What to Pack for Uluru: 20 Essential Items For Any Time of Year

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Article written by: Rebecca
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Wondering what to pack for Uluru? I’ve got you covered with this handy packing list that covers all seasons.

So, you’re heading to Uluru. Excellent decision!

But deciding what to pack for Uluru can be tricky. With at-times harsh weather conditions, red dust that can get in to absolutely everywhere, and a range of activities on offer, figuring out what to wear and take with you can be overwhelming.

To make it easier, in this guide I’m providing tips and essentials to pack for your visit to Uluru. This guide will also be handy if you’re travelling further around Central Australia or the Outback.

A person with a backpack walking on a dirt path through sparse woodland, with the large red rock formation of Uluru visible in the background.

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Uluru seasons

Located in a semi-arid desert, the Red Centre of Australia has four seasons, but most people will focus on the most extreme seasons: summer and winter.

The good news is that Uluru can be visited year-round. But it’s really important you understand the weather conditions when you’re visiting Uluru, as it’ll dictate what you wear, what do you while you’re there, and what time of day you do it.

Summer (December to February) weather in Uluru can be brutal. Temperatures range from 20°C to 35°C, but can go as high as 45°C. If you’re visiting during this time of the year, you want to wear loose clothing to keep cool, but also long sleeves to stay protected from the sun. Plan to do all your outdoor activities in the early morning or late afternoon. There can be some pretty decent rainfall (well, decent for the desert!) in January and February.

Autumn (March to May) in Uluru is pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 12°C to 27°C. March can bring some rains, but this can also be pretty spectacular based off the images I’ve seen of Uluru during this time! Think waterfalls cascading down the sides of Uluru.

Winter (June to August) at Uluru is one of the most popular times to visit. Daytime temperatures hover around 20°C but at night time can plunge to a chilly 3°C. This is the best time to visit Uluru because the weather is better for daytime activities, but this is also the time of year that’s most crowded.

Spring (September to November) at Uluru is another great time to visit, as the weather continues to warm up without becoming unbearable. Temperatures average 13°C to 31°C.

Uluru packing list

Now that you’ve got a good handle on what time of year you should visit, let’s go through what you should pack for Uluru. I’ve included notes for things to keep in mind based on the season.

1. Good walking shoes

Some of the best things to do at Uluru can be done on foot, so make sure you pack good walking shoes, whether that be hiking boots or sneakers. There are some rocky areas on some hikes, so good soles will be useful for your Australian Outback adventure.

Best mens hiking boots: Hoka Hiking Boots
Best womens hiking boots: Columbia Womens New Ridge Hiking Boots

Other shoes you should consider packing:

  • Flip flops or Teva sandals – always useful for any kind of trip!
  • Another pair of light enclosed shoes for night time – Ayers Rock Resort encourages you to wear enclosed shoes on most of the evening activities because of dust, grassy areas, ants and the burrs that will go straight through any thin-soled shoes (ouch)
A view from a raised platform overlooking a desert landscape dotted with small shrubs and several rounded red rock formations under a clear blue sky. A man - the author's husband - wearing hiking boots and a long sleeved jumper stands on the platform taking in the view. It's important to pack good hiking shoes when you visit Uluru.

2. Clothing you can layer

In winter, you want to bring clothes that can be easily layered, while in summer plan to pack loose, breathable clothing.

Avoid white! That beautiful red dust will quickly change your white clothes to dusty pink.

One thing I did before our trip was to take a look through Instagram to see what other people are wearing while visiting Uluru. Search hashtags like #uluru or #seeuluru for some inspiration for what to wear in Uluru.

Here are a few items to consider packing (this can also double as an Outback Australia packing list):

  • Long-sleeved top – useful for both warmth in winter and sun protection during the hotter months
  • Bottoms for hiking – shorts, leggings or hiking pants depending on your preference
  • Tank tops and/or t-shirts (I like merino t-shirts because they stay so fresh)
  • Warm fleece jumper + tracksuit bottoms – essential for the cool winter nights!
  • Jeans – handy for the nice dinners in winter (see next item)
  • Dresses for day time – a loose, comfy dress for driving days was my preference
  • Hiking socks – enough for a pair every two days or so, unless you can wash more frequently
A close-up of a road sign with distances to local landmarks including Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Watarrka, set against a desert backdrop. The distances are long in Central Australia, so pack comfortable clothes for the long drives.
The distances are long, so pack comfortable clothes for the long drives

3. Nice outfit

There are so many incredible, once-in-a-lifetime things to do at Uluru, including dinner under the stars.

We splashed out for the Tali Wiru dinner during our trip, so we made sure to pack a nice outfit.

If you’re wondering what to wear to Uluru for one of these special dining occasions, to be honest, we didn’t go super fancy – and nor did any of the other guests. The priority for everyone was definitely warmth. The hubs and I both wore jeans and jumpers for the chilly evening. We also took jackets for extra warmth and were very happy we had them.

A tip for what to pack for Uluru: Ayers Rock Resort encourages visitors to wear long sleeves and long pants for the dinners, but I think you could get away with a long dress.

Two individuals - the author and her husband - seated at a wooden table outdoors, smiling and facing the camera, with wine glasses and a bottle on the table, and a flat, arid landscape in the background.

4. Thermals

We both packed thermal long sleeves and I also took some thermal leggings – but we actually didn’t end up using them. At nights, snuggled up in our campervan, we were actually pretty cosy.

But if you get cold easily, they’re an absolute must if you’re visiting Uluru during the winter months.

Thick socks are also a must for a packing list for the Outback. And if I’d had room, I would have packed my Ugg boots!

Gloves were also something I was happy to have in the chilly mornings.

A man - the author's husband - sitting outside a parked campervan with the sliding door open, set in a campground with trees and other vehicles in the background.

5. Bathing suit

While you can’t swim in any of the sacred waterholes around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, there are several swimming pools at the hotels and campgrounds around the area, so pack your bathing suit.

If you decided to do a longer road trip, there are also swimming holes where you are allowed to swim, including Ellery Creek Big Hole, Redbank Gorge and Ormiston Gorge.

It was too cold to swim while we were there, but wow, these are some beautiful spots to take a dip!

An individual - the author's husband - standing at the edge of a serene waterhole, gazing at the water, with steep red rock cliffs and greenery surrounding the area. Take swimming gear for the many beautiful swimming holes near Uluru.

6. Sunscreen

The Australian sun is brutal, so make sure you pack at least SPF50 sunscreen for your visit.

7. Hat

As above, you definitely want some headwear for sun protection. A wide-brimmed hat is a good (and stylish) idea and one of the top Outback travel essentials. Alternatively, a baseball cap will protect your face – just make sure to slather your neck and ears in sunscreen.

And in winter a beanie will be very welcome.

8. Reusable water bottle

I always pack a reusable water bottle when we travel. I hate paying for water and I hate the waste created. This a must-pack, especially since Uluru is in a remote area and waste removal is complicated and costly.

I love this Nomader reusable water bottle which also collapses when it’s empty, so it takes up little space.

For hiking, I take both a water bottle and a water bladder, as I find it so much easier to drink out of – no need to stop and pull out a water bottle, I can just whip around the hose and drink away.

Pro tip: Parks Australia recommends you drink one litre of water every hour while walking through Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

9. Day pack

Take a decent day pack that will fit a water bladder (see previous item). You don’t need a huge one, just something lightweight for your water, snacks, camera and first aid kit.

A lone hiker - the author's husband - wearing a blue back pack and standing on a sandy trail with lush vegetation on the sides, flanked by towering red rock walls under a clear sky. You'll need to add a good day pack to your Uluru packing list.

10. Lip balm and moisturiser

Uluru is in a semi-arid desert, so you’ll quickly find that the moisture gets sucked from your skin.

Pack fast-absorbing moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated, and plenty of sticks of lip balm to keep your pout protected. This lip balm has SPF protection as well

11. Fly net

Yes, fly nets look pretty silly but you’ll be happy when flies aren’t crawling directly into your mouth and eyes. Plus, everyone else is wearing them, so who cares how you look?

You can easily pick these up in petrol stations and shops in the area, usually for around $10.

If you don’t want to wear one, bring some fly repellent to keep the little buggers away.

A fly net will be most useful during the summer months, but we still found it helpful when we were there in July (winter).

12. Road atlas

If you’re taking a Red Centre Way road trip like we did, then you might like to pack some paper maps.

For the most part, you’ll be able to access Google Maps, and let’s be fair – there are only a few main roads so it’s hard to get lost! But if you want to get off the beaten track, then a map book is a great item to pack for Uluru.

