Duration:
9h45m
1 Day West MacDonnell Ranges Tour
Operates: Daily from April to October, and Tues, Thur & Fri from November to March
Operated By:
SEE SOME OF OUR NATION’S MOST MEMORABLE LANDSCAPES
Experience the magnificent grandeur of the West MacDonnell Ranges on this fascinating one day tour.
Marvel at towering fiery red walls set aglow by the desert sun as you drive along the ranges.
We tour through these amazing ranges all day and stop at beautiful gorges and waterholes, where we can enjoy a refreshing swim in the warmer months.
1 DAY WEST MACDONNELL RANGES HIGHLIGHTS
Don’t forget your camera! Every moment of this memorable one day tour is worth capturing.
You’ll visit:
Simpsons Gap
Standley Chasm
Ochre Pits
Ormiston Gorge
Ellery Creek Bighole
Flynn Memorial
Optional swim at Ellery Creek Bighole (summer only)
All activities are considered very safe for all age groups. They do not require a high level of fitness or agility.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: 1 Day West MacDonnell Ranges Tour
Each day tour includes:
Morning tea
Fresh Buffet Lunch
Accommodation pick-up and drop-off
Experienced, friendly tour guide
Air-conditioned transport
Entry fee to Standley Chasm
TOUR ITINERARY: 1 Day West MacDonnell Ranges Tour
7:45 AM
Your guide will collect you from outside your Alice Springs accommodation.
You’ll see spectacular outback scenery and have ample photo opportunities as we travel along the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges, stopping at historic sites.
MORNING
Enjoy beautiful walks at Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm (for morning tea), and the Ochre Pits.
LUNCHTIME / EARLY AFTERNOON
Our next stop is at Ormiston Gorge for a sit-down buffet lunch. On our way back to Alice Springs, we stop to spend time at Ellery Creek Big Hole. This waterhole is one of Central Australia’s most pristine, so don’t forget your swimmers in the warmer months!
LATE AFTERNOON / EVENING
The panoramic landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges are extraordinary for their immensity and the spectacular array of sunburnt oranges, maroons and purples on display.
In the winter months, these mighty ranges light up in brilliant oranges and reds at sunset on the return journey to Alice Springs.
You can expect to be back at your accommodation at approximately 5:30 pm.
Effective 17 May 2023, a 1.6% credit card surcharge will be added at checkout and is non-refundable.
Effective to all travel beginning 1st of April 2025 – Your tour package does not include entry to Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park.
You can book the NT National Park Fee in advance here. Please ensure you bring your park pass with you on the day of your tour.
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WHAT TO BRING
Travel voucher, water bottle (capacity 1.5 litres), strong non-slip walking shoes, hat (wide brimmed is best), flynet, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, casual and comfortable clothing (cool, light clothing is best in summer and warm clothing for winter), swim wear & towel (during summer).
SUITS
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Great transfer between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock without a car! My one way bus transfer from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock was excellent, almost like a tour. Very comfortable ride with refreshments, photo ops and toilette stops, the driver was friendly, helpful and very informative on the historry on places that we went past. If you don't have a car, this is certainly the next best way to travel between Alice and Uluru.read moreread less
Isabelle08_11
22 Sep 2025
Well organised and professional tour with knowledgeable driver and guide Great tour which went according to plan. It was a long day but worth it. Really amazing sight. Driver and guide were professional and provided lots of information. Sunset barbecue was nice and vegetarian food was well catered for. I only wished there were a wider choice of soft drinks beyond orange juice.
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Troptraveller
20 Sep 2025
Uluru memories A very long day but well worth it. Our two drivers Gary and Yad were very informative and patient. The coach was spacious and comfortable with phone charging points. BBQ was well organised and plentifulread moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-21
Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad your guides made your day enjoyable and informative. It’s great to hear you appreciated the comfortable coach and BBQ dinner. We hope your Uluru memories stay with you forever!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
ch5658am
11 Sep 2025
Uluru Great tour with plenty of interesting facts and insight from our guide Jad. He brought the place to life explaining the cultural significance of the region and the importance to its original inhabitants.Hard not to moved by the place. Like nowhere else we have ever been
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Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-08
Thank you, Peter! We’re glad our guides could bring Uluru’s story to life for you. It truly is a special place, and we’re happy you had such a meaningful experience.
