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Melbourne to Ayers Rock (Uluru) from $197 Return on Jetstar (Various Oct-Nov) via @FlightScout

1620

Years ago I made the mistake of thinking Alice Springs and Ayers Rock were close to each other. Turns out it's about a 6 hour drive.

While that was a fun trip, it's easier to fly into AYQ (Uluru) airport, and at the moment, $197 return on Jetstar from Melbourne is pretty amazing. It's also a decent time to visit - not as hot as it could be. Just take some protection from the flies. So many flies.

Airline: Jetstar
From: Melbourne
To: Ayers Rock
Via: https://www.flightscout.co/au/cheap-flights/melbourne-austra… (note it might say $200, but on click through you get $197).

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closed Comments

  • +1

    Does anyone have any suggestions for the climb?

    • +20

      Yeah, I suggest you wear shoes. It's rocky

    • +57

      Yeah, the locals suggest you don't do it.

        • +6

          I have climbed it many many years ago. Was not much noise about doing it then and from what i could see it was very well maintained but perhaps situation has changed in that regard. Obviously its closing soon for various reasons, a shame on one hand but fare enough, i will say it was a fantastic experience when we went up.

        • +11

          @Lunarboogie: Thats not quite the same though, is it. A natural landmark vs a man made property. I'm all for respecting rights of others, and certainly people should be respectful if they visit Uluru (don't litter etc) but it seems hypocritical for people to support aboriginal rights in Uluru but not the same rights being claimed for various places in and around Sydney? Not to mention that there are numerous mountains being highlighted as places not to climb - these are natural beautiful sites and everyone, including future generations, should have the opportunity to experience it sometime in their life.

          Edit: Interesting article: https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2018/04/banon-climbing-ayer…

        • +6

          @Lunarboogie: Obviously a fair comparison, because nomadic aboriginals with no technology obviously built Uluru

        • +1

          @Lunarboogie: Worst. Comparison. Ever.

        • +3

          Conservation has gone way too far. It's a rock for goodness sake. People might not be climbing on it for much longer, but the weather will continue to erode it regardless. And if aboriginals were still the only ones here, they and their kids would still be climbing all over it for their weekend corroboree with goanna on the BBQ for thousands of years.

          We all live here now. (Not my choice, but what are you gonna do? I can't just say, "I'll up and live in another country.") So everything here belongs to ALL of us - not just one minority group, who wouldn't give two hoots themselves about climbing a ROCK if things were different.

        • +1

          The suggestion is to not climb it.

          You won’t be told not to climb it until October.

        • @Xizor:

          I understand that when it rains excrement and urine are washed down. Hard to stay hydrated and yet not relieve oneself when up the top.

    • +10

      Yes: don't.

      • +7

        Yes, don't, respect!

        • +11

          Keep in mind that indigenous people don't want anyone to climb any mountains in Australia.

        • -4

          @Nuggets: Exactly. We all live here. And I'm not responsible for the original people coming here, and can't "just leave" even if I chose to - other countries would return us back here by force if we tried. So EVERYTHING here belongs to EVERYONE. They don't need permission to walk down Martin Place, but I need permission in various places like the Top End. I'll be fined for hunting a crocodile because I'm starving, they get to because 'it's our culture'.

          Sounds like racism is alive and well, and it's not the way around it's often portrayed.

        • +1

          @GregMonarch:

          Sounds like some Daily Telegraph logic.

        • @GregMonarch: don't reply bro. Soon the world will treat everyone as equal and no one will have special privileges either way

    • +2

      Bring sunscreen, wear decent shoes. Take a hat, be prepared for wind on top. (None on the ground)

      • +3

        Make sure your hat is fastened, people have taken a tumble trying to retrieve a hat blown loose

    • +33

      Wear your seatbelt,
      Watch the safety demonstration,
      Listen to the captain & flight crew.

      The captain usually turns off the Seatbelt sign when cruising altitude is reached.

    • +8

      I was there last week, the climb is much more challenging than I expected, I was surprised by the amount of family with little kids that do it. I believe it is worth as the view from the top is amazing.

    • +12

      Make the climb before they ban it

      • +19

        It is a shame they are looking to ban it. Torn between a people making a blanket claim that it's sacred for them vs it being a national landmark for everyone. I think as long as people are respectful, don't litter etc it's a unique Australian landmark which should be shared by everyone in this country. I might add that there are land right claims in Sydney NSW yet for some reason those are not 'respected'.

        Anyway - sorry to get all political :) . Just my views.

        • +4

          I agree.
          It is critical that such a beautiful landmark be respected and preserved for future generations and out of consideration for the past. Sounds as though many people were not treating the site with concern and the area was being damaged.

          That being said, as it being a natural site, every person should have the opportunity to experience the region and everything it has to offer. Since being a small child I have dreamt of seeing Australia from the landmark. With nothing but genuine appreciation for the site I do find the idea of a ban disappointing for future generations.

          Thanks to everyone who gave advice.

        • +5

          @Gradesbrah: It's a big f*****g rock. No one's damaging it mate!

        • +2

          @Gradesbrah:
          I did the climb 32 years ago, and I don't think the view from the top was any more "special" than the view from nearby Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). AFAICT there is no restriction on climbing Kata Tjuta, which is higher, but I recall I couldn't see a way to get all the way to the top, parts were too steep (I'm not a climber).

          From the top of either landmark, it looks just like the aerial pictures you can find on the web - a huge plain of mulga trees, and if the air is clear, you may be able to see a mountain range in South Australia. There's often a lot of dust in the air (as rainfall to clear the air is infrequent), so the mountain range may be hidden in haze.

          As well as a hat, take a sweater too. The temperature at the top is cooler, and combined with the usual stiff breeze, it feels maybe ten degrees cooler.

        • @Russ: no, you can't climb Kata Tjuta. There's nothing that allows you to climb it. I was there in June.

        • @ippy:

          There's nothing that allows you to climb it.

          +1

          I was there in June.

          Same in June.

          Uluru have metal chain rail for you to climb.

        • @ippy:
          When I was there, we were left to explore wherever we wanted.

          The access road approaches Kata Tjuta from the west, where it is steepest. From the east, the slope is about 30 degrees, similar to the lower 2/3rds of the Uluru climb. You don't need a guide rope for that, there are streets almost that steep in Brisbane (use Google Street View to look at the northern half of Sankey St, Highgate Hill).

          Uluru has a guide chain because the path to the top goes along the crest of a ridge, so the slope to either side of the path is more dangerous than the slope of the path itself.

        • +1

          @Russ: Well, they climb Ayres Rock because it's the only thing anyone could do there, apart from stare at it - LOL.

          "Look kids - a rock."
          "Yeah - great Dad… Now what!?"
          "Um… Wanna climb to the top."

          LOL!

    • recently japanese tourist died climbing uluru big rock. google it and you can find the news. local doesnt suggest you to climb. also local government plan to close the climb starting next year

      • +1

        a Japanese tourist…

        • name checks out …

        • +2

          @Wally: Pot-kettle-black

      • Yes the tourist died…maybe not the best idea to climb when you are 76 years old

        https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/04/australia/uluru-japanese-…

        • +12

          better to go out climbing than wasting away in a retirement home dreaming of the things you might have done.

        • @lynxmonkey:

          Fair play, they just sounded old when I saw the age, but maybe they were in great health and this was a freak accident - better to die with your boots on +1

        • +4

          Yeah I don't know this story really well. But I often go bush walking and it is very common to see Asian tourists who are hiking with absolutely no clue what they are doing. The one that stood out the most was I once went to a water fall in Western Queensland, it was a 38 degrees with high humidity. Its a 40 minute (hour and a half return) tough walk down an old steep fire trail. No mobile reception and no amenities / water bubblers anywhere. They were walking down as we were walking up. It was a mum, dad and 6 month old baby. No water, wearing pants and long sleeve shirts no hats, inappropriate footwear. We tried to talk them out of the walk but they insisted they'd be fine. We forced them to take our water as we had extra back at the car. But it just seems to be that tourists see these spectacular photos online and expect to be able to see them with absolutely no idea about how dangerous most walks are in Australia if you don't go prepared.

        • Oh just remembered another good one. A baby snake was across the track and I stopped my son and we were waiting for it to pass. Two Asian ladies came up and proceeded to tell my son that because it was a baby snake it wouldn't be able to hurt us…. No! A baby snake in Australia can still kill you!

      • I'm sure some people from other countries have died in hotel rooms. We should suggest no-one rent accommodation.

        Some people die from poisoning too. If they hadn't eaten that food they wouldn't have died. We should all stop eating.

