This is the place to take the quintessential Uluru photo. As the sun sinks behind you, the rock transforms from pinkish hues to a fluorescent orange and deep shades of red.

The sky also displays a varied palette of colours, with the rock surrounded by delicate baby blues and bright pinks. If you visit during the full moon, you are likely to see the moon rising next to Uluru around sunset.

Alternatively, you can visit this area at dawn to capture the rock silhouetted against the rising sun.

This viewing area is for cars only. Buses can use the bus sunset and Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing areas instead.

Beat the crowds

The car sunset area is very lively during school holidays. The rest of the year, the carpark is usually big enough for visitors to enjoy their own space at sunset.

Come here for sunrise to get the place almost entirely to yourself. Bring your own chairs and nibbles.

Tips for photographers

To capture an uninterrupted shot of Uluru, drive to the very end of the carpark and put your tripod near the fence in the wide sandy area (you’ll want to arrive early to get a good spot). This is also the perfect place to film a sunset time-lapse video.

As Uluru features many sacred and sensitive sites, we ask that you avoid zooming in and focusing on particular details from this location. Please capture images and footage that show Uluru in its entirety.

Please visit our photography page for more details on sensitive sites.

If you’re taking photographs or filming for commercial or public purposes, you’ll need a media permit.

Note: The National Park is a no-drone-zone.