But where to start? From eating delicate indigenous-flavoured nibbles under the stars to supporting Indigenous employment at local cafes, here are our top dining experiences near Ulur<\/u>u<\/a>.<\/p>\n Paroo kangaroo tartare? Quandong coulis and native warrigal greens? Kakadu plum compote? If your fork fingers are twitching right now, it\u2019s time to book the Tali Wiru experience<\/a>. Available at the Ayers Rock Resort, Tali Wir<\/u>u means ‘beautiful dune’ in local A\u1e49angu, and is one of the highlights at Ulur<\/u>u when it comes to experiencing bush-tucker fine dining.<\/p>\n Tali Wir<\/u>u is one of the highlights at Ulur<\/u>u when it comes to experiencing bush-tucker fine dining. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n You and a small group will travel out to the dunes to dine on canapes, followed by three courses paired with wines from the desert kitchen run by a talented team of Indigenous staff, and flavoured by foraged foods. And it doesn\u2019t finish there \u2014 your time out among the dunes also includes a didgeridoo performance and Indigenous storytelling.<\/p>\n Prices start from $385 per person.<\/p>\n Tali Wir<\/u>u means ‘beautiful dune’ in local Anangu. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n Perhaps one of the most famous dining experiences in Ulur<\/u>u\u00a0is the Sounds of Silence. The night begins with you being picked up at your hotel, and taken out to the outback between Kata Tjut<\/u>a and Ulur<\/u>u, for canapes, wines and a BBQ buffet characterised by indigenous flavours, all as the sun sets. The night also includes a stargazing talk, where the speaker will explain to you the meaning and stories behind the constellations above.<\/p>\n Watch the sun set over Ulur<\/u>u at Sounds of Silence. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n It is highly recommended to combine this with a night at Bruce Munro\u2019s Field of Light,<\/a> the installation that saw 50,000, gently glowing lights installed in the Central Australian desert. A Night at Field of Light includes entry to the exhibition, a\u00a0 three-course bush tucker menu, a stargazing talk and a didgeridoo performance.<\/p>\n Bruce Munro\u2019s Field of Light is one of Ulur<\/u>u’s biggest attractions. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n A Night at Field of Light<\/a> starts from $280 for adults, while Sounds of Silence<\/a> is from $234.<\/p>\n A Night at Field of Light is a must-see. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n For an intimate dinner, the Arngul<\/u>i Grill & Restaurant at the Desert Gardens Hotel<\/a> is the place to head in the Ayers Rock resort. Arngul<\/u>i (the Pitjantjatjara word for bush plum) dishes up food underscored with indigenous flavours of the surrounding landscape. Opt for a native tasting plate if you\u2019re not sure where to start, or perhaps a half dozen oysters with bush tomato Kilpatrick dressing.<\/p>\n Arngul<\/u>i dishes up food underscored with indigenous flavours of the surrounding landscape. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n Next door, you will find the Mangat<\/u>a Bistro & Bar.<\/a> Named for the desert quandong, Mangat<\/u>a\u2019s speciality is buffet breakfast, as well as light lunches and dinners. Tuck into native peppered kangaroo kebabs, a hearty bowl of chargrilled zucchini pasta, or a green paw-paw mango salad after a midday dip in the nearby pool.<\/p>\n Tuck into native peppered kangaroo kebabs or a green paw-paw mango salad at Mangat<\/u>a. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n Located at the five-star Sails in the Desert, Ilkar<\/u>i Restaurant<\/a> is the place to be if you\u2019ve opted for a buffet breakfast while staying here. Ilkar<\/u>i (the Pitjantjatjara word for sky) serves up a range of breakfasts, from continental pastries and fruit and Western-style cooked eggs and bacon to Asian soups and an omelette station. You can also opt to return for dinner, where there is another buffet menu, which uses Indigenous bush tucker flavours. And \u2014 keep big kids calm \u2014 there is a chocolate fountain too.<\/p>\n Ilkar<\/u>i Restaurant is the place to be if you\u2019ve opted for a buffet breakfast while staying here. