Uluru – the most Famous Rock in Australia

Have you visited this impressive Rock yet?

Uluru is Australia’s most famous Rock.  Visit the Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park in Central Australia.  The landscape is so much more than red sand, sweeping desert plains and weathered arkose sandstone.

Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is one of the most magical places to experience Sunrise and sunset in the Australian Outback.

Almost at the geographical centre of Australia, this impressive monolith rises majestically out of the Central Australian desert.  

It is such a rarity that UNESCO has placed Uluru on its World Heritage sites list.  There is simply no other geological feature like it anywhere in the world.

Despite its remote location Uluru, once known as Ayers Rock attracts thousands of tourists each year.

My favourite things to do at Uluru

• See the spectacular sunrise and sunsets
• Learn about Aboriginal culture
• Stargazing at Uluru – an experience not to be missed

The History

Located in the far southwestern corner of Australia’s Northern Territory, it’s true that few sites are as culturally important as Uluru.

Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people who settled here tens of thousands of years ago.  Ancient Aboriginal history of the Central Australian landscape goes back to the beginning of time and plays an important role in the creation of the land.

Aboriginal Dreamtime

The Dreamtime represents the essence of Aboriginal society, culture, traditions and spirituality.

For the local Anangu people, Uluru is a place of great spiritual power, the centre of the universe and home of the Earth Mother.  It’s true that the Anangu believe that by simply touching the rocks they can communicate with dreamtime and receive blessings from their ancestors.

Cultural Centre

Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn more about Uluru and the closely-connected Aboriginal culture.  The Anangu talk passionately about their ancestors and the cultural centre offers a selection of arts and crafts in the souvenir shop.

Anangu Cultural Tours

The Aboriginal guides provide interesting talks about their culture and the legends of Uluru. Take the ancient Liru Walk with your guide to hear stories about the Aboriginal ancestors whilst learning traditional bush skills.

The Rock Art

The rock art around Uluru is evidence of how cultural knowledge has been passed from generation to generation.  The park’s rock art sites have many layers of pictures, symbols and figures painted on top of each other. This is because the same sites have been used in Anangu education for tens of thousands of years.

Ranger Guided Activities

Join the park rangers to get a deeper insight into the natural and cultural heritage of Uluru-Kata Tjuta.  Learn about the park from the experts that work here every day providing guided walks to bush tucker talks.  All ranger guided activities are free for park visitors.

Plants and Wildlife

The Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes and rock caves hosting a thriving range of flora and fauna.  With more than 21 species of native mammals, 178 species of birds, 73 species of reptiles and 418 species of native plants the National Park is certainly alive – for a desert.

Sounds of Silence Dinner

Enjoy a beautiful starlit meal overlooking Uluru and Kata Tjuta at sunset. Astrology experts talk about the constellations in the southern Australian skies where you will learn about the southern hemisphere skies.

Stargazing

In the Australian outback, skies are clear as there is low humidity and no artificial light to interfere with the dark night sky.  You can see constellations rarely seen from anywhere else on earth. See the famous Southern Cross constellation and add ‘Stargazing at Uluru’ to your bucket list.

Hire a bike

This self-guided adventure will take you right around Uluru and up close to the rock surface.  Outback Cycling’s shop is situated just outside the Cultural Centre.

Birdwatching

Uluru-Kata Tjuta is a bird-lover’s paradise. There are over 178 species of bird in the park, including several rare species. The best time to see birds in Uluru-Kata Tjuta is early in the morning. Being quiet, patient and alert is the key to success.

Anangu name birds based on the sound of their calls. You are likely to hear a bird before you see it, so this system is extremely practical for identifying which birds are nearby.

Camel Tours

Nothing says ‘desert adventure’ quite like a camel trek in the desert!  Enjoy a sunrise or sunset camel trek through the surrounding desert to a viewpoint overlooking Uluru.

Helicopter Tours

Take a unique helicopter experience to get a bird’s eye view of Ayers Rock, and add in the option to visit the Olga’s and King’s Canyon whilst you’re up and about.

Climbing Uluru

There’s been a great deal of discussion about climbing Uluru recently.  Yes it is still open for climbing until October 2019.  About 20% of all visitors do the climb but for me, I prefer to respect the traditional owners request that people don’t climb the Rock.  Looking up at this magnificent rock will take your breath away!

It’s such an important sacred site and the 800-metre steep climb is quite dangerous. A number of people have died doing the climb and its often closed due to the high temperatures or windy conditions.

Walks around the Rock

These walks will take you through the homelands of dozens of unique birds and desert mammal habitats as you walk through the lands.

Take lots of water, snacks and short breaks.  Most importantly, don’t forget a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen.

The Uluru Base Walk

This is one of the most popular walks around the Rock.  A 10.6 km walk on a relatively flat dirt path, and can be completed in around 3.5 hours.

The weather is often extreme in the Outback so it’s best to start this walk early to beat the heat. The park opens daily at 5 am.

Tip:  If the temperature forecast is for 40 degrees celsius they close this walk from 11am.

Consider starting the walk at the Kuniya walking point.  Walk this section first as its protected from the sun in the early morning.

The Liru Walk

Approximately 4 kilometres from the Cultural Centre to the base of Uluru.  It takes about 1.5 hours and you will see native plants and animals along the way.

The Mala Walk

Take the 2 kilometre ranger guided walk (1.5 hours).  A ranger will take you along the base of the rock, and relay the story of the mala (rufous hare-wallaby) people.  Learn about traditional Anangu culture, rock art and how the park is managed.

Walking through Kata Tjuta

The Kata Tjuta domes are only 35 kms from Uluru.  Allow a couple of hours to explore this amazing rock structure as there are some spectacular walks through Kata Tjuta.