Ayers Rock Resort Announces 2016 Major Events Program

A spectacular line up of new and returning major events will delight guests at Ayers Rock Resort in 2016.  Annual events the Tjungu Festival, Uluru Camel Cup, Outback Marathon and the Uluru Astronomy Weekend will be joined by two new events, the Desert Dreaming Yoga Festival and the Touch the Silence Within Wellness Weekend. These events are in addition to the monumental art phenomenon at Ayers Rock, Bruce Munro's Field of Light.

Bruce Munro's Field of Light 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017
Bruce Munro's Field of Light will be created in its largest form to date at Ayers Rock Resort for most of 2016. The solar-powered installation will illuminate a remote desert area within sight of the majestic Uluru. There are three ways to experience the installation, which provides the perfect reason to add an extra night to any stay and experience this once in a lifetime event.

Tjungu Festival: 22-25 April 2016
A celebration of the best of Australian Indigenous culture, Tjungu Festival, pronounced tjoo-ngoo (meaning “meeting together” in local Anangu Pitjantjatjara language), celebrates its third anniversary in 2016. A four-day family-friendly Indigenous cultural festival, highlights include a local Anangu welcome to country, interactive markets showcasing Indigenous art and bush tucker, a spectacular line-up of traditional and contemporary Indigenous musicians and bands including festival favourite Marcus Corowa, the Tjungu Short Film Fest celebrating Indigenous film making, the inspirational Tjungu Fashion Parade with model Samantha Harris, the engaging and uplifting AFL Tjungu Cup, and 'Tastes of Tjungu', an exclusive dining experience under the stars hosted by celebrity chef Mark Olive.

NEW Desert Dreaming Yoga Festival: 24-29 April 2016
Yoga Instructor Denby Sheather will host the first Desert Dreaming Yoga Festival at Ayers Rock Resort where guests will tune into the spiritual nature of the destination and be nourished through the ancient practices of yoga, meditation, healing, and wholefood medicine.

NEW Touch the Silence Within Wellness Weekend: 13-15 May 2016
Popular life change facilitator Peter Bliss hosts this enriching, memorable and transformational weekend where guests will apply key universal principles to empower them in managing emotions and master their mind with practical mindfulness workshops, silence survival strategies, intuition and intention tips, Qigong workshops, and guided meditations to enhance their lives.

Uluru Camel Cup: 27-28 May 2016
Join locals at this fun-filled weekend and experience a true Aussie outback-style event. Now in its fourth year, the Uluru Camel Cup festivities begin at the atmospheric Outback Pioneer Hotel and Bar with the opportunity to bid on a favourite camel in a lively Uluru Camel Cup Calcutta, complete with live entertainment. The celebrated Uluru Camel Cup races include the ever-popular Fashions on the Field, Outback BBQ, fun-filled activities and more, providing plenty to see, taste, and revel in for the whole family. The weekend culminates with a true blue outback style ball, set outdoors under the sparkling night sky.

Australian Outback Marathon: 30 July 2016        
Set amongst one of the most iconic backdrops in the world, The Australian Outback Marathon welcomes entrants from all over the world who pound the red dust while enjoying spectacular views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.Race organiser and sports tour operator, Travelling Fit, have designed the event to be enjoyed by all levels of running ability offering four different events - a full marathon, half marathon and two fun runs.

Uluru Astronomy Weekend: 26-28 August 2016
Showcasing the vast outback night sky, the Uluru Astronomy Weekend hosted in partnership with the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) provides an insight into astronomy.  Held during the phase leading into the new moon for even greater visibility and led by some of the world's leading Astronomy experts, the weekend includes interactive discussion sessions on astro-statistics, the structure of the cosmos, dark matter and more. It will provide those already familiar with the night sky new insights into the universe and for those new to astronomy an excellent introduction.

“Ayers Rock Resort's major events are always popular, with guests able to enjoy our regular attractions while they also take part in other activities – whether that be Indigenous culture, light-hearted Outback fun, health and fitness or the wonders of the universe,” said Voyages CEO Andrew Williams.

For more information go to: www.ayersrockresort.com.au/events or 1300 134 004.