Regards, Patrick - CEO
peterhJ5200HJ
08 Sep 2025
Fantastic! The guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable. This tour went to all the places on my list. We had enough time at each one.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-08
Thank you so much, Judy! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour and that our guide helped make it memorable. Hope to see you again on another adventure!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
Judy
06 Sep 2025
Disappointed Trip was canceled 1 day before departure. Oh well! Maybe next time things will turn out better. I was looking forward to seeing this area.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-08
Thank you for your feedback, Christine. Please know that cancellations are always a last resort for us, and our operations team works hard to avoid last-minute changes. When we checked our system, we found a booking under your name for the West Macs tour that was not cancelled. However, we did note that some of the items you requested (hat, flynet, bottle) were out of stock and couldn’t be provided, and we apologise for the inconvenience.
We’d appreciate the chance to discuss your experience further. Please feel free to contact us directly so we can clarify the details and assist you.
Regards, Patrick - CEO
Christine
01 Sep 2025
Great tour. A great all round experience. Well planned and smoothly delivered. A knowledgeable tour guide helped the tour to have meaning. Highly recommended.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-02
Hi David, thank you for your great review! We're glad to hear you had a smooth and meaningful experience on the Uluru tour, and that our guide helped bring it all to life. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again on another adventure!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
David
31 Aug 2025
Top notch - give them a shout out in Alice Springs The entire experience with Emu Run was terrific - plenty of emails before travel as we arranged details, all dealt with quickly and with clear communication. Delivery of all tours was as much as we could hope for and more. Drivers went out of their way to enhance our experience - friendly, good commentary and very safe driving.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-02
Hi there, thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had such a smooth and enjoyable experience with Emu Run, from the booking process to the tours themselves. Our team works hard to make every part of the journey memorable, and it's great to know it showed. We truly appreciate the shout-out and hope to see you again in Alice Springs!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
Compass11608961411
28 Aug 2025
Great trip with Emu My trip with Sebastian was truly exhilarating and incredibly comfortable. I loved the drive and greatly appreciated his vast knowledge of the history behind each place we visited. He went out of his way to ensure we were well-fed as a group, captured memorable photos, and fully experienced everything the tour had to offer.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2025-09-02
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad to hear you had a great time exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges on tour with us. It’s great to know you felt comfortable, well taken care of, and enjoyed the stories and sights along the way. We really appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back one day!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
sritadas19
27 Aug 2025
Our day tour from Alice Springs to Uluru with two kids was an unforgettable experience. We were picked up at 7:10 AM and returned at 11:50 PM, making it a very long day, so I recommend ensuring your kids' devices are fully charged to keep them entertained. We grabbed breakfast to-go from our hotel, which was a smart choice as the first stop wasn't for over an hour. Also, make sure to pack some snacks and sweets for the journey back. Be aware that phone signal can be patchy, so don't rely on downloading emails or other data during the trip.
The journey itself was pleasant, with plenty to see along the way and two stops for toilet breaks. The facilities were standard "outback" style, so it's a good idea to get your coffee in a takeaway cup from the hotel to avoid potential queues. Upon arrival, we were dropped off in the town near Uluru for lunch. The wait time at the restaurant for pizza was over 40 minutes, so we opted for a pie from the café, which was nice but a bit pricey at $12.
The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the evening BBQ at Uluru. Our guide, Yad, was exceptional, and the entire team, including the driver and BBQ staff, were excellent. The food was of great quality and there was plenty to go around. Watching the sunset over Uluru was a breathtaking experience, and we captured some amazing photos.
Overall, we absolutely loved our trip. The day tour provided just the right amount of time to immerse ourselves in the local culture and appreciate the beauty of Uluru. The entire experience offered great value for money, and we were thoroughly impressed by the organisation and dedication of the team. If you're considering a trip to Uluru, I highly recommend this tour.
The journey itself was pleasant, with plenty to see along the way and two stops for toilet breaks. The facilities were standard "outback" style, so it's a good idea to get your coffee in a takeaway cup from the hotel to avoid potential queues. Upon arrival, we were dropped off in the town near Uluru for lunch. The wait time at the restaurant for pizza was over 40 minutes, so we opted for a pie from the café, which was nice but a bit pricey at $12.
The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the evening BBQ at Uluru. Our guide, Yad, was exceptional, and the entire team, including the driver and BBQ staff, were excellent. The food was of great quality and there was plenty to go around. Watching the sunset over Uluru was a breathtaking experience, and we captured some amazing photos.
Overall, we absolutely loved our trip. The day tour provided just the right amount of time to immerse ourselves in the local culture and appreciate the beauty of Uluru. The entire experience offered great value for money, and we were thoroughly impressed by the organisation and dedication of the team. If you're considering a trip to Uluru, I highly recommend this tour.
