There are some moments in travel that stay with you long after the journey ends, and watching the sunrise over Uluru is one of them. Paired with the Field of Light, it becomes something even more special.
As the desert slowly wakes, thousands of lights glow softly across the landscape before giving way to the first colours of day. It is a calm, powerful experience that feels deeply connected to place.
For artist Bruce Munro, it all began here. “This experience I had in Uluru was so strong, so powerful in terms of connecting me to the world around me,” he said. “It made me feel part of something very big.”
Today, you can experience that same feeling at sunrise with AAT Kings.
An Afternoon with Bruce Munro in Sydney
To mark 10 years of Field of Light, AAT Kings welcomed Bruce Munro to its Sydney office for a special fireside chat with AAT Kings Group CEO Ben Hall. Reflecting on the work, he spoke about its simplicity and meaning as a way to connect people to place.
“It isn’t complex, it’s not intellectual. It’s about a feeling,” he said.
Field of Light began with a simple idea, but the story behind it stretches back years. Before becoming known for large-scale light installations, Bruce Munro spent time living and travelling in Australia, taking on a range of jobs while exploring the country with his wife, Serena.
It was during a journey around Australia together that everything shifted. What began as a trip to experience more of the country became a turning point, leading them to Uluṟu and a moment that would stay with him.
Reflecting on that time, Munro has described Field of Light as “an expression of joy” inspired by the feeling of being in that landscape.
Trying to make sense of that connection, he began to imagine light emerging from the desert itself. “There is this life under the ground and it’s all going to come out,” he explained. “There are these flowers of light energy coming out of the ground.”
That idea would eventually become Field of Light, a large-scale installation of more than 50,000 glowing spheres, set within sight of Uluru. Designed to sit gently within the landscape, it reflects both the energy of the place and the experience that first inspired it.
The Sunrise Experience with AAT Kings
The AAT Kings Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light tour is designed to help you experience this moment at its best. Travelling in the early hours, you arrive while the desert is still dark and quiet.
From there, you can walk through the softly glowing Field of Light before making your way to the sunrise viewing area. As the sun rises, Uluru and Kata Tjuta slowly emerge on the horizon, and the colours of the desert begin to shift.
Bruce Munro describes this moment perfectly. “In the morning, you get this incredible opportunity to see the sun coming behind it, and it backlights all the glass,” he said. “Then you get this incredible pop when the sun comes up.”
It is a peaceful and personal experience, one that feels different each time. “How you perceive an artwork is very personal,” Munro said.
For many travellers, it becomes a highlight of their time in the Red Centre. A moment to pause, take in the landscape, and feel connected to a place that is unlike anywhere else.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this unforgettable moment for yourself.
Join AAT Kings on the breathtaking Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light tour and watch the Red Centre come to life as the sun rises over one of Australia’s most iconic landscapes. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.
