THE MAGNIFICENT ROCK

Uluru’s magnificence has been drawing people in for centuries - whether it’s the Anangu aboriginals that consider this monolith an important part of their culture or a bunch of tourists heading to the rock to see just how splendiferous this place really is, correctly convinced that a view from a postcard doesn’t do it nearly enough justice. It rises about 350m from the land below, and that’s only the part of the rock you can see - two-thirds of it are said to be underneath the sand. The rock gives off different colours depending on what time of day you’re there, with ochre-brown giving way to burning orange as the sun sets, followed by deeper and deeper shades of red until it turns charcoal after sunset. It’s one of nature’s most fantastic shows, and you’ll get to experience all of this and more when you get to see this amazing place for yourself.

WALKING TOURS

There are many walking tracks around Uluru, and rangers will lead you on walks to explain the area’s flora, fauna and history through the bush on relatively flat paths. They’ll also show where it’s okay to walk and okay not to walk - many areas in and around Uluru are sacred to the Anangu people and as such are not meant to be trespassed on or photographed. You’ll be able to access most of these paths alone, however, by grabbing a brochure from the Cultural Centre.

There are four different walks of note around the walk. First, there’s the Base Walk, which goes around the entirety of the rock and the many caves, paintings, and geological faces along the way. Then there’s the Kuniya Walk, which leads to the area’s only permanent waterhole. The Liru Walk connects the rock to the Cultural Centre, passing important Anangu sites along the way. The Mala Walk connects visitors to the many different interpretive signs painted onto the rock that help explain a very important story. There’s also the Uluru Climb all the way up to the top, but it is often closed off for a number of reasons and it is seen as highly disrespectful to the Anangu people who consider it a holy place.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

WALKING TOURS

There are many walking tours of one of Australia’s most famous icons, from a single-day base tour to a multi-day trek. Drop-offs to either the Ayers Rock Resort town of Yulara or to Alice Springs are available.

If you’re looking for walking tours, search the widget to the left, choosing “Uluru (Ayers Rock)” as your Destination after choosing “Northern Territory” as your state/territory. You can also select “Walking” to narrow your search.

HELICOPTER TOURS

Another great way to see Uluru is from the air, and helicopter tours are the best way to accomplish that goal. You can also see nearby Kata Tjuta from the air, a connection of 36 domed rocks that are just as captivating as their neighbour.

Take to the air with Ayers Rock Helicopters.

SOMEWHERE TO STAY

There are two options available for you, both with their advantages and disadvantages. Nearby Yulara is a purpose-built town with all of the accommodations owned by the Ayers Rock Resort Company. It’s close-by, but boy is it expensive. You might be better off staying in Alice Springs, but it’s several hours away. If you’re willing to camp out in the outback, feel free to crash at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground; otherwise, stick it out in The Alice, because there are many more options available.