Compact and purpose-built, Ayers Rock Resort (also known as Yulara) measures about 1½ mls from N to S and has all the facilities of a small town as well as accommodation of all standards, a visitor centre and a tourist office. Designed to blend in with the surrounding desert, the resort is primarily red and ochre in colour and much thought has gone into conservation in an area which receives almost too many visitors. Construction and operations follow strict environmental procedures to minimise the impact of tourism on the fragile natural environment. Shade from the intense heat is provided by huge white tarpaulins. Ayers Rock, the main attraction, is sacred to the local Aborigines who ask that people do not climb it, although this is not enshrined in law. It is worth remembering that people have died climbing the Rock and that sensible precautions should be taken before starting up it.

Couples and families. Although there is nothing much to entertain the very young, a weekday child-care centre exists for children aged 3 months to 8 yrs.

The full range, from 4-star luxury to basic backpacker bungalows and a large campsite, all well maintained and designed to make as little impact as possible on the environment. The accommodation is managed communally and guests of one hotel are welcome to use the amenities of others; fees are charged to their own hotel bills. Due to the lack of competition, accommodation is expensive by normal Australian standards.

Limited opportunities; the bare necessities such as bank, post office, supermarket and hairdressers. A few souvenir and craft shops.

Daytime: a regular programme of talks and walks, covering subjects such as the local environment and the Aboriginal lifestyle; free tour of native gardens; wildlife predator show. Nightlife: limited to hotel bars, live music at the Outback Pioneer and talks on the sky at night.

Mostly limited to the hotels although there is a small takeaway food store and Italian restaurant in the resort centre. Open-air dinners in the desert.

Yulara is compact enough to walk around but there is a shuttle bus linking all hotels with the resort centre every 20 mins (10.30 am to 12.30 pm). No public transport to Ayers Rock; you need your own car or must join a tour. Complimentary transport to the airport.

Primarily tours to Ayers Rock and the Olgas. Small-plane and helicopter scenic flights. Harley Davidson motorcycle tours. Camel tours. Cocktails at sunset tours. Cultural Aboriginal tours. Day trips to Mount Conner, Petermann Range or Kings Canyon.

Right in the centre of Australia, on the S edge of Northern Territory. 290 mls SW of Alice Springs. The resort itself is 10 mls from Ayers Rock (Uluru). 4 mls S of the domestic airport, connected by shuttle buses to the resort.

In the middle of scrubby desert of red sand with a few sparse trees and spinifex (Australian grasses); Ayers Rock looms in the distance. 34 mls from the dome-like Olgas (Kata Tjuta).

Telephone Area Code: 8
Website: www.ayersrock.aust.com

Airport : Connellan
Airport Code: AYQ