Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Lodge Walk, Northern Territory

Historical project record

Originally reported: 2020
Last reviewed: 21 July 2026
Status at last review: Approved and launched for 2026 departures

This page documents the commercial walking and accommodation proposal as it was originally presented in 2020 and records its subsequent development. It is not maintained as a continuously updated project tracker. Later developments may be covered through Keep It Wild Australia’s Protected Areas Tourism Watch reports.

The original proposal

In 2020, the Australian Walking Company proposed a multi-day commercial walking experience between Kata Tjuṯa and Uluṟu within Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

Initially known as the Uluṟu Lodge Walk, the proposal involved approximately 40 kilometres of new walking tracks, three semi-permanent or permanent accommodation camps, lunch shelters and vehicle-access tracks. The camps were expected to include lodge-style accommodation, a wellness centre, spa facilities and plunge pools.

The company anticipated operating the walk during the cooler months and accommodating approximately 2,000 guests each year.

The proposal emerged from a process initiated in 2015 to identify culturally appropriate tourism experiences following the closure of the Uluṟu climb. The Australian Walking Company said the route and accommodation had been developed through consultation with Aṉangu Traditional Owners, with changes made to avoid culturally sensitive areas.

The proposal required approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 because it was located entirely within a nationally and internationally significant protected landscape.

Approval and assessment

The project was referred for assessment under the EPBC Act in November 2020 as EPBC 2020/8840.

Commonwealth records now show that an approval decision was made and published. A report provided to the World Heritage Committee in 2023 stated that the project had been approved subject to conditions intended to avoid and minimise impacts on Commonwealth land and the national and World Heritage values of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

The approved project was described as occupying a project area of approximately 940 hectares and involving:

  • about 40 kilometres of walking tracks;
  • three accommodation camps;
  • two lunch locations;
  • three vehicle-access tracks; and
  • approximately 38 buildings, ranging from tented accommodation to lodge-style structures.

The project sits entirely within Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, which is jointly managed by Aṉangu Traditional Owners and the Director of National Parks and is recognised for both its natural and cultural World Heritage values.

What changed

The commercial experience has since been promoted as the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, following the Uluṟu Kakararra Trail between Kata Tjuṯa and Uluṟu.

The current product is longer than the approximately 40-kilometre walk described in the original referral. The operator now advertises a five-day, four-night guided experience covering approximately 54 kilometres, with guests staying in private eco-camps and lodge accommodation inside the national park.

The itinerary includes the Valley of the Winds, the southern Kata Tjuṯa dune country, desert trails approaching Uluṟu, Muṯitjulu Waterhole and the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre. A shorter four-day lodge walk is also being marketed.

The Tasmanian Walking Company states that the experience was developed in close consultation with Aṉangu Traditional Owners and is accepting bookings for departures from July 2026.

Why this project matters

The project established a substantial private, guided accommodation experience inside one of Australia’s most culturally significant national parks.

It differs from an ordinary commercial walking permit because it involves purpose-built accommodation, permanent or semi-permanent structures, vehicle-access tracks and exclusive multi-day tourism products operating within the protected area.

The project is also significant because it was developed with the consent and involvement of Aṉangu Traditional Owners in a jointly managed park. That distinguishes it from commercial proposals where Traditional Owner support is absent, disputed or unclear.

The development nevertheless provides an important example of how high-value accommodation and guided tourism can be introduced into a national park through long-term land arrangements, Commonwealth environmental approval and collaboration between a private operator, Traditional Owners and Parks Australia.

Confirmed

The original proposal was referred under the EPBC Act in 2020.

The Commonwealth subsequently approved the project subject to conditions.

The approved development included walking tracks, three accommodation camps, lunch facilities, vehicle-access tracks and approximately 38 buildings within Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

The operator is now marketing five-day and four-day commercial walking experiences, with departures advertised from 2026.

Not yet confirmed

The publicly accessible EPBC portal currently identifies the approval decision but does not display the complete approval documents or conditions.

The precise relationship between the originally approved 40-kilometre route and the currently advertised 54-kilometre itinerary is not clear from the available public material.

Keep It Wild Australia has not independently confirmed whether every component of the accommodation and trail infrastructure was completed exactly as described in the original approval.

Sources and documents

  • EPBC Act project: Uluṟu Lodge Walk — EPBC 2020/8840
  • Commonwealth World Heritage notification report, February 2023
  • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Management Plan 2021
  • Tasmanian Walking Company: Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk