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4.0
#3 of 5 hotels in Yulara
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Accor Hotels.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Park View
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Bar / lounge
Free airport transportation
Conference facilities
Meeting rooms
Massage
Parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Fence around pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Free shuttle or taxi services
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Ironing service
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Room service
Coffee / tea maker
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Safe
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Location
1 Yulara Dr, Yulara, Northern Territory 0872 Australia
Desert Gardens Hotel - Ayers Rock Resort
4,080 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Desert Gardens Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort comes highly recommended for its impressive location, offering stunning views that captivate many guests. Travelers commend the spacious and clean rooms, though the decor receives mixed reviews, with some suggesting it's a bit dated.
While guests applaud the variety of amenities and the cleanliness of the hotel, opinions on the service vary, with reports of both exceptional and disappointing encounters. The high cost, particularly for meals, has led some to question the hotel's overall value.
Location
Remote
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Good location around 20/25 mins drive from Uluru Hotel is spread over a large number of chalet type rooms and these can be a bit of a walk away from the hotel reception Ok, if somewhat tired, bedroom with standard facilities. Bathroom needed upgrading. No real view from our room which was towards the back of the hotel Wifi didn't work in our room due to the signal being too weak Didn't use the pool due to the high number of flies around. Need a fly net when outside, even walking from the reception to the bedroom (other than when dark) Standard buffet breakfast Food and drink prices a bit expensive but few other alternative places within a walk When visiting Uluru dawn is the best time to go due to less tourists (find a quiet place not on the platform), although the sunset colours are more vivid. Field of Light' is worth a visit after dark - near to the hotel
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is sprawling and the room numbers are hard to see in the dark so orient yourself to find your your room in the dark especially if you are going to one of the dinners. Be sure to tell them if mobility is an issue because we walked a long way to our room. We were out to see the sun rise and returned to our room at 1:30 to find it unserviced. We waited for the girl before showering and in 38 degree heat we really wanted that shower. I told the girl to give us fresh towels and cups and not to bother to clean anything else. She proceeded to rinse the cups in the dirty bathroom sink and return them to the counter. In the era of the corona virus with so many international travellers I was appalled. My husband has a cold sore and I don’t want to drink out of his cup. Bring your own mug, (or paper cup) don’t use their cups, glasses or spoons. My husband thought the air conditioning was inadequate and a 44 dollar breakfast each ridiculous. Bring your bug net or get them in the village next to the hotel for 10 dollars each or two for 15. Best money we spent in Uluru. Do one of the dinners because the bugs let up after dark. Dinners vary by price but they seem to be catered by similar facilities, shop around.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sylvia L, Director of Sales at Desert Gardens Hotel - Ayers Rock Resort
Responded Feb 13, 2020
Hi Travelling_Mike Thank you for your feedback and pointing out a couple of areas in which we can improve our procedures. My apologies for the room service that you received , the cleaning of your cups was not our normal procedure and we will ensure this does not re occur. We look forward to welcoming you back to the red centre again and appreciate you taking the time to offer your review of Desert Gardens. Kind Regards Peter White General Manager Desert Gardens Hotel
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We enjoyed the Ayers Rock Resort area. The Desert Gardens Hotel had a mini refrigerator which was nice to have for snacks. The bedroom was a large size compared to many others in Australia. The bathroom towels were huge, long and fluffy. The shower was small but worked well, there is not bath tub if that is a requirement for you. There were shampoo and conditioner small bottles provided.
Be prepared to walk since the distance to rooms from the lobby or to other hotels, stores in the Ayers Rock Resort area. All paths are well marked, lighted at night time and most are covered to provide shade. There is a shuttle bus which goes around the area as well but walking was faster. There are a few restaurants in the area but we paid for extra activities so dinner meals were included in those (sunset BBQ and Sounds of Silence program).
Breakfast was included in our room cost. There isn't a chef who makes fresh eggs or if there was, I couldn't find them. Service for hot tea was slow and many times I would go find the server for help. The food was okay and there were lots of choices.
There was a pool but we didn't use it but others were enjoying. Due to the extreme heat in February, there were many flies in the Outback and apparently this is quite normal. I suggest you buy a fly/bug net which fits over your head/hat before you arrive at the airport. Flies swarmed our heads and bodies as we deplaned and we were glad to have the nets over the head inside the airport area too. You will need the fly hat when you walk from the lobby to your room, to breakfast and anywhere in the resort area. Part of the experience and might be different in cooler weather.
