Uluru - Ayers Rock

The only way to truly experience Uluru (Ayers Rock) is to visit it. No Uluru photo can show the magnificence of the size and colours of the rock (348 metres high). Like the Olgas, Uluru is set within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

There is an entrance fee into the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The fee is $25.00 per adult (16 years and over) for a 3 day pass. Children under 16 years enter free.

Uluru holds deep Aboriginal significance to the Anangu people, and many stories are told as you wander around the base. You can also learn about Ayers Rock at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre. Anangu Tours is also based here, and can take you on numerous tours around the base, although they do request that you respect their culture and do not climb the rock.

There are different walks that you can take around the base of Uluru. The first would be the long 9.4km walk around the whole of the base. The walk is worth it, although as with all of the walks you should start early in the morning before the sun has got too hot.

Around the base you will see numerous Aboriginal paintings, along with descriptive boards explaining about the paintings. Some areas of the rock are sacred and are clearly marked, so the Anangu people request that you do not take pictures or enter these areas.

Two shorter walks that you can do are the Mala Walk, which is 2km, and the Mutitjulu Walk, which is 1km. The Mala Walk tells the story of the Tjukurpa (traditional law) of the Mala (hare-wallaby people).

The Mutitjulu is a permanent waterhole and the walk tells the story of the clash between the two ancestral snakes Kuniya and Liru. You can either follow a guided tour or take the walks on your own.

If you do decide to climb Ayers Rock, then make sure that you have comfortable footwear and take lots of water. You should also aim to be down by 9am during the summer months as it is too hot to climb any later than this. (The Climb is also closed at 8am if the temperature is due to reach 36 degrees).

The walk takes about 3 hours in total, with breathtaking views of the Olgas and surrounding area. Just remember to take your time and step carefully. Several people have died from climbing the rock, mainly due to heart attacks although some by falling down the steep rock. A chain helps you on the steepest section, although this stops nearly half way to the top.

If you don't fancy walking around Ayers Rock, you should definitely go to watch it during sunrise or sunset, when the rock changes colours, from greys, to browns, to reds, to oranges, to yellows. It really is an amazing experience to watch this happening.

Accommodation is just a short drive away at the Ayers Rock resort, with a wide selection of accommodation including a camping ground, hostel, apartments and hotels. The resort also offers a servo, as well as numerous restaurants and shops.