Uluru | Ayers Rock Attractions
Uluru -- there is a sunrise viewing point on the road around Uluru (northeast from the rock), and a sunset viewing point between the Kata Tjuta turn-off and the cultural center.
Kata Tjuta -- also has a well-marked sunrise / sunset viewing point on the road leading to the domes.
The Cultural Centre -- built in 1995 to mark the 10th anniversary of Handover (the process by which land was given back to the traditional owners, and Ayers Rock became Uluru). It hosts a multitude of aboriginal creation stories and extensive articles about the history of the Pitjantjara. There are shops where you can buy local art and souvenirs. It's also a good place for a rest after trekking around Uluru.
The Uluru base walk (9km) can be done in 2 hours in a rush, or 4 hours at a more leisurely pace, with time included for side walks and sign-posts. Please note that certain areas are intended by the Aboriginal community to be off-limits for photography.
Climbing Uluru is heavily frowned upon by the local Aboriginal community, but it remains very popular with visitors. The climb is not for the faint hearted and can take between 1-4 hours, depending on fitness. Timing is crucial as poor weather occasionally forces the closure of the Uluru climb by National park staff. A sign at the park entrance will advise visitors whether the climb is open.
The Walpa Gorge walk (2.6km) is the shorter - and easier - of the two walks around Kata Tjuta.
The Mala Walk (2km) This track begins at the Mala Walk car-park and ends at the inspiring Kantju Gorge.
The Valley of the Winds walk (7.4km) at Kata Tjuta is truly magnificent and should not be missed. It takes about 3 hours, and carrying bottled water is advised, although there are two water stations along the route. The walk may also be closed during extreme weather. As with the Uluru climb, a sign at the park entrance will advise visitors whether the walk is open.
Some information on this page has been derived from http://wikitravel.org/en/Uluru-Kata_Tjuta_National_Park, which is based on work by David, douglas@panix.com, Gary Crockett, Philipp Schäufele, Marc Heiden, James Franklin, Tim Sandell, kayjay, Michele Ann Jenkins, Evan Prodromou and Iain Georgeson, Wikitravel user(s) Tensaibuta, Hypatia, Episteme and PierreAbbat, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.
