My parents are planning a trip to Australia and will have about 7 days to explore.
They really want to experience Uluru (Ayers Rock), as it’s been a dream of theirs to see this iconic site in person.Since time is limited, they’re hoping to balance visiting Uluru with other highlights nearby areas.
Has anyone here done a similar trip? What would you recommend as the best 7-day itinerary to make the most of their time? Would it be better to focus only on the Red Centre (Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs), or try to mix it with something else like the coast?
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I’ll be honest, 7 days isn’t a lot of time to experience it all. I spent at least a couple of days in Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon and it was nothing like I’ve seen anywhere else. I don’t think there’s much in Alice Springs so I would say not a must-do and focus on the other areas so just fly in and head to the rest.
There’s tours they could book as well so they don’t need to worry about ti themselves because unless you rent a car you won’t be going far, this one looks nice Uluru & Kings Canyon Adventure by Intrepid Travel (Code: PZRC) - TourRadar Then I’d spend the other days in Sydney so you can see the Opera House, go to the beach and see what the cities have to offer!
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Hi @marilyn I lived and worked in Uluru for 2 years and I agree with @olivetheplaces. A few days in Uluru and Kata Tjuta will be enough and you can skip Alice Springs (there are direct flights from Sydney straight to Ayers Rock airport).
A few pointers to do in Uluru:
- Sunrise Tour
- Sounds of Silence
- Field of Lights
If you are going with your family I would recommend Desert Gardens or Emu Walk Apartments for your stay
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If you are trying to see the highlights of Australia in a week, it will all depend which parts of Australia you are actually interested in. Don’t get me wrong, you can definitely go to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in a span of a week with flights but you may be skipping a lot of attractions. If I were in your shoes, I would probably try and spend at least 3 days in Sydney and give Melbourne some time as well. Maybe skip going to Brisbane but I highly recommend you visit Queensland’s capital!
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Agree with @olivetheplaces and @Alberto - skip Alice Springs and 2-3 days to see Uluru and surrounds is enough. There really isn’t anything else out there!
I would recommend for 1 week just going to Uluru and one city - Sydney is iconic so I recommend it there, plus it is the only major city with good beaches. You can also get a train the the Blue Mountains from Sydney (even for a day trip) so get a different sense of Australia natural landscapes. Then they will have a bit of everything and totally doable in a week!
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