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Hoss
09 Aug 2025
We took the day tour to Uluru from Alice Springs. We were picked up at 7.00am from our hotel and dropped off at 11.30pm so it was a long day but well worth it. The coach travel to and from Uluru was very comfortable and we had a number of stops to break up the journey. The guides on the trip and at Uluru were very knowledgeable and made the experience very interesting. The BBQ was good quality but the highlight was the sunset and watching Uluru changing colour.
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Mark
22 Jul 2025
ONE OF THE BEST SUNSETS YOU'LL SEE.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE BRING A FLY MASK
There are flies everywhere in the Northern territory, there's a cool camel story behind it. But please bring a fly mask otherwise you won't be able to stand still for 2 seconds without flies buzzing near your face and bothering you.
At Uluru, we took a couple of hours walking around the monolith, learning about its history and significance to the aboriginal community. It was followed by one of the best sunsets and golden hour. It just didn't end there, on the way back, with zero light pollution, we could clearly see the stars and the milky way. Our driver stopped at night on the highway and turned off all the lights so we could stargaze. It was amazing. Thanks to Emu Experience for this tour.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE BRING A FLY MASK
There are flies everywhere in the Northern territory, there's a cool camel story behind it. But please bring a fly mask otherwise you won't be able to stand still for 2 seconds without flies buzzing near your face and bothering you.
At Uluru, we took a couple of hours walking around the monolith, learning about its history and significance to the aboriginal community. It was followed by one of the best sunsets and golden hour. It just didn't end there, on the way back, with zero light pollution, we could clearly see the stars and the milky way. Our driver stopped at night on the highway and turned off all the lights so we could stargaze. It was amazing. Thanks to Emu Experience for this tour.
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Praveen
29 Apr 2025
Lovely experience with Emu Run Experience - we did the day trip from Alice Springs into the West MacDonnell Ranges with our guides Lauren and Corbin. The guides were knowledgable and friendly, and we saw some awesome sights. One of my favourite stops of the day was before lunch at the swimming hole (Ellery Creek Big Hole).
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Georgia
24 Mar 2025
We did both the West MacDonnell Ranges and Uluru Day Tour & Sunset Dinner from Alice Springs. John was our tour guide/driver/chef both trips and Yad for the tour once we had arrived in Uluru. They were both absolutely brilliant. Full to the brim with facts of the places we are driving through, down to all of the marks on Uluru. It was fantastic. The dinner at sunset was magical & we really enjoyed the bubbly too. We met lots of people on the tour and had some wonderful conversations. John even stopped the bus on the way back from Uluru for some stargazing. I would recommend to all.
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Emily
05 Mar 2025
Uluru up close Great fun. Well organized and a very knowledgeable guide in Yad. Got to experience Uluru up close with a very nice dinner at the conclusion.read moreread less
Mark
16 Jan 2025
Alice to Uluru Sunset bbq day trip. I was so looking forward to visiting - I am an Aussie from Adelaide. And it did not disappoint! Whilst a really long day I knew that in advance. The guide (John) was great with the right mix of humour, storytelling and facts. The bus was cramped leg room and not ideal for the length of trip is the only negative. The water, snacks and bbq sunset dinner was awesome. Not once did I feel rushed. Uluru was amazing and the information and time to walk around parts of the rock and touch it, pictures and little waterfalls was well worth it. Sunset bbq I bought some local art (they have payid!) but prefer cash. Amazing talent. Bbq as I said was great, some cold beers, wine, soft drink. Awesome vantage point, great pics. Loved it and so glad to visit this special and unique place.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Thank you for your fantastic review, Georgina! We're so glad to hear you had an amazing experience. John will be thrilled to hear you enjoyed his mix of humour and storytelling. It's great to hear you enjoyed your time spent exploring Uluru, the BBQ dinner, and the stunning views, and the local art too. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
GeorginaC595
21 Dec 2024
Great tour Tour guide was very informative and the BBQ and drinks were lovely! It's a good tour to do out of season. My tour guide was a bit lack luster with how he spoke so it wasn't as engaging for those who weren't that interested like myself.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Thanks for sharing your feedback! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the BBQ and drinks—it’s definitely a highlight of the tour. We also really appreciate your thoughts on the tour guide, and we’ll take that into account for future improvements. We want to make sure everyone feels engaged and excited throughout the trip, no matter their level of interest. Hope you still had a great time overall, and we’d love to have you on another tour in the future!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
Yabz14101999
16 Dec 2024
A great half day tour and sunset BBQ We had a fantastic tour with Yad in our small group. He picked us up promptly from our accommodation and kept us informed of the itinerary throughout the day. We went on two walks and Yad gave interesting and knowledgeable talks about the history of the rock and the areas of it which we were visiting. We were provided with water and a snack after the walks then spent an hour at the cultural centre before heading to the viewing area for the sunset BBQ. We had steak, sausages, a variety of salads and lamingtons for dessert whilst the sun set.