    • Don't do it

    • +4

      I've done the climb twice. The view is incredible and well worth doing before they ban it. I suggest you wear very grippy hiking shoes because the start is very steep, and also bring plenty of water.

      Also don't give into the superstitious crap. The rock is over 600 million years old (much older than any group of humans) and is a natural landmark, so no one group should be able to lay claim to it. It's there for everyone to enjoy.

  • 0 reviews for flightscout.co

    And no ABN

    on clickthrough it does go to jetstar though so I guess its fine

    • +1

      Flightscout is frequently used on Ozbargain.

  • +6

    Price is for November , by then it’s very hot there …

  • Can't use 5%off egift card tho

  • +1

    Just back 2 weeks ago, a lot better than expected. We got $250 return from Jetstar

    Segway tours and Camel tours must do.

    https://www.ulurusegwaytours.com.au/

    https://www.ulurucameltours.com.au/

    • Great! was surprise to find out how exxy it is. We got $100rtn in jetstar bday sale but the trip will be a few $ks. So exxy! Did u do lights dinner?

      • but the trip will be a few $ks

        Depends on how many days you want to stay, you don't need few $ks per person. We stay in the hotel already.

        So exxy! Did u do lights dinner?

        Yes but unfortunately cloudy that night, food very very average. Field of lights not that good as very expected.

  • Price said $217 for me then clicked through and it's $500 jetstar :/

    • I can still see it with say Oct 31 to Nov 11?

      • Oops I forgot to mention I was searching BNE->___

        It's an issue with Flightscout it seems?

        • Yes, flights available cheap from Melbourne, but there are Brissie flights showing for $337 return, ending up costing $338 on Jetstar site.

        • Flights next month for $221. Ok if you don't have problems getting leave I guess.

  • +14

    FYI - The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board of management has announced that tourists will be banned from climbing Uluru from 2019. The climb has always been discouraged by the park’s Traditional Owners (the Anangu people) but a number of tourists continued to climb the rock on a daily basis

    • +6

      Wants tourist revenue, but wants to ban the main attraction. Cant have both at the same time

      • +1

        Actually they can. IMO like plenty of world landmarks the true marvel comes from looking up at Uluru or taking a walk around it. The view from Yulara and surrounding areas is superb too. People will still go.

      • -1

        It's not about climbing… it's about control. Like the selfish four year old that whines, "It's my bat and ball and YOU can't play with it." Appeasing a spoilt-brat minority that needs to feel important by controlling someone else, while almost certainly having none of those same restrictions on themselves.

        Personally I could care less, so I'm not bitter about not being able to climb it. Maybe my opinion would change once I actually saw it, but I think it's ridiculous going all that way to see - a rock. Plenty of photos, even video and from what I can tell it's a yawn-fest, LOL.

    • +9

      It seems the dislike of climbing is a recent thing
      https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2018/04/banon-climbing-ayer…

      • +1

        Great link.

        Thanks for sharing.

  • +7

    So.. many.. flies.. Bring a fly net before hand if you don't want to pay $20 for one over there.

  • +3

    Great deal.
    Went there in September 2017 on a school trip and the place is just amazing. Do the 10km walk around the base and there's no need to walk up it. The traditional owners of that land discourage it, plus it's just rude.
    Take plenty of water and use Bushman's.

    • Agree. The walk is great. I took a bike! No need to go up it.

    • +4

      Rude!? LOL. The education system claimed another victim.

      • -3

        Sounds like you might be racist but OK

  • Is there much to do there aside from rock? 3 days enough?

    • +16

      You can roll too ;)

    • +3

      The Olgas are really nice and not very far from the rock either. Have never heard anyone talk about them before for some reason but there are some nice scenic walks through them. Ignoring the climb of the rock, the Olgas were nicer to look at than Uluru

      • +8

        Highly agree. Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon definitely worth visiting nearby as well.

      • +2

        Agree. The Olgas were incredible.

    • If Uluru only then plenty of time. If going kings canyon you would more time and extra 2 days. It's 4-6 hours away.

  • +4

    Be aware accommodation in this period is fully booked (not sure in November), we put our tent in the overflow camp ground as everything else was full, about 500 meters from the closest toilet. The temperature at night was below zero.
    A better option for many is to fly to Alice Spring and from there, 2-3 days tour to Uluru, the Olgas, Kings Canyon.

