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Uluru - Kata Tjuta
National Park
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The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, an area of
1326 sq-km is located 450 km. south west of Alice Springs. The most direct
road to reach the area is taking the Stuart Highway from Alice Springs
and driving south up to the Erldunda roadhouse. Then turn right to take
the Lasseter highway that drives up to Yulara.
It is also possible to reach this point from the
Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) by following the Ernest Gilles road,
the Luritja road and then joining the Lasseter highway. The distance between
the Watarrka National Park is around 310 km.
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Yulara
is in fact the mandatory stop. It is the
service village for the national park. The only place in the region where
you can find accommodation, food outlets and other services.
Just outside the N.P. it is located 20 km. from Uluru and 53 km. from
the Kata Tjuta. Opened in 1984 the village was specially designed to blend
with the local environment. It is a surprising place, built as a circle
and nestled between the dunes it is remarkably unobstrusive.
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Yulara (hotels, motels,
caravanpark, service station Royal Flying Doctors, shopping area, …) is
within 15 min. walk. There is also a free shuttle going around during the
day and even late in the evening. |
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Several lookouts are located within Yulara, at
the top of some dunes.
These lookouts give also excellent views on Uluru
and the Kata Tjuta but can be quite busy at the sunrise and sunset time.
(on the right, Uluru as seen from the
Naninga Lookout, near the camping are)
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If you are looking for some advise regarding the
planning of your stay in the region, here is a suggestion in three days.
The first day, if you do not arrive too late in
the afternoon in Yulara, after setting up the details for your accommodation,
you will still be able to drive to Uluru sunset viewing area.
There, as many others, you will wait the moment you was probably expecting
for a long time. Be sure to arrive quite in advance to have a good spot.
The viewing area is organized as a long car park stretching along the
road. So you park your car and you just sit down in front of it, looking
to The Rock and waiting 'The Moment'. When admiring the changing colors
you will perhaps also drink a glass of champagne.
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The spectacle is impressive and probably different
every day as the colors also depending of the sky.
If usually during the holiday period you are quite
happy to see a bleu sky without any clouds, this time you should wish
the contrary. The clouds will bring some unique dimension to the moment.
After such a day you will be probably quite happy
to go back to Yulara and have a nice dinner. Even if like us your accommodation
is in the caravan park why not ending this special day by going to one
of the restaurant of the beautiful 'Sails in the Desert' hotel. Expensive
you think? Well perhaps more affordable than you could think even for
a dinner with 'champagne'. We chose the restaurant offering the buffet
option. It was a great evening!
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