Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Statistics

Visitor numbers rose sharply in the lead-up to the Uluru climb closing on 26 October 2019. Parks Australia expected the increase, because the park's Board of Management announced the closure in November 2017, giving visitors and the tourism industry two years' notice.²

• Visitors rose from 303,015 in 2017 to 370,408 in 2018 and 406,821 in 2019, 33% above the 2009–2019 average of 306,738.²
• In the summer months after the closure, visitation fell as expected in the off-peak season, but stayed above levels recorded before the closure was announced.²
• COVID-19 and border closures followed within months, so the closure's long-term effect on visitor numbers "may never be known", according to Parks Australia.²

Most visitors to the Uluru region come from interstate. Over 2020–2024, an average of 209,000 overnight visitors a year came to the Lasseter tourism region, which includes the park.⁴

• 64% came from interstate, 22% from overseas and 14% from within the Northern Territory.⁴
• New South Wales was the largest interstate market (46,000 visitors a year), followed by Victoria (34,000) and Queensland (28,000).⁴
• The largest international markets were the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.⁴
• Visitors stayed an average of 4.2 nights.⁴

Before the pandemic, Parks Australia's planning assumed that about 40% of the park's visitors were international.²

In 2026, the entrance fee for a three-day pass for adults costs $38.³

• Children (under 18): Free³
• Annual Pass: $50 per person³
• NT resident vehicle pass: $109 a year, covering the driver and all passengers³

The three-day pass matches how long most people stay: visitors spent an average of 3.3 days in the park in 2021–22.²

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is an iconic natural landmark in Australia.

• UNESCO World Heritage-listed for both cultural and natural significance.⁶
• It is one of the most visited national parks in Australia, with 267,363 visitors in 2024–25.¹

Camping isn't allowed inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The nearest campground is at the nearby Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara, and Curtin Springs, a working cattle station further out, also has camping.¹³

Options include:

• Campgrounds like Ayers Rock Campground
• Glamping like Longitude 131°
• Self-contained caravans and campervans are also a popular option. Travellers generally either pick up a campervan in Alice Springs or travel from Darwin or Adelaide (one-way rentals are available from several suppliers).

Camping is a common way to stay in the Uluru region. Over 2020–2024, Tourism NT's figures show:

• About a third of interstate visitors camped: 19% at a commercial caravan park or campground and 13% at non-commercial camping.⁴
• About 20% of international visitors camped, 10% at each type.⁴
• Among Northern Territory residents, 32% camped: 9% commercial and 23% non-commercial.⁴
• 6% of international visitors and 2% of interstate visitors used a motorhome or campervan.⁴

No one publishes a count of camping nights for the area.

Uluru is 465 km from Alice Springs by road, about a 5.5-hour drive. Hire cars are also available at Ayers Rock Airport and Yulara.¹⁴

More: Camping Statistics

• Bring and drink water to avoid dehydration
• Hike during the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat
• Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen.
• Don’t photograph sites sacred to the Anangu and follow Anangu cultural guidelines
• Beware of snakes and be watchful of other native animals