Dad & Uluru

Is you time really constrained, and have to pre-book? If not, you could find the appropriate tour in the Todd Mall when you're there on the ground.

AAT Kings provide Red Centre tours for 'older crowd'. A mate of mine missed getting on our Adventure Tour group but went with AAT Kings. At 39 she was the youngest on the bus, so 'dad' should be fine!

Google to find more infor on AAT Kings

Would it be that Dad would feel uncomfortable with the Backpackers or would the Backpackers feel uncomfortable with Dad? Being in your Dad's age bracket I certainly wouldn't feel uncomfortable providing I liked roughing it. I certainly wouldn't mind the company. We saw the Centre with Kings but it is quite an expensive way to go.

Last time I mentioned AAT Kings around here some posters went ballistic, so I demurred on this occasion. However I did see a crew of middle aged and older punters, camping at Kings Creek Station - and they did see happy enough with AAT Kings. Maybe AATK are in the "small fortune" category though?

My husband and I went on a tour for five days with Sahara. We stayed at permanent camps. It was absolutely fantastic. The group were of mixed ages and nationalities. The nicest part was that we were the only Australians with people from all around the globe. We started out in Alice Springs but there was the option of joining the group at Uluru, which I would definately do. Five hundred ks. of not much could have been done without. Our guide was fantastic, the food was good and the company great. Is your father fit? The climb into Kings Canyon was challenging but worthwhile. The camps have kitchens, the tents are in a semi circle and there are toilet facilities. Definately the only way to experience the outback. We went through the Northern Territory Tourist Bureau but look up their website. Good luck.

Most of the tours that go to the canyon at this time of year do the canyon rim walk - the first part is quite steep but after that it is fine and is absolutely amazing!! There are heaps of options for tours - depends if you and dad want to do the aircon bus thing or the bit rougher 4wd swags option - the NT tourism site has lots of info but a few are - rock tour, wayoutback, mulgas (very backpackery), adventure tours, sahara etc. all go to the same places just depends on the group dynamic and cost i guess

Uluru is in the middle of the outback, the nearest town with normal price hotels is Alice Springs. In Yulara, about 30 km from Uluru, there is only one camping and 3 or 4 hotels with rooms costing US 300 and more a night. That´s the reason for so limited options in tours to Uluru-Kata Tjuta region. I rented a full size car and slept in it with my wife, in the Yulara camping.