Plus, if you’re anything like me, I love poring over maps and marking up our route! #mapnerd

13. Camera

Do NOT leave your camera at home. Whether you pack a phone camera or you carry a tonne of camera gear, you’ll be hard pressed to take a bad photo around Uluru.

Parks Australia’s page for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has some great tips on where to take the best photos.

14. Snacks

Snacks are a must-pack for any trip. You can easily pick up snacks at the supermarkets in Alice Springs, but if you’re flying directly into Yulara (the closest airport to Uluru), keep in mind that the supermarkets are a bit pricier there and the range more limited.

A campervan parked on the side of a highway in a remote desert area of Central Australia, with sparse vegetation and clear blue skies overhead.

15. Wet wipes

I always take wet wipes on any trip that’s going to involve hiking. You can buy special wet wipes for hiking (I like the ones that are biodegradable) or just plain old baby wipes from the supermarket.

They’re super handy while hiking but also for a quick “shower” if you don’t have access to a bathroom.

16. First aid kit

This is the Outback, so there are going to be scratchy branches, biting insects and perhaps some creatures a little more dangerous.

A small travel first aid kit will be great for soothing scratches, easing bites and patching blisters.

17. Power bank

When you’re out exploring all day, you don’t want your camera and phone dying on you. Add a portable power bank to your Uluru packing list to keep everything charged so you can keep taking pics.

A paved road leading towards Uluru, which is prominently visible in the distance against a backdrop of a vast desert landscape and a clear sky.
Don’t let your camera die when there are views like this!

18. Head lamp

Even if you’re staying in hotels, a head lamp is a handy item to pack for Uluru.

We took them with us on our trip because we were in a campervan, but we also brought them along with us for the evening activities. They were helpful when we returned to the vehicles after the dinners or Field of Light Star Pass was over (with a few drinks under our belts!).

19. Scrubba wash bag

If you’re travelling for a while and don’t want to pay the exorbitant hotel laundry charges, then pack the very handy Scrubba wash bag. It’s like a mini washing machine you can throw in your bag.

While we didn’t have this on our Uluru trip, we did buy one for our recent road trip around half of Australia. All it takes is a few minutes of scrubbing and voila! Fresh, clean clothes.

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag – Foldable Hand Washing Machine for Hotel and Travel – Light and Small Eco-friendly Camping Laundry Bag for Washing Clothes Anywhere Green Green 6.3″ x 2.4″ x 2.4″
  • FAST & CONVENIENT: The patented washboard-in-a-bag design gives a machine quality wash in just minutes and you can wash anywhere – perfect for hotels, hostels, camping, backpacking, dorm rooms, RVs and scout trips.
  • SO SMALL AND LIGHT: Weighing just 5.3 oz. and folding to pocket-size, this world’s smallest washing machine takes up no space and lets you travel clean, light and free.
  • EASY TO USE: Space, water and time-saving, and electricity free. With the simple six-step instructions displayed on the outside of the bag, anyone can wash clothes quickly, hygienically, and effectively and reduce their impact on the environment

20. Travel insurance

For this trip we actually booked domestic travel insurance because there were so many cancellations across the aviation industry when we travelled.

Try Travel Insurance Master, which can compare multiple policies at the one time. Or World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.

Final thoughts on what to pack for Uluru

Hopefully this guide to what to pack for Uluru has given you a bit more confidence about what you’ll need to take for a trip to the Red Centre. You don’t need to pack a lot but you do need to think about the essential items that you can’t buy while you’re there.

Did you find this article helpful? Consider buying me a coffee as a way to say thanks!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or other items to suggest for this Uluru packing list!


Related posts

Before you go… you might also like these other Australia travel articles.

AUSTRALIA TRIP ESSENTIALS

  • Book your flight to Australia online with Skyscanner. I like this site because it shows me which dates are cheaper.
  • Find a great hotel in Australia. Check prices on Booking.com and Expedia online.
  • Check out the huge range of day tours throughout Australia on GetYourGuide or Viator. There’s something for everyone.
  • A copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Australia will be handy.
  • One thing I always purchase is travel insurance! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
  • Pack sunscreen (look for SPF50 or higher), a hat and sunglasses because the sun is hot!

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About REBECCA

I'm a travel junkie who started dreaming about seeing the world from a very young age. I've visited more than 40 countries and have a Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management. A former expat, I've lived in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Argentina and the United States. I share travel resources, tips and stories based on my personal experiences, and my goal is to make travel planning just that bit easier.

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