Exploring Uluru 

Just after you enter the park driving from Ayers Rock Resort, you’ll encounter Uluru. Soaring high above the red desert some 348 metres, Uluru’s dunes, cliffs, valleys, and gorges have enchanted visitors for millennia and have been central to Anangu culture and beliefs as far as history has been documented. 

Visitors to the National Park can observe sunrise and sunset from the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing station, and sunset viewing is also ideal from the parking area. The Base Walk around Uluru’s perimeter is recommended for getting an up-close perspective of the rock while maintaining a safe and respectful distance. 

Free guided walks run daily from the Mala carpark to the base of Uluru. Guided along a shaded track, the Rangers tell the story of the Mala (rufous hare wallaby) people, and describe the history and traditions associated with Uluru, including traditional and contemporary Anangu life and culture, rock art and the management of the park. Free walks depart daily at 8am between October and April, or 10am between May and September. Meet at the Mala carpark to participate. Walks take 1.5 hours. 

Self-guided walks are also available, from quick 30-minute jaunts to four-plus hour hikes. Grab a map and some tips at the Cultural Centre, and don’t forget to wear sturdy shoes and bring a bottle of water, a hat, and sunscreen!

Exploring Kata Tjuta 

Kata Tjuta is sometimes called The Olgas, and is located about 45 minutes’ drive west of Uluru. The Indigenous name means “many heads”, which is apt given the impressive 36 domed rock formations that make up the structure. The tallest dome of Kata Tjuta towers 546 metres above the desert – nearly 200 metres taller than Uluru. It’s made of conglomerate rock, a gravel consisting of a mix of pebbles, cobbles, and boulders that are cemented by sand and mud. 

While access to most areas at Kata Tjuta is restricted to visitors, there are two walks available to the public including Walpa Gorge and Valley of the Winds. This is to ensure protection of the fragile desert environment and allow traditional ceremonies carried out by the Anangu people to continue. 

Places where significant events in the Anangu story occurred are held as sacred sites. Anangu have the responsibility and obligation to care for the land in a proper way. As such, tourists are not permitted access to certain significant or sacred sites. Even inadvertent access to these can be sacrilegious.

 

Visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Visitors can explore the park on foot or by bicycle. Ranger-guided activities provide interesting insights and information about the park, or simply lace up your running shoes and hit the pathways to discover its wonder at your own pace. Please note the National Park is a World Heritage area, and visitors are asked to stay on marked paths, pay attention to signage, and not take rocks or soil as souvenirs.

The cultural landscapes of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park resonate with meaning. They contain creation stories and the associated knowledge of law, relationships, plants, and animals, all of which live in the shapes and features of the land. At Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park some areas are fenced off and sometimes photography is restricted to ensure that visitors do not inadvertently contravene Tjukurpa restrictions.