Should you visit Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) or Adelaide?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) and Adelaide can help you decide which place is right for you.
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
The Australian countryside is a large and vast area just waiting to be explored. Located in the north of Australia, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a part of the Red Centre of the country. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, according to the Aborigines, it is a very sacred space. Amazing geological wonders and fascinating wildlife are just waiting for your visit.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
Which city is cheaper, Adelaide or Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) is $137, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $99. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) and Adelaide in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $106 in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $118 for a double occupancy room in Adelaide If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
-
Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $53
Adelaide $59
-
Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
$106
Adelaide
$118
Food
In Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) travelers spend around $42 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The price of a meal in Adelaide can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $28 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
For Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Private Pizza Making Class in Hunter Valley:
$48
-
Pizza Paddle Sunset Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay:
$66
-
Dinner Cruise at Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience:
$72
-
Cairns Dinner Cruise by Spirit of Cairns:
$73
-
Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Ticket:
$74
-
Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise:
$75
-
Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook:
$77
-
Dumpling Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$80
-
Cairns Aquarium Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner:
$88
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour:
$109
-
Private Cooking School in the Hunter Valley:
$114
-
Mexican Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
The F Factor: Adelaide food tour:
$36
-
Private Pizza Making Class in Hunter Valley:
$48
-
Pizza Paddle Sunset Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay:
$66
-
Dinner Cruise at Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience:
$72
-
Cairns Dinner Cruise by Spirit of Cairns:
$73
-
Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Ticket:
$74
-
Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise:
$75
-
Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook:
$77
-
Dumpling Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$80
-
Cairns Aquarium Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner:
$88
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour:
$109
-
Private Cooking School in the Hunter Valley:
$114
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $67 on transportation in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) on average per day.
To get around in Adelaide, the average visitor spends $17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
-
Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $67
Adelaide $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Also for Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
[Promotion: Adult at Kids Price] Hot Air Balloon Experience with Round-trip Transfers & Vineyard Champagne Breakfast in Gold Coast:
$191
-
[Promotion: Adult at Kids Price] Hot Air Balloon Experience in Cairns with Round-trip Transfers:
$176
-
Wet'n'Wild Return Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
-
Thredbo Day Trip with Round Trip Transfer from Sydney by Brighton Coach:
$81
-
SkyBus Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfer Ticket:
$11
-
Shared Sydney Airport Transfers (SYD) for Sydney:
$13
-
Shared Sunshine Coast Airport Transfers (MCY) for Sunshine Coast:
$12
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs:
$133
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers between Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon:
$110
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock:
$133
-
Shared Perth Airport (PER) Transfers for Perth and Fremantle:
$22
-
Shared Gold Coast Airport Transfers (OOL) for Gold Coast:
$17
Typical Local Transportation prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
[Promotion: Adult at Kids Price] Hot Air Balloon Experience with Round-trip Transfers & Vineyard Champagne Breakfast in Gold Coast:
$191
-
[Promotion: Adult at Kids Price] Hot Air Balloon Experience in Cairns with Round-trip Transfers:
$176
-
Wet'n'Wild Return Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Adelaide Downtown to Adelaide Airport:
$61
-
Transfer in private minivan from Adelaide Downtown to Adelaide Airport:
$61
-
Thredbo Day Trip with Round Trip Transfer from Sydney by Brighton Coach:
$81
-
SkyBus Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfer Ticket:
$11
-
Shared Sydney Airport Transfers (SYD) for Sydney:
$13
-
Shared Sunshine Coast Airport Transfers (MCY) for Sunshine Coast:
$12
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs:
$133
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers between Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon:
$110
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock:
$133
Is it cheaper to fly into Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) or Adelaide?
Prices for flights to both Adelaide and Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $34 per day, per person.
In Adelaide, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
-
Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) $34
Adelaide $12
Tours and Activities in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
For Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Abseiling Adventure in Adelaide :
$73
-
Half Day Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay + FREE Paddle Pack:
$95
-
Hunter Valley Scenic Wine and Cheese Tour from Sydney:
$125
-
Nowra Treetop and Zipline Adventure:
$32
-
Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Flight and Winery Tour:
$385
-
'Have a Go' Clay Target Shooting Experience in Brisbane:
$110
-
12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road Hiking Adventure from Melbourne:
$132
-
1D1N Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour:
$514
-
2D Best of Tasmania Sightseeing Tour: Hobart & Bruny Island :
$126
-
2D Ultimate Marine Adventure from Port Lincoln:
$405
-
2D1N Reefsleep Under the Stars Great Barrier Experience:
$416
-
2D1N at the Wilderness Lodge with Walking Tours of Bungles and Cathedral Gorge:
$1,068
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Abseiling Adventure in Adelaide :
$73
-
Half Day Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay + FREE Paddle Pack:
$95
-
Hunter Valley Scenic Wine and Cheese Tour from Sydney:
$125
-
Nowra Treetop and Zipline Adventure:
$32
-
Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Flight and Winery Tour:
$385
-
'Have a Go' Clay Target Shooting Experience in Brisbane:
$110
-
10-Day Adelaide to Perth Adventure Tour:
$1,419
-
12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road Hiking Adventure from Melbourne:
$132
-
1D1N Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour:
$514
-
2-Day Kangaroo Island 4WD Small-Group Tour from Adelaide:
$990
-
2D Best of Tasmania Sightseeing Tour: Hobart & Bruny Island :
$126
-
2D Ultimate Marine Adventure from Port Lincoln:
$405
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Adelaide spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Also in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Savannah Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tempus Two Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Hanging Tree Wines Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Capercaillie Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Misty Glen Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tintilla Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hunter’s Dream Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Pokolbin Estate Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Wine Tasting at Horner Wines in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Talits Estate Cellar Door Wine Tasting Experience:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Wine House in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Glandore Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
-
Savannah Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hunter’s Dream Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Misty Glen Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tintilla Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Pokolbin Estate Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Tempus Two Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Hanging Tree Wines Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Capercaillie Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hungerford Hill Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley :
$7.39
-
Glandore Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Tulloch Wines in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Wine House in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) and Adelaide, we can see that Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) is more expensive. And not only is Adelaide much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Adelaide would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adelaide and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) than you might in Adelaide.
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