Local Anangu women sell dot canvas paintings at the viewing area so bring some cash if you would like to buy one. Beware that the sunset area gets very busy - numerous coach tours turn up at sunset - but everyone gets a good view of the sunset.
It was a great tour to do with our four year old as we saw the highlights of Uluru butwas back at the hotel at 7pm.
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Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Hey, thanks so much for the fantastic review! We're so happy to hear you had a great time with Yad and your group. It sounds like you had the perfect balance of exploring and relaxing, plus a delicious BBQ to top it all off!
We're glad the tour worked out well for your little one too—Uluru really is a special place for all ages.
Hope to see you again on another adventure soon!
Regards, Patrick -CEO
Rowlandsl77
13 Dec 2024
Cancelled for Bad Weather Conditions ? I can not believe it. The tour was cancelled by the operator Emu Run the day before according to the their phone call for Bad Weather Conditions forecasted for next day (Dec 10). In my opinion this only was an excuse because the weather was excellent sunny days before and after scheduled day, only some high temperatures as usual in summer.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Hey there, thanks for sharing your feedback. We're really sorry to hear about the cancellation, and we totally understand how disappointing that must've been. We rarely have to cancel tours, but sometimes, weather conditions can be unpredictable in the outback, and unfortunately, this is out of our control. Safety is always our top priority, and we truly apologise for the inconvenience. We hope you'll have the chance to reschedule and enjoy the adventure soon!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
Rodrigo
12 Dec 2024
Amazing fun day A few things to say They are super professional and their busses are modern. It is a 4.5 hour drive each way, so I got back to Alice Springs at 1 AM, but so worth it. The Rock is beautiful and their guide took us all around it stopping at interesting spots to walk around. Shortly before sunset they have everything set up for a huge BBQ, we have steak.read moreread less
Emu Run Experience, General Manager at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Thank you for the wonderful review Scott! We're thrilled you had such an amazing time on your Uluru tour. It's fantastic to know you enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the guided tour, and of course, the BBQ dinner! We aim to provide a smooth and comfortable experience with our modern buses, so we’re glad that made the long drive more enjoyable. It’s great to hear your early start was worth it for the stunning views and fun day. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Have an awesome day - Patrick, CEO
Scott
07 Dec 2024
Did this tour in a bus with no air-conditioning.
35-36 degree outside. 40-45 degree inside. Not pleasant. Stopped for a 40 min lunch break at restaurant that takes 40min to cook. Needless to say no lunch time had. Would recommend looking at other tours. Drivers were good however, thanks for their knowledge and driving. Unfortunately the one star is for the lack of comfort and adequate time for lunch..
35-36 degree outside. 40-45 degree inside. Not pleasant. Stopped for a 40 min lunch break at restaurant that takes 40min to cook. Needless to say no lunch time had. Would recommend looking at other tours. Drivers were good however, thanks for their knowledge and driving. Unfortunately the one star is for the lack of comfort and adequate time for lunch..
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Daniel
27 Aug 2024
Joined the half day tour of Uluru cultural experience and sunset BBQ. Our guide Yad amazing, professional, and made the trip so enjoyable. Had a lovely relaxing time, and got to see some amazing views.
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George
20 Aug 2024
We started this trip with a pickup at Discovery park at 0715. We were the last pick up so immediately drove on to the highway.
Charlie, our driver started really informative about the trip, nature and tourism in and around Alice Spring. The bus was half full so we all had a two seater, perfect for snoozing during the first km.
During the ride Charlie kept us informed about the surroundings and her experiences as a driver which was really informative, fun and nice to hear.
The coach was comfortable, not bumpy, there was a working emergency toilet on board and the temperature was really comfortable.
After 2 hours our first stop was at Erldunda roadhouse for some breakfast, tea and a toiletstop where we left at 0945. At 1220 we arrived in Yulara where Charlie went off the coach to sleep during the afternoon and Yad the guide, brought us to the city center so we could have lunch by ourselves.
At 1330 we drove from Yulara to Uluru NP. We had a couple stops, drove around Uluru and Yad told us a lot of interesting information about the culture, history and geological details of this special area which was really informative.
After this we had a stop at the cultural centre from 1615 to 1700. We had plenty of time to have a drink and buy some souvenirs.
