What inspired you to go to Uluru?
I was inspired to go to Uluru by my mom. Back in the 80s, my mom and my aunt had planned a trip to Australia. But when my aunt got a new job, she couldn’t take time off work, so they ended up canceling their trip. My mom always told me she was looking forward to visiting Uluru the most. When I was accepted into the UQ-Ochsner program and realized I’d soon be moving to Brisbane, visiting Uluru went to the top of my bucket list. In the past, tourists were able to hike Uluru, but because it is sacred to the Indigenous people who live there, the Anangu people, that is no longer allowed. Today, tourists are invited to visit and admire its beauty in a more respectful way via other tours and learning activities.
How far is it from Brisbane?
Uluru is about a three-hour flight from Brisbane or a 35-hour drive. We obviously chose the former, although our JetStar flight was switched from direct to indirect, and we had to make a stop in Sydney. This increased our flight time to about five hours. One thing to note is that the local time in Uluru is offset from Brisbane by 30 minutes. We were super jet lagged when we finally arrived.
What were some of the highlights of the trip?
A personal highlight was being able to purchase artwork from an Anangu artist named Miriam Taylor. The painting, titled “Bush Medicine”, is an artistic rendering of a desert bush, one that Miriam explained is traditionally used to soothe different ailments, from a rash to a sore throat. I felt immediately drawn to Miriam’s painting, given that I came from the US to Australia to study medicine. Finding it was really special to me.
Also, I would wholeheartedly recommend taking a camel ride through the desert at sunset. It was a unique, beautiful experience. The tour guide was so engaging, and we could tell how passionate he was about camels. At the end, he set out freshly baked bread with some olive oil and other dips and a glass of wine for each of us. Fun fact(s): camels are not native to Australia. They were brought over by Europeans to explore the desert, then abandoned for trains and cars. Also, contrary to popular belief, camels do not store water in their hump (maybe I was the only one who actually thought that?). And finally, if the tour guide asks where the first camel was discovered, the answer is surprisingly…Canada!
We also met a lot of great people, some of whom I am still in touch with today. On the shuttle from the airport to the resort, we met a lovely friend who was traveling alone from Montreal. She showed us her itinerary, and the next day we decided to join her on a sunrise walk around Kata Tjuta, another nearby cluster of rock formations. Throughout the rest of our activities, we continued to meet more and more people, and on the last night, we all went to the Outback BBQ & Bar for some food and drinks. At the end of the night, we got a hold of the aux cord, queued up a few songs on Spotify, and had one big dance party. It was a great way to say goodbye.
What budget would you recommend having?
When I first started doing some research on traveling to Uluru, I was dismayed to see how expensive it was. The hotels were ranging for $300 to $500 per night, and the flight almost cost $1000! Thankfully, with a little more digging, we were able to find the two-bedroom cabin on the campgrounds. Although we had to use the communal showers and toilettes, the cabin included beds, linens and towels, a kitchen, and air conditioning, all for $30 per night per person for six people. By some miracle, we also found JetStar flights for $86.
The key is to book everything in advance (like, really far in advance – I booked my trip for the first week of November back in July, during the inter-semester break) because the flights are cheaper that way and the cabin is usually booked out for months. Furthermore, we booked in the middle of the week during the off season. November is the beginning of a notoriously hot period and supposedly the flies are unbearable without a head net. Again inexplicably, during the three days that we were there, the temperature was very pleasant. While we were expecting 90˚F to 100˚F (32˚C to 37˚C), it was 75˚F (24˚C) and sunny. And while the flies were a nuisance, I think they were too cold to come out in full force. Ultimately, I would say that with some planning, you can do Uluru on any budget. But I can’t deny that during our trip, luck was involved, too.
If you had more time, what else would you have done?
If I had more time, it would have allowed me to be more spontaneous. While I had to get back to Brisbane for exams, a few of the friends we made invited us to join them on a drive up to Kings Canyon and later Alice Springs. I’m not exactly sure what there is up there, but maybe I’ll find out another time. However, all in all, I am satisfied with how our trip to Uluru went. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything, nor do I think we needed more time at the resort. Although I was only there for three days, it was an unforgettable trip, and I wouldn’t change a thing!