Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is located 465km Southwest of Alice Springs (about 4.5hr drive) along the Stuart Highway and Lasseter Highway. Because of the popularity of this area in the last 50 yeas or so, it has become a lot more limited to what you can actually do there. You used to be able to drive up and just camp next to Ayers Rock but nowadays visitors stay in Yularu or Ayers Rock resort which is about 14km away from Ayers Rock. There is also an entrance to the park which means nobody can stay within the park itself overnight. The opening hours of the park change but take into account the times of sunrise and sunset so you can always watch them in the park. A pass into the park costs just under $30 (12 pounds) for 3 days but this is the minimum you can pay for (i.e. if you only want to go for one day you still get this 3 day pass). In Ayers Rock resort there is a Visitor Centre which contains any information
you might want on the area, and also on the sunrise and sunset times so you don't miss them! The resort also has an airport now so you can access the rock resort without having to travel from Alice Springs.
***Uluru (Ayers Rock)*** Ayers Rock stands 340m above the ground, although it is believed two thirds of it are buried underground. There is a 9.6km walk around the perimeter of it and it looks nothing like it does in pictures when you are close up to it! Ayers Rock is a very sacred place to the Aboriginal people and they ask that visitors do not climb it, although it is allowed. When I went it had been raining so the climb was closed but there is a chain to help people climb up. Apparently it is quite a hard climb and not everybody that attempts it makes it all the way to the top! I know people who have climbed it though and they said it was amazing and it gives you views upto 100 miles away because the land is so flat and there is just nothing there to obstruct any views! The climb is 1.6km return. The walk around the base takes about 2 hours if you stop and read the signs and take photos. There are a number of places that you are not allowed to take any photos of because these are sacred sights to the aboriginals. There are also guided tours by aboriginals if you want to learn more about the significance of this sight to them.
***Sunrise and Sunset*** Pretty much everybody that goes will see a sunrise or sunset or both at Ayers Rock, where the rock actually changes colour as the sun is at different stages. When I went it was really cloudy so it just got dark and we didn't really see any changes but I was just really unlucky, it isn't really often it rains in the desert! And it was still amazing because when it rains the rock actually goes black and there were waterfalls running down the rock which apparently are really rare so in a way I was really lucky to get to see that instead. There are designated sunrise and sunset viewing areas so you know you are watching from the best place. Be aware there will be hundreds of other people there as well though, so get there early if you can. If you with a tour they will pretty much take you to the spot then you can just get off the bus and watch, which also makes it easy for people not on tours because you can see where all the tour operators are!
***Kata Tjuta*** Also known as 'The Olgas,' Kata Tjuta is about 40km East of Uluru and is made of the same materials as Uluru and reach 600m high. There are a number of walks in this area, the 'Valley of the Winds' walk goes through the Olgas and is 6km return. You should allow 3 hours for this. The Olga Gorge Walk is shorter (about 2km or 1 hour return) and just goes through the main gorge and back.
***Aboriginal Centre*** Within the Park, just before you get to Uluru, there is an Aboriginal Information centre which explains the race of people, their beliefs about Uluru and its significance, and their way of life. This is really interesting to give you a feel of the significance of the park, and not just feel like you are looking at a big rock!!
***Tours and more information*** There are heaps of tour operators that visit Ayers Rock and the Olgas. Some operate from Alice Springs, some from Yularu, some sleep in swags under the stars, some stay inhostels, some include meals, some don't, some are 2 days, some are 3 days, some are up to 6 days, some visit Kings's Canyon also (I would definitely recommend going here!), so as you can see there are a wide variety and you can pick the one that suits you best. For more information on these tours and on the park and attractions, contact the Visitor Centre at Ayers Rock resort on 08 8957 7377.
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Oct 30th, 2005
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