Review: Field of Light vs Light Towers tours
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and the Field of Light is on Anangu Country. Discovery Parks Light Towers is on Luritja Country.
Red Centre Way touring
The Field of Light and the Light Towers are tour experiences along the Northern Territory’s Red Centre Way touring route.
Both are immersive art installations created by artist Bruce Munro, who has created large-scale and site-specific light art over the globe. There are several iterations of both the Field of Light and the Light Towers in different countries.
On our family’s Red Centre Way trip, we were lucky enough to tour the Field of Light at Uluru and the Light Towers at Kings Canyon.
You’ll also find more Red Centre Way content here - including a complete guide to Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, our experiences at Kings Canyon and other useful posts.
About the Field of Light
The Field of Lights is huge, an immense stretch of remote desert canvas for Bruce Munro’s vision.
Delicate stems, frosted globes and staggering lengths of fibre optic cable create patches of soft, colour-changing lights that sway with the spinifex grass.
You need to walk through the Field of Light to appreciate it, although standing on the viewing platform is the only way to appreciate the scale of the installation.
Since opening to the public in 2016, the Field of Lights has become ‘must-see’ attraction for those visiting Uluru.
We toured the Field of Light at sunrise, seeing the lights at their most brilliant in the pre-dawn darkness and then watched the lights slowly fade as Uluru came into focus on the horizon.
I wrote a full review of our experience at the Field of Light here.
About the Light Towers
Discovery Parks Light Towers newly opened to the public in April 2023 and we were lucky to be among the first to see Bruce Munro’s latest stunning art installation in the Australian desert.
Light Towers is much smaller than the Field of Light and because it’s visible from the Discovery Parks caravan sites, I was initially worried it would be a bit of a let down.
What was the point if everyone could “see it” for free?
Perhaps if I’d done a bit of research before hand, I wouldn’t have been concerned.
Light Towers is deeply immersive - you must be walking through the towers to hear and appreciate the captivating soundscape.
It’s a beautiful work of art and would feel deeply spiritual under the right circumstances. It’s difficult to truly engage when you’re actively supervising a young child - but I still found the experience worthwhile.
As you approach each tower, watch the colour change and hear one voice clearly out of the music. Walk in concentric circles towards the centre, hearing a new voice at each tower. Walk through the middle and hear all the voices united. It's very cool and difficult to do it justice, a real “see it to believe it” experience.
Your best odds of an awe-inspiring experience? Take the sunrise tour!
Where are the Field of Light and Light Towers experiences?
The Field of Light is located within sight of Uluru on private property.
It’s a short drive from Yulara, the town servicing Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park and the closest accomodation from the Field of Light.
The Light Towers are at the Kings Canyon Discovery Park, visible from the caravan park and just a short walk from any of their accomodation options.
You can watch the Light Towers from the free viewing platform (although they’re pretty far away).
Both are only accessible by guided tour - although visiting the Field of Lights will also include a short bus ride.
Bruce Munro’s Field of Light at Uluru, Northern Territory.
Comparing the Field of Light, Uluru to the Light Towers, Kings Canyon
This comparison is based on my experience on AAT Kings Uluru Sunrise Field of Light tour and Discovery Parks Light Towers Sunrise tour, both in July/August 2023.
We paid entry for both and have no relationship with either tour company.
Price
The AAT Kings Uluru Sunrise Field of Light tour is more expensive than the Discovery Parks Light Towers tour.
The price for a child ticket is a third cheaper than the adult ticket for both the Light Towers and the Field of Light.
However, AAT Kings tours allow a child ticket for kids 15 years and under compared to Light Towers who charge for a full-price tickets if your child is 13 years or older.
Because Field of Light tours are more expensive (soon to be much more expensive!), it’ll still be more cost effective for family’s to choose the Light Towers tour.
For both tours, infants under 2 years are free.
FIELD OF LIGHT
Adult (16 years+): $89*
Child (2-15 years): $59*
Infant (under 2 years): Free
Price accurate from November 2023. *Prices are set to increase from April 1st 2024 to $105 for adults and $75 for kids.
LIGHT TOWERS
Adult (13 years+): $45.00
Child (2-12 years): $30.00
Infant (Under 2 years): Free
Prices are current as of November 2023.
Pastries, hot chocolate and coffee make for a sweeter sunrise on Discovery Parks Light Towers sunrise tour.
Tour inclusions
FIELD OF LIGHT
Bus transport to/from Field of Light
Tour guide & driver
Commentary on bus ride
Hot drinks (instant coffee, tea, milo) and packets of biscuits
Access to dune viewing platform
LIGHT TOWERS
Tour guide and commentary
Hot drinks from the Luritja Sunset Bar (including barista-made coffee)
Selection of pastries
Seating and tables at the Light Towers viewing area
The Field of Light is family-friendly and we found our AAT Kings tour easy to manage with a 1 year old.
Guide & Commentary
FIELD OF LIGHT
Limited commentary on short bus ride
Guide directs to viewing platform
LIGHT TOWERS
Small group sizes allowed for a personalised chat with the guide and a chance to ask questions
Followed up, took feedback and checked quality of experience
Provided recommendations for other activities in the area
Check out the super bright moon - the evening tour group was treated to a super blood moon rising the same day after a spectacular sunset. Sometimes things just come together beautifully.
Quality & Improvements
FIELD OF LIGHT
Field of Light is great, absolutely worth a look
Guide and tour experience could be much improved - mostly felt like a very expensive bus ticket and entry fee
Large group sizes (44+ seat coach)
Clunky booking experience
No real follow up or opportunity for feedback after the tour
Price increase doesn't appear to equate to an increase in quality or inclusions
LIGHT TOWERS
Light Towers is a more intimate experience, with much smaller groups and feels more exclusive
Better value for money, more included in tour
Treated like a guest rather than just a number on the booking form
Sunrise at Uluru with Sprout, after wandering through the Field of Light.
Overall Experience
FIELD OF LIGHT
The actual immersive art piece of the Field of Light is well-executed, worthwhile and a fabulous attraction along the Red Centre Touring loop.
The touring experience with AAT Kings leaves a lot to be desired and does not provide good value for money.
I’d choose the cheapest General Admission ticket from Ayers Rock Resort if possible, and forego the “tour” experience.
LIGHT TOWERS
The Light Towers is an impressive art piece, with the soundscape absolutely central to the experience. I found this a richer experience overall, compared to the Field of Light.
Discovery Parks Light Towers tour has a premium, exclusive feel - I really hope they’ll maintain small group sizes, particularly for their sunrise tours. The viewing area is great too. I’m sure it’ll be well worth the investment!
If you could only choose one…
It’s a hard one, because the Field of Light is truly iconic and has become a “must see” on your Uluṟu trip.
However, I think Bruce Munro’s Light Towers are equally stunning. The tour experience is worlds apart. Discovery Parks has done a great job.
So, if you can only do one?
My vote has to be for the Light Towers at Kings Canyon. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
What to read next?
If you haven’t already, check out my complete guide to three amazing days at Kings Canyon (coming soon!).
Heading to Uluṟu? I’ve got a guide for that too!
We acknowledge over 65,000 years of continuous care and custodianship of the Anangu and Luritja people over their lands and waters. Their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and the Anangu and Luritja people as the traditional and rightful owners of their Country.