At 1710 we were at the barbecue area where we enjoyed the sunset until 1835. On our way back through Uluru we picked up some other people and at 1907 we were on our way to Alice Springs where we arrived safely at 0015. A long but perfect day
Charlie, our driver started really informative about the trip, nature and tourism in and around Alice Spring. The bus was half full so we all had a two seater, perfect for snoozing during the first km.
During the ride Charlie kept us informed about the surroundings and her experiences as a driver which was really informative, fun and nice to hear.
The coach was comfortable, not bumpy, there was a working emergency toilet on board and the temperature was really comfortable.
After 2 hours our first stop was at Erldunda roadhouse for some breakfast, tea and a toiletstop where we left at 0945. At 1220 we arrived in Yulara where Charlie went off the coach to sleep during the afternoon and Yad the guide, brought us to the city center so we could have lunch by ourselves.
At 1330 we drove from Yulara to Uluru NP. We had a couple stops, drove around Uluru and Yad told us a lot of interesting information about the culture, history and geological details of this special area which was really informative.
After this we had a stop at the cultural centre from 1615 to 1700. We had plenty of time to have a drink and buy some souvenirs.
At 1710 we were at the barbecue area where we enjoyed the sunset until 1835. On our way back through Uluru we picked up some other people and at 1907 we were on our way to Alice Springs where we arrived safely at 0015. A long but perfect day
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Alexandra
15 Aug 2024
Uluṟu is spectacular! Pleasant and informative driver. Easy going tour pace. Uluru is incredible! Did not disappoint with all of the history, culture, stories and sunset colour changes. Snacks were limited so suggest taking your own as well. BBQ dinner and drinks covered preferences and ample amount to cover everyone. Thank you!read moreread less
Ebony
11 Jul 2024
West MacDonnell Range highlights Had Bluey as our guide along the West MacDonnell Ranges. Bluey’s knowledge was second to none. Learnt so much from him, and was amazed by his narrative and descriptions throughout the whole day. Had a terrific day, with lunch and morning tea.read moreread less
Larry
10 Jul 2024
Excellent customer service I did an off train excursion from the Ghan. Scotty was an excellent guide and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tour. However he went above and beyond to get me some much needed medication even delivering it to the train in his own time. Thank you so much Scotty.read moreread less
lyn47_12
08 Jul 2024
A great way to spend the day. We were picked up on time at our hotel and transported to our destinations easily. Yad was great in telling us how long it would take to get to a site, how long we had there as well as local history and necessary customs. Our last stop was an outdoor venue with a perfect view of Ayer’s Rock for a nice barbecue with plenty of options for fussy eaters (not me :-) )
Only downside was that we were trying to understand words in the native Aboriginal language and also understand them with Yad’s accent. A bit of a challenge, but there are plenty of informational signs along the walking routes.
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BuckCRNA
29 Jun 2024
We went on the Uluru & Sunset BBQ Tour.
Emu Run Experience we're a very professional company to deal with.
We were picked up on time from Ayers Rock Resort and driven in comfort on the bus to our vantage point.
Waiting for us on our arrival was one very sumptuous "Aussie" BBQ, drinks and bubbly to toast the Uluru sunset.
The guides and our chef James could not do enough to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience.
I would highly recommend this Emu Run Expeience tour.
ROAD TRIP'N
www.roadtripn.blog
Emu Run Experience we're a very professional company to deal with.
We were picked up on time from Ayers Rock Resort and driven in comfort on the bus to our vantage point.
Waiting for us on our arrival was one very sumptuous "Aussie" BBQ, drinks and bubbly to toast the Uluru sunset.
The guides and our chef James could not do enough to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience.
I would highly recommend this Emu Run Expeience tour.
ROAD TRIP'N
www.roadtripn.blog
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ROAD
24 Jun 2024
Majestic Uluṟu The rock lives up to every expectation you have . Guided tour presented cultural insights into the history of the rock you wouldn’t normally discover.read moreread less
emurunexperience, Owner at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2024-06-29
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! It's great to hear that Uluṟu lived up to every expectation and that our guided tour provided unique cultural insights into its history. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more enriching experiences with Emu Run!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
Neil
22 Jun 2024
First Class Tour company - experts in the Alice Springs area. Cannot rate this company highly enough. Our initially booked travel to the Alice area got messed up, and in hindsight this was a blessing. We did a mixture of group day tours, all with a legend of guide named Bluey. A master storyteller and a fountain of knowledge on the history, the people, the geology, the flora and fauna of the area. With Bluey as the guide, we did the half day "Historical Alice" tour, the West McDonnell Ranges tour and the Palm Valley Tour. Because we couldn't align dates for other tours to our desired visits to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, Emu Run presented the option of a private tour over three days to these areas. A bit more expensive, but what an experience - just the tour guide, my partner and I. Our guide Filippe was brilliant. He made sure we had the best time. Provided us with lots of information about the area, and also willing to share lots about his homeland of Chile - which now puts Chile on our list of places we want to go. The flexibility of the private tour means you're not locked into group timings, and you are able to spend a little more time at some points of interest, as long as you still fit in with the overall allowable tour times.
