How long is the Walpa Gorge walk?

How long is the Walpa Gorge walk?

Written by: Cameron Ward

Published: 05/04/2021

Reading time: 3 mins

The Walpa Gorge is a special outpost in the desert near Uluru.

Walpa Gorge Walk, Uluru

Why? Because Kata Tjuta’s cool and windy climate provides the region’s animals and plants with a refuge from the stifling heat. At all times of the year, people revel in the opportunity to head out to the Walpa Gorge and walk among its rare plant life and spearwood trees.

The Walpa Gorge walk is approximately 2.6 km long, and runs through Kata Tjuta’s two tallest domes, making it a spectacular walk that only takes around an hour to complete. But what an hour it is! The majestic and unique sandstone domes provide an otherworldly setting to experience some of Australia’s most beautiful natural locations.

What is Kata Tjuta?

Kata Tjuta, along with Uluru, makes up two of this incredible region’s natural wonders. Kata Tjuta is another sandstone structure that makes for the perfect hike after you’re seen the region’s main attraction (Uluru, obviously!). Kata Tjuta is an amazing place to tour, as you not only get to experience the sheer beauty of the gorge, but also learn about Dreamtime stories from local Indigenous peoples.

When is the best time to visit Walpa Gorge?

The desert region surrounding Uluru and Kata Tjuta is renowned for its climatic extremes. People often mistake the desert for being an extremely hot day and night, all year round – but this couldn’t be further from the case! Actually, temperatures in the region range from 3.5° C in July to 37° C in January. Winter nights are notoriously chilly, with temperatures occasionally dipping below 0!

Therefore, the best time of year to visit the Walpa Gorge is between May and September, when daytime temperatures rarely exceed 30° C. Just make sure you’ve got somewhere warm to sleep after all that adventuring – things do get pretty chilly!

Enjoying Kata Tjuta & Uluru together

Finally, the Walpa Gorge is incredible because it is part of a circuit that includes one of Australia’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders – Uluru. We recommend you spend at least a few days in the region, as you will want to have the proper time to explore both Uluru and Kata Tjuta/Walpa Gorge. It truly is a region like nowhere else: an incredible, majestic sandstone land with ancient rock formations and wildlife in abundance.

Related article: What else is there to do at Uluru Besides the Rock?

Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.