Uluru | Ayers Rock Activities
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.
Anangu tours are also available. These can be arranged at Yulara or at the Cultural Center.
Helicopter tours can be arranged at Yulara. They range from short buzzes over Uluru and / or Kata Tjuta to longer trips taking in more of the landscape, and possibly King's Canyon as well.
Camel to sunrise or sunset. Another wonderful experience - cost is $95pp. You are taken from the resort to the camel farm where you are instructed on what you need to do. The owner is very friendly. When we reached the camel farm, all the camels were sat down ready to go, we climbed on with the assistance of the owner - the worst bit of a camel ride is getting up there - once you are on it's great! the camel trek was through surrounding desert, giving us good views all around with a talk on camel history and the area, before reaching a viewing point to watch the sun setting on Uluru. The camels were all well cared for animals, not at all smelly, and were all very well behaved - no grumpiness in sight! Once we arrived back at the camel farm we were treated to home made beer bread with wattle seed dip, camel meat, bush fruits and a variety of drinks. There was also the opportunity to purchase from the gift shop - all reasonably priced.
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.
