Uluru (aka Ayers Rock) is in the Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru is a sacred place to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It is south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, about 450 km (280 mi) by road (read about our trip and accommodations in my separate article). Entry into the park is $25 per adult for a 3-day pass. If you spend more than one day visiting, Kata Tjuta/Olgas is also an interesting formation with some good hikes. Uluru is basically a sandstone mound covered with red ochre. The formation has a total circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 mi) and stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high, rising like an island from the stark desert floor to a total of 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level, with most of it underground.
Differing Approaches for Different Seasons
Depending on the season, there are various ways to approach your day(s) in the park. During the Australian winter (June/July), you probably want to have a leisurely breakfast, go do your activities at the Rock, and then enjoy the various forms of nightlife in the resort. Temperatures can be very cold, so dress appropriately. During the summer (November-January), especially a hot one, get an early start and wear a strong sunscreen. Nap or explore the cultural center during the heat of the afternoon. If you go during rainy season (January - March), prepare for heavy water from above and below, and be prepared to spend a lot of time in the various buildings or in your car.
Things to Do and See
The Cultural Center offers the standard display of panels and a short video that describe the culture of the Aboriginals. You will learn their creation myth and other folklore, their laws and beliefs, and how they lived. This includes gathering food, the relationships of the various members of the clan, and exactly what Uluru meant to them before the arrival of white men. Naturally, there are also shops for native art, other souvenirs, and food and drink. It would be a great shame to visit this ancient place of shelter and worship of the Anangu without learning of its cultural significance.
Depending on the weather and your physical condition, there are two basic ways to explore Uluru if you are not with a tour. One is to drive around the rock and make a few stops at parking lots where you can view the many incredible surface features or take short walks to key aspects of the fantastic formation. Many of the strange and wonderful aspects of the pockmarked surface are reflected in the native art.
If you are a good hiker, the base walk takes about four to five hours, plus any stopping time for photos. All trails are flat and well-marked. There are a few areas designated as "sensitive", meaning sacred to the Aborigines, and they request you do not take photos in those areas. As with the first approach, you should also take the side hikes into areas of caves, some of which have ancient paintings and remnants of fires, as well as waterfalls and pools of water (sometimes dry). There are various styles of vegetation as you circle the base, including a couple of lovely copses of trees.
Safety and Comfort Concerns
In really hot weather, most walks are closed during the afternoon. Buy lots of water at the resort super market; do NOT hike with soda, "energy" drinks or other diuretics as your liquid! In all weather, the flies are annoying to merciless; face screens, insect repellant or the green bush hats are recommended. There is one section of Uluru where climbing is allowed, but it is discouraged unless you feel you are "connecting" with the natural formation. During high wind periods, climbing is also closed.
Beauty and Spirituality
If you start before five am, there is a great spot to view and photograph the sunrise as it hits the blazing ochre covering. After exploring Uluru and the cultural center, we parked in the sunset viewing lot and watched the spectacular colors of nature. Overall, this is as much a spiritual voyage into the Aboriginal culture as it is a visit to a couple of natural wonders.
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