    • A better option for many is to fly to Alice Spring and from there

      I think better fly direct to Ayers Rock, if not going to Kings Canyon three nights is enough.

      • "for many" because Jetstar flies to Uluru only from Sydney and Melbourne while Alice Springs is more accessible from other locations, accomodation in Yulara is very expensive and often not available and Kings Canyon is worth a visit if you already in the area.

        • accomodation in Yulara is very expensive

          You must stay there no way drive from Alice Spring everyday.

  • How reasonable is it to bring children under 5?

    • +1

      It can get tough in the heat, and it's about a 9km walk around the base of the rock, if you were planning on doing that.

    • +1

      Beware the dingos

  • -4

    Someone still calls it Ayers Rock?

    • +3

      OP refers to the flight and the airport is still called Ayers Rock

      • +1

        Good info, thanks.
        Unfortunately, the question also attracted morons.

    • -4

      Yes. People not infected by 'whiningus minoritus': otherwise known as, politically incorrect disease. It doesn't belong only to one minority group, and aboriginals claim they don't 'own' the land anyway, that the land 'owns' them. So it belongs to every Australian and should never have had its name changed (and climbing a dumb ROCK banned) to indicate it only belongs to one group.

      • Yeah definitely racist

      • -1

        Ignorant much?

        Yet you’re correct. It never should’ve been renamed to Ayers Rock.

    • -5

      I make a point of calling it Ayers Rock now since the recent insertion of Aboriginal names in most of not all landmarks and national parks in South Australia (and probably nationwide) plus this climbing van business. Plus than genuflecting preamble government workers have to give before they deliver any sort of public address. Plus the recent outright hate campaign against white Australians and white Australia that reaches fever pitch around Australia Day. Reconciliation seems to have been discarded in favour of a war on whites it seems.

  • +1

    Climbed it 30 years ago, school trip. Do it.

  • +1

    Can't find anything from Sydney :P Any luck BeatThatFlight.

    Trying to understand why they don't like people climbing the Uluru and all I can find is "We feel great sadness when a person dies or is hurt on our land. We worry about you and we worry about your family." If you're fit, have common sense I don't see a reason not to climb.

    • Sadly no, as I posted - just from MEL as far as I can find. I guess you could get a tiger flight down to MEL?

      It's considered a sacred place isn't it? More info: https://redcentre.com.au/about-the-red-centre/uluru-in-abori…

    • +6

      Yes. The area is sacred to the kocal aboriginals but the climbing debate has nothing to do with sacredness or mythology. The aboriginal managers simply don't like tourists dying on their watch. The non-aboriginal rangers dont like people dying or getting injured either but it's no reason to ban the activity because a few misjudge their ability to do it. People climb it for the same reason the Harbour Bridge and lots of other high points are climbed - for the experience. What's next? Ban surfing because people may drown or there is an odd shark attack. Ban bushwalking becaude of occasional mishaps?
      Logically driving cars should therefore be banned. It's of the highest risk activities for most people.

      • Unfortunately mate looks like they're banning going up their from 2019 onwards :(

        • Yes. Better get my family there this spring time to be able to climb it if we decide we want to. To ban it because a few can't cope with the physical act of getting up and down safely is ridiculous. I had a bad fall in NZ on a steep icy mountain slope and permanently stuffed my ankles but that does not mean everyone else should be banned from hiking up mountains in winter. Is still attempt the climb and take appropriate care and wet for conditions to be suitable.

      • -1

        What's next? Ban surfing…

        Ban bushwalking…

        driving cars should therefore be banned…

        You're a prophet and didn't know it. (Wait and see.)

  • Isn't care hire really expensive there, or significant restrictions on number of km or along those lines?

    • I hired 1 day 7 seaters at the hotel for around $200 limited to 100km more I think .25 per km if I remember it correctly.

      I only hire it to go to Kata Tjuta all others local tours.

    • I paid $513 for 4 days at Thifty. Camry. (profanity) expensive, imho. Free 100km per day, nothing extra is 25c/km and then add GST (so it's about 28c). We had done 900km all up as we went to Kings canyon.

      It pissed me off how the calculated it too, you had your base rate then taxes (all percentages of base rate). But then if you incur extra KMs, they charged taxes on top of that too.

  • +1

    Nothing cheaper than $273.

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