Uluru | Ayers Rock
Dining | Nightlife
Each of the hotels / campgrounds listed below have a restaurant or two that is priced within the same range as the accommodation, although visitors are welcome to walk between them. The most popular option is the Outback Pioneer Barbecue, which sells burger patties from several different kinds of meat (and non-meat) and grills to cook them on. A salad and fruit bar is also included in the purchase price. There is a bar with live music (of the "guy with guitar and a karaoke machine" variety) in the eating area.
The Sounds Of Silence Dinner is an extremely popular - albeit expensive ($145 per adult) - night under the stars. Advance bookings (e.g. 3-4 days) are essential even in low seasons. Coaches take diners from Yulara to one of a few dining areas out in the desert. Champagne (or beer, upon request) are served while the sun goes down over Uluru or Kata Tjuta and the inevitable didgeridoo plays. The clean, elegant dining area is lit by torches and table lamps. The food is served buffet-style, but it's cooked with the attention of a gourmet chef (considering the circumstances). Between the main course and dessert, an astronomer talks about the stars that are out that night, and telescopes are available afterward. There is also a bonfire. Reservations can be made at the various tour offices around Yulara. Ostensibly, reservations can be made over the internet as well, but it's a good idea to follow-up by phone, as coordination between the resort offices and the tour company are spotty at best.
Desert Awakenings, occasionaly available, is a breakfast version of the aforementioned Sounds of Silence. It includes a guided tour around the base of Uluru and ends at the Cultural Center.
Rockpool - Served by the pool of Sails in the Desert Hotel, great tapas, inexpensive option compared to hotel dining. Great atmosphere outside.
The Cultural Center near Uluru offers surprisingly good - and often vegetarian-friendly - fast food for reasonable prices.
Drink Water! And lots of it. No alcohol is sold outside of Yulara, and tribal elders have asked visitors not to sell or give alcohol to local Aborigines.
Some information on this page has been derived from http://wikitravel.org/en/Uluru-Kata_Tjuta_National_Park, which is based on work by David, douglas@panix.com, Gary Crockett, Philipp Schäufele, Marc Heiden, James Franklin, Tim Sandell, kayjay, Michele Ann Jenkins, Evan Prodromou and Iain Georgeson, Wikitravel user(s) Tensaibuta, Hypatia, Episteme and PierreAbbat, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.
