I loved your trip report and will probably be writing you with numerous questions when I firm up a trip there next spring?
I had no idea that Alice Springs was so far away from the Rock.

If you were flying out of Sydney to Alice Springs and then a visit to Uluru - how much time would you allow for a visit out there?

I would allow 6 /7 days

2 Alice Springs

2 -3 Mereenie Loop ( now "Red Centre Way") drive to Uluru. Overnights West McDonnel Range & Kings Canyon. It's longer, about 700kms, partially unsealed.

2 Uluru, Kata Tjuta

dutyfree - Feel free to ask away :-) I agree with Bokhara. You need at least 7 days. I'm really sorry we weren't able to do the Mereenie Loop because our friends didn't have a 4X drive. We will certainly get to King's Canyon next time.
I think you need at least 3 days for Uluru & Kata Tjuta. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore!

CounterClifton - don't worry. Even the return trip wasn't that bad. It's the thinking about it that's tough ;-)