For decades people have descended on Uluru to marvel at its size and beauty, and for many years people climbed it. So why won’t you be able to anymore?
TL;DR
Climbing Uluru has been permanently closed since 26 October 2019. The Anangu, who are the Traditional Owners of the land, asked visitors not to climb from the time the park was handed back to them in 1985. The closure formalised 34 years of that request. There is still a lot to see at Uluru.
The climb is closed and it is not coming back. The ban took effect on 26 October 2019, the 34th anniversary of the Handback. Some visitors still search ‘can I climb Uluru’ assuming the rule might have been revised. It has not been.
This post covers why the climb was banned, when the decision was made, what the safety record looked like, and what is available to visit now.
Why the Climb is Banned: Cultural Significance
The Anangu have been the Traditional Owners of Uluru and the surrounding country for at least 60,000 years. Uluru is not a landmark to them. It is a living part of their culture, embedded in Tjukurpa, which is Anangu law, ceremonial practice, and creation knowledge.
The climb crosses sacred men’s sites. That is not a general statement about cultural sensitivity. There are specific sites at the base and on the rock with direct ceremonial significance, and climbing routes went straight through them.
Under Tjukurpa, the Anangu carry responsibility for the wellbeing of visitors who come onto their country. When climbers were injured or died at Uluru, that responsibility fell on the Anangu. They have described this as a source of genuine distress, separate from any objection to tourism itself.
The request to stop climbing dates to 1985, when the park was officially handed back. For 34 years, the Anangu asked visitors not to climb. Signage at the base communicated this clearly throughout that period. The 2019 closure formalised a request that had been made for decades.
When and How the Climb Was Closed
The Board of Management at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park voted unanimously in November 2017 to close the climb. The decision came after a review process that had been running for several years.
The closure took effect on 26 October 2019, the 34th anniversary of the Handback. The timing was deliberate.
The closure is permanent, with no review process and no exemption.
In the months before the deadline, the number of people attempting the climb increased sharply. People wanted to go before it became impossible. The Anangu found this period distressing.
Safety
Uluru is 348 metres high at its highest point. The surface is smooth sandstone, steep, and uneven. Wet conditions make it dangerously slippery. The metal chain that ran up the main climbing route was a guide, not a safety system.
Since the 1950s, 38 people have died on the climb. Causes include falls, heart attacks from physical exertion, and heat-related illness. Many more were injured or required rescue.
Rangers regularly attended people on the rock with broken bones, severe dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Those rescues put rangers at risk and placed a burden on the Anangu, whose law required them to take responsibility for every visitor’s safety in their country.
Weather conditions on the rock change quickly. Wind and storms caused mid-session closures regularly. Temperatures at the summit can be extreme even on days that feel manageable at the base.
Environmental Damage
Millions of footsteps over several decades have eroded the sandstone surface. The old climbing track remains visible as a discolouration on the rock face.
There were no toilet facilities on the rock. Climbers urinated and defecated on the surface. When it rained, waste ran down the rock and into the waterholes below, which are permanent water sources for local plants and wildlife. Those waterholes carry cultural significance for the Anangu and ecological significance for the surrounding environment.
The metal chain guide permanently altered the rock’s appearance. Rubbish left during climbs added to the damage. The combination of foot traffic, waste, and installed infrastructure has left marks that will not be erased within any human timeframe.
What to Do Instead
- The Uluru base walk (10.6km loop) takes 3 to 4 hours and passes through mulga woodland, waterholes, and cave art. It is the best way to understand the scale of the rock. Part of the walk runs through sacred sites where photography is not permitted. Signage marks these sections clearly.
- Mutitjulu Waterhole is a 45-minute return walk (the Kuniya walk) to one of the few permanent water sources in the area. Rock art here was made by the Mutitjulu people.
- Kata Tjuta, 50km west of Uluru, is a formation of 36 domed rocks. Valley of the Winds (7.4km loop) and Walpa Gorge (2.6km return) are both worth doing. Many repeat visitors say Kata Tjuta is the highlight of the trip.
- Sunrise and sunset viewing at the designated areas. Both are worth attending, and the experience is noticeably different on each side of the day.
- Guided tours with Anangu-operated or Anangu-endorsed operators give context that self-guided visits cannot match.
- Scenic flights by helicopter or light aircraft give aerial views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta in relation to the surrounding landscape.
Parts of the base walk close in summer afternoons due to heat. If you are visiting between November and March, plan your walks for early morning.
Summary
The climb is closed permanently. What is available at Uluru now, the base walk, Kata Tjuta, the Cultural Centre, and the sunrise and sunset viewings, gives you a better understanding of the place than the climb ever did. Browse our Uluru tours to plan your visit
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Uluru climb close?
26 October 2019, the 34th anniversary of the Handback.
Is it illegal to climb Uluru?
Yes. The climb is permanently closed and access is prohibited. Penalties apply.
What happens if you try to climb Uluru?
You can be issued a fine. Rangers are stationed at the park and monitor access to the rock.
Why is Uluru sacred to the Anangu people?
Uluru is part of Tjukurpa, the Anangu system of law, ceremonies, and creation knowledge. The rock is connected to specific creation stories and contains sacred sites at its base and on its surface.
Has anyone died climbing Uluru?
Yes. There have been 38 recorded deaths since the 1950s, from falls, heart attacks, and heat-related illness.
How long is the Uluru base walk?
10.6km loop. Allow 3 to 4 hours.
What can you do at Uluru instead of climbing?
The base walk, Mutitjulu Waterhole walk, Kata Tjuta (Valley of the Winds or Walpa Gorge), the Cultural Centre, and sunrise or sunset viewing.
Can you still visit Uluru as a tourist?
Yes. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is open to visitors. An entry fee applies. The climb is the only thing that is restricted.
