The Outback Hotel is the value choice at Ayers Rock Resort, a casual and comfortable hotel aimed at travellers who want to spend their money on tours rather than on the room. The rooms are air-conditioned with private ensuite bathrooms and tea and coffee facilities, and there are several configurations suitable for families or groups, including a standard room with one king bed that is also offered as an accessible room. Because the hotel is part of the resort, guests get the same transport and access as everyone else: return airport transfers, a free resort shuttle bus, complimentary resort-wide parking, free Wi-Fi, porter service from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon and access to all resort facilities. There is also a free Indigenous activities programme, a good way to learn something about the local culture without booking a tour. The hotel says it works to care for Country and to support Indigenous employment and local businesses.
Why it works
Staying here means paying for a bed and a bathroom, and using the rest of the resort for everything else. The town square, with its supermarket, cafes and bars, is close, and the free shuttle connects you to the other hotels and the restaurants. That makes the Outback Hotel a good base for travellers who will be out on tours from before sunrise until after sunset and who want a clean, air-conditioned room to return to.
Who it suits
Budget-minded couples, friends, backpackers who prefer a private room and families who need a configuration that fits several people. Travellers who like a social atmosphere will find it lively, because it is the resort's casual option. If you want a rock view, a spa or a buffet restaurant on site, look at the pricier hotels. For a hostel-style dorm bed, the resort also operates a separate lodge, but this hotel is the better choice if you want a private bathroom.
Good to know
The resort is about twenty kilometres from Uluru, so plan on tours with hotel pickup or hire a car, using the free parking. Check-in is in the afternoon and check-out in the morning, and the resort advises booking early in the cooler months, from April to September.
The pool is shared with other resort guests and is unheated. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle, because the resort can be hot even in the shoulder seasons, and the walk between buildings in the middle of the day is longer than it looks.
Why stay here
- ✓Air-conditioned rooms with ensuite
- ✓Tea and coffee facilities
- ✓Family and group room layouts
- ✓Free Indigenous activities programme
- ✓Free resort shuttle
- ✓Free resort-wide parking
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Return airport transfers
Good questions
Do the rooms have private bathrooms?+
Yes. The rooms are air-conditioned and have private ensuite bathrooms, with tea and coffee facilities.
Is transport included?+
Return airport transfers, a free resort shuttle bus and free resort-wide parking are included.
Is it a good choice on a budget?+
Yes. It is the resort's casual, value-priced hotel, and you still have access to all resort facilities and the free activities programme.