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emurunexperience, Owner at Emu Run Experience - Day Tours, responded to this review - 2024-06-29
Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with us in Alice Springs and beyond. It's wonderful to know that Bluey and Filippe provided such insightful and enjoyable tours, sharing their wealth of knowledge and making your visits memorable. We're glad you appreciated the flexibility and personalised experience of the private tour. It was such a pleasure having you both on board!
Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures with Emu Run!
Regards, Patrick - CEO
V2154ZVjayd
20 Jun 2024
We had a lovely time at the Uluru with Emu Run Experience. Our driver Scott was absolutely amazing and our guide Yad always provided us with very interesting information about the historical story of the Uluru. Everything was really good, we would recommend this tour.
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Louisa
30 Apr 2024
I've been with Emu Run Experience on two tours from Alice Springs. Very long Uluru and sunset tour with BBQ. And the second one, West McDonnell Ranges tour. The company employs excellent guides and drivers. Very good organization of tours. I recommend seeing the famous Red Center of Australia with them.
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Nina
01 Mar 2024
Amazing Uluru experience with a professional and helpful team!
The Uluru gonna be an unforgettable experience with Emurun and it's awesome Tours and Tour guides!
Thanks a lot
The Uluru gonna be an unforgettable experience with Emurun and it's awesome Tours and Tour guides!
Thanks a lot
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Rza
24 Dec 2023
Best trip from Alice What an amazing day we've had. Beautiful walks, gorges and water holes of West Macs left us speechless. The passion and excitement of our guide - Monica - made me feel like I'm on a tour with friends.read moreread less
WorldsAStage
14 Dec 2023
Magical Uluru Yad,our driver and guide from Emu Run made the day very enjoyable and informative. His knowledge and insight on the subject was on point. His easy going personality was well suited to such a tour, where he shared his experiences quite openly.BBQ in the evening was well worth the effort with Uluru providing the perfect back drop. Highly recommend this tour.
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d
11 Dec 2023
Fabulous day out We really enjoyed this trip. A was a bit sceptical about seeing a big red rock in the desert but there was a lot more to it than that and the whole day was a great experience. The day was finished off with a lovely barbecue and we met some great people on the trip. Our guide, Yad, was great, polite and helpful. He gave us some very interesting facts and told us some fascinating folklore tales.read moreread less
Phil
07 Dec 2023
Emu Run tours are the best. Tour guides, drivers are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. On my latest trip, we had Yad as our driver/guide on the 1 day Uluru Tour. He's great!
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Giselle
05 Dec 2023
West Macs day trip 5 stars Our guide Jono was knowledgeable and hospitable catering for the needs of our small group beautifully.The experience was wonderful taking in sacred sites and swimming holes - well worth it.
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Vu
05 Dec 2023
had a lovely time on the emu run experience tours. went on the west macdonnell ranges tour with bluey and two trainee tour guides. bluey was a top-notch, engaging storyteller and shared a wealth of knowledge with us. he was truly the best tour guide I’ve encountered throughout all the different tour guides from the agencies I’ve toured with. always rare to have a tour guide know so much and cater to my interest in geology, so it was great having a chat with him :) the other two who came along with us were great as well and helped add to the atmosphere in the bus. they all seemed to really like the job and I particularly enjoyed seeing the reality of how y’all tour guides get trained too! quite inspirational and I really appreciate how hard everyone is working to make us tourists have a great experience in the red center.
went on the uluru tour with sheldon and yad. the bus was comfortable and the two were great at engaging us, despite the big bus having a pretty dead atmosphere. kudos especially to yad for doing his best to reach out to the crowd despite our lackluster response. thank you to the guides for preparing our dinner too! was a really good experience and I highly recommend choosing emu run for tours in alice springs and uluru!
went on the uluru tour with sheldon and yad. the bus was comfortable and the two were great at engaging us, despite the big bus having a pretty dead atmosphere. kudos especially to yad for doing his best to reach out to the crowd despite our lackluster response. thank you to the guides for preparing our dinner too! was a really good experience and I highly recommend choosing emu run for tours in alice springs and uluru!
