool to cool down in, great barbecue area, convenient access to shops and Uluru — and much more.

Further information

Ayers Rock Resort
170 Yulara Drive
Yulara Northern Territory 0872
P: 1300 134 044

Dogs are permitted at Ayers Rock Campground but must always be kept on a leash. Dogs (excluding service animals) are not permitted in campground cabins or dining facilities at Ayers Rock Resort. Cats are not permitted.