Uluru

Uluru Is 348 Metres Above the Plain and Most of the Rock Extends Below the Surface

The visible rock is the upper portion of a much larger sandstone formation. Uluru is arkosic sandstone deposited approximately 550 million years ago and subsequently tilted by geological forces until the strata run nearly vertical – which is why the rock shows different colours and textures at different points of the base walk, depending on how the tilted layers meet the surface. The red comes from iron oxide. Rain falling on the top of the rock runs in channels carved over millennia, creating the waterholes at the base that support life in the surrounding desert.

The Anangu are the traditional custodians of Uluru and have lived in relation to the rock for at least 10,000 years. The climb was closed permanently in October 2019 after decades of Anangu requests that visitors not climb. This was the correct outcome. The experience of being here does not require a climb, and the base walk gives you closer, longer contact with the rock than the climb ever did.

The Base Walk

The 10.6-kilometre circuit around the rock takes 3 to 4 hours at a moderate pace. It reveals a landscape not visible from the viewing areas: waterholes fed by rain running down the rock face, ancient cave paintings on sheltered surfaces, fig trees growing in crevices where moisture collects, and the rock surface itself changing texture and colour as you move around it. The Mutitjulu Waterhole at the south end is a permanent water source and one of the most important locations in the park. Cave paintings at Kantju Gorge on the Mala Walk are accessible and explained on interpretation signage.

In summer (October through April), temperatures exceed 36 degrees Celsius by mid-morning; the walk becomes dangerous without substantial water and heat management. Complete the full circuit by 9am in summer. May through September is cooler (15 to 25 degrees Celsius) and the comfortable time for the full walk.

Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) is 50 kilometres west of Uluru within the same national park: 36 domed rock formations, the same geological deposit as Uluru, reaching 546 metres at the highest point – 200 metres higher than Uluru. The Valley of the Winds walk at 7.4 kilometres is more physically demanding and closes at 11am in summer due to heat. Many visitors spend less time here than at Uluru and that is a mistake. Kata Tjuta is quieter, wilder, and arguably more impressive as a landscape.

Sunrise, Sunset, and Night Sky

The rock shifts through orange, red, and purple at sunrise and sunset as low-angle light saturates the iron oxide. The designated viewing areas can be crowded with tour groups; walking to the base of the rock in the early morning light is more interesting and considerably quieter.

The Night Sky Show at Ayers Rock Resort, run on clear nights by a professional astronomer, is genuinely worthwhile. The absence of light pollution at Uluru produces a night sky not available from most inhabited places: the Milky Way galactic core, the Magellanic Clouds, and southern hemisphere constellations not visible from the northern hemisphere.

Staying and Getting There

All accommodation is at Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara), 20 kilometres from the rock, ranging from the campground (from AUD 40 per night) to the Sails in the Desert Hotel (from AUD 300 to 500 per night). There is no other option. Food at the resort is expensive relative to quality; this is a consequence of remoteness.

Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ) has direct flights from Sydney (3.5 hours), Melbourne (3 hours), and other capitals. Alternatively, it is a 5 to 6 hour drive from Alice Springs on sealed roads.