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n Named after the Pitjantjatjara word for wind, Walpa Lobby Bar offers casual lunch and dinner<\/a>, as well as tapas-style eats come evening. These oh-so-scrummy nibbles include baked camembert with quandong jam, emu koftas with river mint yogurt, and avocado, green pea and desert lime guacamole on tortillas. Sit up at the bar to consume, order a cocktail, and indulge in a spot of people-watching.<\/p>\n Wal<\/u>pa Lobby Bar offers casual lunch and dinner, as well as tapas-style eats come evening. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n If you\u2019d rather go a la carte come breakfast time, head to the Town Square to Geckos Cafe<\/a>. Serving up a range of modern Australian breakfast staples from bircher muesli and poached eggs on toast, to toasted banana bread and croissants (vegan available), there is also pizza and pasta here for lunch and dinner. After something more hearty? Burgers, parmis and fish and chips are also dished up at Geckos.<\/p>\n Grab your tongs, crack open that beetroot can and fire up the barbie \u2014 it\u2019s time to get extra Aussie at the Outback Pioneer BBQ and Bar. Located out at the Outback Pioneer Hotel<\/a>, this DIY barbecue experience is available to try out every evening, and from lunch on Sundays. Simply pick out your preferred cut (emu sausages, kangaroo skewers and more are available among more familiar offerings of steak and barra), and cook away. Sides are available as well.<\/p>\n Rather have someone else do the cooking? The nearby Outback Pioneer Kitchen has hearty pub fare, to be consumed at communal tables where you can meet fellow travellers.<\/p>\n The DIY barbecue experience is available to try out every evening. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n One of the most cost-effective places to go in Yulara<\/a> also has one of the best reasons to go there. As well as serving up sandwiches, pies, salads, smoothies and desserts from around the $9 mark for breakfast and lunch, Kul<\/u>at<\/u>a\u2019s staff are trainees of the resort’s National Indigenous Training Academy. This means you are supporting them to get their skills polished up for a career in hospitality. We\u2019ll sip a smoothie to that.<\/p>\n Did you know a stay at the resort includes a whole heap of free experiences? And for the culinary-minded among you, we\u2019d recommend putting the Bush Tucker Talk at the top of your list<\/a>. This 45-minute talk gives you an introduction to Indigenous bush tucker food, and even includes a cooking demonstration. Runs daily at 1 pm.<\/p>\nFine dining near Ulur<\/u>u<\/h2>\n
Tali Wir<\/u>u<\/h3>\n
![\"Tali](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tali-Wiru-Native-Ingredients-Piti-Bowl.jpg\")
![\"Guests](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tali-Wiru-Hero-Shot.jpg\")
Sounds of Silence<\/h3>\n
![\"Guests](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sounds-of-Silence-dining-site-with-guests.jpg\")
![\"Field](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Field-of-Light-Uluru-by-Bruce-Munro.jpg\")
![\"Dining](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/A-Night-at-Field-of-Light.jpg\")
Ulur<\/u>u restaurants<\/h2>\n
Arngul<\/u>i Grill & Restaurant<\/h3>\n
![\"Arnguli](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Arnguli-Grill-Restaurant-interior-at-Desert-Gardens-Hotel.jpg\")
Mangat<\/u>a Bistro & Bar<\/h3>\n
![\"Mangata](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Mangata-Bistro-Bar-Interior.jpg\")
Ilkar<\/u>i Restaurant<\/h3>\n
![\"Interior](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ilkari-Restaurant-Sails-in-the-Desert-Adam-Bruzzone.jpg\")
Ulur<\/u>u cafes<\/h2>\n
Wal<\/u>pa Lobby Bar<\/h3>\n
![\"Interior](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Walpa-Lobby-Bar-At-Sails-In-The-Desert_ABruzzone.jpg\")
Geckos Cafe<\/h3>\n
Cheap eats near Ulur<\/u>u<\/h2>\n
Outback Pioneer BBQ and Bar<\/h3>\n
![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Outback-Pioneer-Hotel-and-Lodge-BBQ-Bar_AnsonSmart.jpg\")
Kul<\/u>at<\/u>a Academy Cafe<\/h3>\n
Bush Tucker Talk<\/h3>\n
![\"Bush-Food-Experience-with-ili-bush-figs-quandongs\"](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Bush-Food-Experience-with-ili-bush-figs-quandongs.jpg\")