The resort area also offers quite a few complimentary activities and museums if you have free time. Wifi worked well.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We could see the rock from our balcony which was great, and from. What I heard it's the only accommodation that has this. The room was nice and just like in the photo. The bathroom was a bit grotty with a toilet brush supplied but obviously never used. Luckily I am a traidie and used to bricklayers and portaloos. Air con worked fine.
Hotel is a bit dated and in need of some love. A tree branch sticking out managed to get me one day and ripped through my shirt and drew blood making a nasty cut. I told staff about it but it was never trimmed of during our 3 night stay. It was at eye level for a child. This is why I took off an extra point as well as the condition of dated bathroom. I would take my own food as food on the resort is expensive and not great. To there advantage no food is amazing in Ularoo and the resort food is probably the best. The pool is not amazing and need referbishment, but is nice and cool and great after a hot day. In conclusion I would say that it's not five star but you are in the middle of a dessert, not exactly fresh food falling from the trees. Beers at the bar are $11 and cocktails $22ish. Coffee $5.50. They offer a $10 refund at checkout for each day you put out the sign to not have your room cleaned. Just remember to put the sign out.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Two of us stayed at a standard room (garden view) for 4 nights during February. For these days, temperatures reached 40 degrees but the air conditioning in the room was easy to use/adjust and worked perfectly. The high temperatures meant that NO cold water was available meaning that showers were done in warm water. This was no issue for us as the room was overall air conditioned and you never felt hot after using the water. Our room was very neat and tidy and had the standard amenities. Beds were very comfortable and shower head had a good pressure that could be adjusted. The hotel offers an option to skip house keeping for $10 food and beverage credit (the 'greener' option) which was a nice surprise and something we definitely utilized. Service was good and we had a couple issues while we were there (regarding canceled tours etc.), but they were all promptly attended to and everybody was more than happy to help and assist in any way possible. The buffet breakfast at the Mangata bistro was very tasty with lots of variety. We definitely would like to return to Yulara one day and when we do, we will definitely be staying in Desert Gardens again.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â More convenient to pick a room near the reception as the rooms are more spread out than a normal...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In planning a trip to Uluru, I was looking for a traditional hotel room (rather than an apartment) at a manageable price point, and Desert Gardens fit those requirements on my travel dates. The rooms are garden style and somewhat spread out, and I had to walk a few minutes from the main desk to my room. The resort provides shuttles for arriving and departing flights, which I found to be timely and efficient. The line to check was, not surprisingly, long, and rooms were not ready when my flight arrived, so having little else to do, I walked to the resort town center (about 5 min.) to investigate tour options. The room was in better condition than I frankly expected, though the bathrooms need an update. There is a restaurant and bar in this property, but during my stay I only frequented the grocery store and cafes and in the town center. Overall the hotel is not terribly luxurious but is certainly adequate, with prices aligned to the destination. Note that there are several tour operators with offices in the town center, and plentiful package options. I was concerned that I had not booked and guided activities in advance of my trip, but found that there were plenty of options, and that operators would add tours as needed to accommodate interest. I opted for a small group sunset tour with SEIT and very much enjoyed it.
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Date of stay: November 2019
Value
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are a handful of options available at Ayers Rock Resort but we booked into the Desert Gardens hotel as part of our visit to Uluru and Kata Tjuta as it appeared to suit our needs. We flew into Ayers Rock airport rather than Alice Springs as it’s much, much closer to the resort and the transport for the quite short journey to the hotel is provided as part of the booking package.
The queue at reception to check in was quite long but this is because the other guests checking in all arrived on the same flight and coach from the airport. The check in time is 3pm so for flights arriving before then, the hotel will take you luggage into storage whilst you explore the resort. The very well-organised hotel staff are more than adept at handling all of this and check in was quicker than I thought it might be. At less busy times, they are happy to help sort the other activities and bookings you wish to make. Our transport bookings to Uluru and Kata Tjuta as well as restaurant bookings were dealt with very quickly and efficiently.
The rooms are comfortable and contain everything needed for your stay. All the buildings are single story and almost identical, so until you get your bearings, it can be a little confusing on where your room is actually located.
The free cultural activities are superb. Bush yarns at the circle of sand, the guided garden walk, the bush food experience, a didgeridoo workshop were all brilliantly presented and very, very interesting.