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Yu
24 Nov 2023
Fantastic Tour Hosted by Monica From Emu Run Experience My wife and I had an absolutely fantastic day today (Nov. 21) doing the West MacDonnell Ranges with our tour guide Monica from Emu Run Experience. We were very lucky in that conditions were perfect and all the attractions were open (some had been closed in the past few weeks due to fires weather. It was definitely hot (35-40C) but Monica did a great job keeping us hydrated. Monica was very knowledgeable, personable and fun. Visited Simpsons Gap (saw Rock-wallabies), Standley Chasm, the Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge, and Ellery Creek Big Hole where we went for a swim to finish off the day. Morning tea/snacks and lunch were provided. Was a great tour and we highly recommend it.read moreread less
GSuddard
21 Nov 2023
Wouldn't recommend The driver on our coach was very rude. Kept going on about how we needed to be back to the bus on time. Yet when everyone was back on the bus on time he left us waiting. Then complained that we were running behind schedule. Refused to help anyone get their luggage off the coach. Was very rude to a couple who didn't fully understand English. The company didn't care when I emailed them this complaint.read moreread less
rebecca
21 Nov 2023
Good value for money. We were picked up promptly from our accommodation by Jono who had an informative commentary along the way. Very friendly and funny. Highly recommended:))
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Suwanna
09 Nov 2023
Good value for money. We were picked up promptly from our accommodation and had a informative commentary along the way. Very friendly. BBQ was great enjoyed watching the sunset over the Rock with a glass of wine. Best experience.
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Leanne
24 Oct 2023
Great return trip to Palm Valley after 61 years I returned to Mpulungkinya (Palm Valley) after 61 years, this time with my wife on a tour, rather than as a small boy with my family on our own in a Jeep my dad had hired in Mparntwe (Alice). Our guide was Johnno who was very engaging & knowledgeable, & who filled the drive out with a fascinating intro to Aboriginal culture & world view, as well as being very knowledgeable about the geology & botany from a Western scientific viewpoint. It was the rough trip up the Finke River bed I had expected, but Johnno was obviously an experienced 4 WDriver, warning us about upcoming lurches. The gorge gave the spectacular combination of red cliffs & a mix of gum trees, cycads & palm trees. We had time to for a short walk on our own under Johnno’s guidance. The it was back to Ntaria (Hermannsburg) for a stroll around the historic precinct, taking in the origins of the famous painter Albert Namatjira, & where the anthropologist & missionary Carl Strehlow had worked. In 1894 he wrote about the local stories of the ‘gods from the north’ who had brought the palm tree seeds to Mpulunkinya, a story now supported by genetic studies that date this to about 15,000 years ago.All in all a great day out.
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Getaway44809003664
18 Oct 2023
Uluru and Olga's Tour The tour of the Olga's and Uluru with a sunset BBQ at Uluru was a highlight of our seven days in Alice Springs. Thanks so much to our tour driver, Charlie for her excellent driving and our tour guide for the Olga's and Uluru (I have forgotten his name) but his stories of the Uluru and Olga's area and their relationship with the indigenous groups of the area where wonderful to hear and I know that we now have such a much better appreciation of aboriginal culture and history due to the knowledge that he imparted. Such a passionate tour guide for his subject. A very long day, in hindsight we would have accommodated at Ayers Rock resort rather than the very long drive back to Alice. But still a wonderful day and an experience not to be forgotten.read moreread less
Meander51384509764
18 Oct 2023
Great tour with Jonathan Jono was great, he really made this a great tour. His knowledge of the fauna and flora and the area along with the indigenous stories and traditions really added to the overall experience. What a great young bloke. Everyone spoke about how much they enjoyed the tour and Jono's commentary and excellent driving. 10 out of 10.read moreread less
Meander51384509764
18 Oct 2023
Amazing experience! An AMAZING day! Apart from the beautiful scenery our tour guide Jono was awesome! So much knowledge about the area & nothing was too much trouble for him. Highly recommend!read moreread less
SueMcc27
18 Oct 2023
A once in a lifetime experience! We really enjoyed this day tour. Our guides, Dave and Yad made this trip even better. Lots of information, kindness & fun. Thanks, Isabel & Lucila
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Isabel
14 Oct 2023
Breathtaking views! The views from Simpson Gap and Stanley Chasm were breathtaking! Our tour guide Jono was very entertaining with story telling along the way. Highly recommend this tour!read moreread less
Freedom13078262280
13 Oct 2023
Great experience A long day but so worth it! Very friendly and knowledgeable drivers (2 of them) and we learned so much and got up close to the rock and all the way around it too. The bbq dinner was a nice ending and then snoozed on the way back to Alice Springs. Recommend it and glad I had the experienceread moreread less
Moo1964
08 Oct 2023
West MacDonnell Ranges Day Tour- this left us amazed & in awe of our beautiful country. The most wonderful experience filled with scenic views, discovering surprising gorges & appreciating our Indigenous origins. Felipe, our Tour Guide entertained us with stories & history- & amused us with his quirky sense of humour. Definitely recommend this Tour- we're still raving about it. Make sure your phone is charged for copious amounts of superb photos of inspiring landscapes & hidden oasis'.
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Tracey
04 Oct 2023
Amazing tour. Highly recommend. Would definitely do it again. Some of the views we saw were breathtaking. Would definitely recommend going for a swim at the water holes. Cat (tour guide) was the best. Very knowledgeable and helpful.
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ben
02 Oct 2023
Big shout out to our guide Catalina. Charming, funny, knowledgeable, passionate, hardworking. Great person. Here’s to the tour and the destinations covered. Great places and interesting sights. Down side Mr Emu Run Experience, the bus! Buy a new one. The good thing was that the air conditioning worked well. But the suspension is shot, the seats are small and not very comfortable. For goodness sake with great staff like Catalina, she deserves a great bus. Cheers had a great day.
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Roy
15 Sep 2023
So, I joined 2 tours by myself. Joined West MacDonnell range tour by Johnno. He was very funny and very informative, also he summoned Black foot wallaby. He also love about nature, climate change, West Mc history. Another tour was Uluru/ Kataju. Driver was Heather and tour guide was Jad? I think he is from Geelong. Very informative about indigenous history, nature, very easy to listen. Uluru bus driver was kind enough to stop to show us Mt connor!!. I really enjoyed.
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J
04 Sep 2023
A wonderful afternoon in Alice. The Historical Alice Tour this afternoon with Catalina was so interesting. The Alice Springs School of the Air and The Royal Flying Doctor Head Office were highlights. Catalina was an excellent guide and driver and was a lot of fun. Great afternoon.
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Wander16738083813
29 Aug 2023
Excellent half day trip We went on the Historical Alice Tour with our bus driver/guide Catalina who was excellent. The 4 places we stopped at were very interesting. Would recommend this tour.read moreread less
Sue
29 Aug 2023
Good small group tour We had done the half day Historic tour of Alice the day before with Johnno our Guide, and it wasn't wonderful. Visits to the RFDS and School of the Air were fantastic, but it kinda went downhill at the Telegraph Station, where we missed our tour time and the place was closing. But in fairness to Johnno, this wasn't his regular tour.The next day we were picked up on time and taken to John Flynn's grave, Simpson's Gap, the Ochre Pits, Standley Chasm (where we had a basic morning tea. But there was a Cafe there for those who wanted a real coffee and breakfast). A swim and a satisfying lunch of 'build your own' wraps at Ormiston Gorge and lastly to Ellery Creek Big Hole. It was all wonderful and the timing at each place was good.
Johnno was a kind, thoughtful and funny guy who despite not being an Aussie, had a good grasp of the history and stories from this area. Oh, and he entertained us all with his Mongolian throat singing on the return to Alice !!
A good small group tour.
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majelaja2
27 Aug 2023
Palm Valley with a difference We had the best guide, Johno. He was so generous with his time and knowledge. So helpful on the walk. Drove that 2 wheel drive bus on a 4 wheel drive track like a pro. Nothing fazed him, even when we got bogged without a shovel. Another guest said it was the best guide and trip she had ever been on.read moreread less
janwI6309NH
26 Aug 2023
Safety concerns with this company Johno our tour guide was fantastic - very informative and personable. However, our tour was concerning from the moment we were picked up. Firstly, it was an old decrepit bus,not a 4 WD as advertised. The bus stalled a couple of time and Johnno had to just restart it - explaining to us that this was fairly normal for the bus. I felt totally unsafe on the road as the bus felt like it was swerving all over the road. - Im even wondering if it should have been on the road. However, it got worse - we got bogged in the sand on the road that should only be driven by 4 WD drive, vehicles, then we discover that there was no 4WD recovery gear, no mats and no shovel,!!! All of us, 11 passengers, had to dig and push the bus out of the sand!!! We all took it in our stride and the overseas passengers certainly have a good story and photos to show off their adventure when they get home. Just wondering if there was a satellite phone as we were assured that there was!! Thanks heavens we will never know!!!read moreread less
BrodrickMB
26 Aug 2023
Best palm valley experience John is a wonderful tour guide. He managed to being so much joy to the tour. We did some rock and roll with the mini van which is super coolread moreread less
rosiek413
25 Aug 2023
