Uluru camping spots

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Folks,

Will be shortly be heading out Uluru way with the caravan...

Any suggestions as to astro-friendly sites while in the area? Once there I'd like to be able to (safely) setup for a few nights and do some imaging, as well as get out and do some nightscapes.

All feedback appreciated

Cheers,
Dunk

[glend (Glen)]

Which way are you going Dunk? Is it a standard road caravan or offroad?

[Redshift13 (Rohan)]

It's been nearly 5 years since we were at Ayers Rock, so things may be different now, but my understanding is the entire Uluru/Kata Juta region is within a National Park and camping within the NP is not permitted.
The only camping/accommodation options are at the Yulara camping ground (where we stayed), so you may have to base yourself at Yulara and head out each night (not ideal, I know).
If your setup is fully self sufficient, I guess you could 'go bush' outside of the NP but I have no idea of any suitable locations you could try, sorry.
Regardless, I'm sure you'll have a great time - I know we did!

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Originally Posted by glend

Which way are you going Dunk? Is it a standard road caravan or offroad?

Given the freezing weather down south, circling from Brissie north then south via Adelaide and return to base. It's a multi-terrain, but we'll be sticking to the black top as it's our first major trip

Originally Posted by Redshift13

It's been nearly 5 years since we were at Ayers Rock, so things may be different now, but my understanding is the entire Uluru/Kata Juta region is within a National Park and camping within the NP is not permitted.
The only camping/accommodation options are at the Yulara camping ground (where we stayed), so you may have to base yourself at Yulara and head out each night (not ideal, I know).
If your setup is fully self sufficient, I guess you could 'go bush' outside of the NP but I have no idea of any suitable locations you could try, sorry.
Regardless, I'm sure you'll have a great time - I know we did!

Thanks Rohan, that correlates with I've read so far. Do you know if it's safe for equipment, or do big city rules apply? (if it ain't tied down...)

[Redshift13 (Rohan)]

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

Do you know if it's safe for equipment, or do big city rules apply? (if it ain't tied down...)

General camping equipment, you mean...?
The only thing we 'secured' whenever we left the van (day trips, etc.) was our Waeco car fridge/esky; it was attached to the caravan using a bicycle lock. Sure, if someone was really desperate they could have cut the lock cable and tried to haul it off (it was damn heavy!) but I'm guessing it would have looked pretty suss.
Other general camping gear - chairs, card tables, etc. - was just left (unsecured) in close vicinity of the van and we had no problems on our 8 week trip through SA, NT and WA.
Having said all that, it really comes down to your personal level of paranoia. We certainly made sure the van was locked whenever we went anywhere without it, but you can generally get a 'feel' for a place pretty quickly and take extra precautions when you think it necessary.

[leon]

From my experiences of travelling around this country, and we have been doing it for a long time, just use common sense, if it doesn't feel right, don't do it, you get the feel for a place pretty quick.

However we have not had any bad experiences over this time, secure your stuff safely and all should be fine.

As for Uluru, and as been mentioned you cant just camp anywhere you like unless out side the area itself, one isn't even allowed to get off the designated roads and tracks in the park.

Leon

[deanm (Dean)]

Also done Uluru & agree entirely with Rohan.

And if you like a beer or two, be sure to stock up beforehand - the only grog-shop within a 400 km radius is The Resort, where a 6-pack costs as much as a carton in town, and otherwise-$7 bottles of reasonable, but ordinary, wine cost $40.

And that was 5 years ago..

Dean

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Thanks chaps, all good stuff

I was hoping to get some "proper" imaging done as well as nightscapes while camped there, and my imaging rig consists of an EQ6...it's fairly heavy in itself, so hopefully it'll be OK

[speach (Simon)]

we were at ayers rock this time last year, my only suggestion is to go through the park past the olgas and on to the road to western aust. Road can be a bit rough but you can camp anywhere as soon as you are out of the park.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Thanks for the tip Simon

[MortonH]

Not jealous. Not jealous. Not jealous...

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by leon

[...]you cant just camp anywhere you like [...]

Similar debate regarding "freedom camping" in NZ, but to me this legitimises everything.