One thing that wasn’t mentioned on the resort website or at check in was the availability of a guest laundry facility. We found this by accident on the Garden Walk and it came in very handy as we had been travelling in Australia for three weeks at this point, so we had some laundry that need to be done.
Overall, our stay at the Desert Gardens was very, very enjoyable and I would certainly stay there again.
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Date of stay: November 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from VoyagesSydney, Customer Relations at Desert Gardens Hotel - Ayers Rock Resort
Responded Jan 21, 2020
Hi York-O-Polo Thank you for taking the time to provide such a comprehensive review of your stay at Desert Gardens Hotel and we are so pleased that you enjoyed your time with us. I will be delighted to share your feedback directly with our team. It was certainly our pleasure to have you as guests at Ayers Rock Resort and we hope to indeed have the opportunity to welcome you back again in the future. Kind Regards Peter White General Manager Desert Gardens Hotel
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We arrived at the Voyages Desert Gardens resort on the free shuttle bus from the airport, all very efficient. Check in was straightforward and we were lucky, given the hour, that our room was ready immediately. We had a short walk to the accommodation block and had an upstairs room with a view of Uluru, a classic panorama that we never tired of during our two night stay.
The room was a reasonable size, we had a comfortable bed, good storage, iron and ironing board, tea and coffee making things and a shower over the bath. There was a balcony with table and chairs and an all important fly screen. Any adventure outdoors during daylight hours requires fly nets over your head, don't worry, you can buy them on site and everyone wears them. You can go for breakfast in one of the nearby eateries and there is a supermarket to get any additional food and toiletries that you may need. There is also a travel centre where you can book up for any of the many tours that are available at sunrise, during the day or at sunset.
The checking out process was again very simple and the complimentary coach timed to get you to the airport for your flight was all very efficient.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Ask for a room with a view of Uluru.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desert Gardens offers a great choice for mid range accommodation at Yulara. Quiet. clean and comfortable within a handy 5 minute walk to the Yulara town centre. There is really very little to be critical of.
The hotel is efficiently run with professional and friendly staff who were good for assistance with tours, luggage and dining advice etc. Our room at this hotel was spacious and reasonably modern with a very comfortable bed and we didn't find the fittings and furnishings at all tired or poorly maintained as some have suggested. All was spotlessly clean and housekeeping service was attentive each day.
The bar at the hotel was average with a very limited variety of drinks however the meal we had for lunch at the restaurant was good quality and reasonably priced considering prices are understandably pretty high at this remote location.
One of the highlights for us at Desert Gardens was the immaculately maintained native plant gardens in the hotel grounds with identifying signage. All of the rooms seem to have various filtered views of Uluru to the east of Yulara and there was an excellent view from the balcony of our particular upstairs room. Overall a quality accommodation option at a reasonable price that has no obvious detractions to prevent a recommendation.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Ask for an upstairs room for a balcony with a better Uluru view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The rooms were ok if you had a garden view. The service was the worst I have experienced. The rooms hadn’t been cleaned by 5:30. Each day you had to request a towel or a tea bag or beds to be made. Food at the hotel was expensive but ok.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Don’t stay there. Find a cheaper alternative
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Voyages Sydney, Other at Desert Gardens Hotel - Ayers Rock Resort
Responded Mar 9, 2020
Hi 418sallyg Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Desert Gardens Hotel and we are very sorry to read that we were unable to meet your expectations. Room servicing of our in-house guests is carried out later in the day as we need to ensure that rooms for arriving guests are ready by our advertised check in time. This differs from most hotels given the scheduling of the commercial airlines meaning that we do not enjoy a staggered check in as is normally the case and does place additional pressure on our team. That said, you should certainly have received all the amenities during your servicing and I certainly sincerely apologise if that was not the case. We hope that you enjoyed your tours and activities exploring the National Park and we thank you for choosing to visit Ayers Rock Resort. Kind Regards Peter White General Manager Desert Gardens Hotel
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Depends where you are in the resort. If you’re in the outer duplex’s I think it will be fine. If in doubt ask the resort staff: I’m not a smoker.
"Every activity is extremely costly. The rooms are not 4 stars more like 2.5 star rating. The 4 star is costly for what is offered. They run on the reputation of Uluru....."
There are more places to choose from in the Yulara area.
PRICE RANGE
C$323 - C$561 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
desert gardens hotel, ayers rock hotel yulara, hotel desert gardens
LOCATION
AustraliaNorthern TerritoryRed CentreYulara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
218
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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