Located in central Australia sits an iconic attraction in Australia, Uluru.
Uluru stands 348 metres tall and is one of the world’s biggest sandstone formations. This huge red rock, located in the Northern Territory, is made of sandstone and is about 550 million years old. Uluru is within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where you’ll also find the Kata Tjuta rock formation.
Why Uluru is special
Even though Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks, it holds sacred sites and stories for the Anangu people. The Anangu people are the traditional owners of the land who have lived here for at least 30,000 years.
As you walk around Uluru and the national park, there are over 40 sacred sites, some associated with Uluru’s Dreaming story. If you plan to see these culturally sensitive sites, avoid capturing any rock formations to respect the Anangu culture. Before approaching the sites, there will be a signage warning you to not photograph the upcoming site.
What should I do while visiting
The national park has various walking trails along with guided tours for you to learn more about the First Nations people, their cultural significance and their connection to the land.
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Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
The most important and highly recommended place to visit first is the Cultural Centre. Here is where you’ll learn more about the Anangu people and their connection to Uluru.
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Sunrise and sunset
The sunrise and sunset at Uluru are breathtaking and are a must do while in Uluru. The red rock looks spectacular as the sky behind it lights up. You can expect a golden light across the landscape as the sky changes in all sorts of remarkable colours.
You can book a sunset tour and take in the breathtaking scenery of Uluru.
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Uluru base walk
The Uluru base walk is the best way for you to get up close to the rock and learn about its stories. The walk is about 10 kilometres, taking about three to four hours to complete. You should only start this walk in the mornings and finish before 11 AM due to the extreme heat.
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Kata Tjuta
Within the national park is Kata Tjuta, a group of large domed rock formations. Millions of years ago, Kata Tjuta was just one rock, but weathered and worn down, it created 36 domes of different shapes and sizes.
The best way to see Kata Tjuta is by hiking around the rock domes or watching the sunset or sunrise.
To learn more about why Uluru is special and its importance to the Anangu people, book a guided tour. A tour guide will show you the major sights along with telling you about the fascinating history and the stories.
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.