The Red Center of Australia is an iconic landscape that stands out as a visually mesmerizing part of the country. The striking red dirt is something that most people relate to the country and getting to see it for yourself is something that is really unforgettable. Besides the remarkable color of the earth here, the other important aspect to this part of the country is the spiritual importance of the rock formations and landmarks to the Aboriginal people, such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and others. Read further to learn about what to do in Uluru and the surrounding region.
The traditional owners and guardians of this area are the Anangu people. Traditional owners are the different Aboriginal groups that have inhabited the land for over 60,000 years. They see themselves as caretakers of the land, appreciative of what their ancestors have provided for them and maintaining the Earth for future generations. Because of this, they have a spiritual connection with the land and have many dreamtime stories (traditional narratives that explain creation of the world and animals, provide warnings for different natural phenomena, and explain the spiritual law that the communities abide by) that are tied to these important landmarks.
Dreamtime stories are incredibly sacred to the Aboriginal people and are not often shared with those outside their communities. (And you can’t blame them for keeping their deep history and culture to themselves when Europeans have historically taken advantage of and exploited things that the Aboriginal people have shared, including the sacred rock of Uluru.) Today, the Anangu have generously provided basic information and the essences of different Dreamtime stories for Uluru and the sites around it, making it one of the most important destinations for people to visit if they want an introduction to the Aboriginal history and culture.
The best way to get to Uluru is by flying to Ayers Rock or Alice Springs. Check out some flight options here.
The Importance of Uluru
Uluru is a unique and enormous rock that protrudes out of the ground in the center of the desert of Australia. Because of the stark contrast between the rock and the flat desert, it has been a remarkable tourist attraction since the 1930s. It was during this time that the site was named Ayers Rock by European settlers in the area as they built an airport and infrastructure to support visitors to the area.
In 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of the land of Uluru to the Anangu people, with the condition that it be leased back to the National Parks organization to continue to allow tourism to flourish in this part of the country. This relationship continues to evolve over time. Things that may have been permitted by the government over the years may no longer be allowed because they infringe on the sacredness of the land to the Aboriginal people. For example, tourists used to be able to climb to the top of the Uluru rock; however, some tourists unfortunately died during this challenging climb. The death of any person on the sacred land of Aboriginal people weighs very very heavily on them in their culture and leads to years of mourning and ceremonies to process each tragedy. (In addition, people were heavily disrespecting the rock with their actions.) The government allowed the banning of climbing the rock by tourists with the condition that other attractions be built and designed to maintain the same level of tourism in the area, such as sunset dinners and drone light shows.
The Rock is also the site of important rituals and photographs in the designated areas (signs are posted to indicate the restricted areas) are strictly prohibited due to the ceremonial and cultural significance. It is through respecting the wishes of the Original Owners (Aboriginal people) that people will continue to have the privilege of visiting and experiencing this beautiful destination.
The Blueprint Travelers Hiking Staples
What to Do in Uluru and Other Sites to Explore
There are a few different rock formations that can be explored around the Uluru region. Here are the three that are most popular to visit, hike around, and experience.
Uluru
This rock is the namesake of the region and the most iconic piece of the red desert landscape of the center of Australia. We discussed the cultural significance of the rock above and it is the tourist draw to this destination. The rock is quite stunning due to its size and stark protrusion from the flat landscape all around it. There is a walking/biking path that circulates the rock, allowing visitors to tour it from all sides to see the changing colors of the rock based on the position of the sun. There are viewpoints around the rock where people congregate at sunset. For sunrise, the most popular location to see the rock is at a viewing platform, where Kata Tjuta can also be observed.
Kata Tjuta
Kata Tjuta is a formation of a few large domed rocks in the desert near Uluru. The best place to photograph these rocks (and one of the only places to photograph it) is at the popular platform viewpoint of Kata Tjuṯa Dune Viewing Area, which is often visited at sunrise or sunset. Kata Tjuta is incredibly sacred to the Anangu people and photographing any portion of the rock formation while hiking within and around the site is forbidden. While you can hike within Kata Tjuta without a guide, it may be more beneficial to be part of a tour group or hire a guide to get the most out of the experience. The Valley of the Winds is the most popular hike that will take you through the transformative landscape.
Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park)
Kings Canyon is located 3.5 hours away from Uluru towards Alice Springs. (This is such a large and barren landscape so you can expect large distances between destinations.) You do not need to stay near Uluru to visit Kings Canyon; the location has a resort and glamping options. The best hike in this canyon is the rim walk, a walk that takes you both above the canyon on the rim and down into the canyon to the Garden of Eden, a fresh water hole with a variety of plants. If it has recently rained, you can find the water hole full of water and the streams and waterfalls running. This is a rare occurrence, being in a harsh desert.
You can visit these different sites with tour groups from your hotel. Check out various hotel options here.
Tour Options for Visiting Uluru
If you do not want to manage and coordinate a multi-day itinerary to visit Uluru, you can look into a coordinated group tour to visit the different sites in the area and be immersed in the desert landscape. These tours range from 3 to 4 days, depending on the sites you want to explore between Alice Springs and Uluru. These tours are the most efficient, immersive, and cost-effective way to visit the region and allow you to see everything without renting your own vehicle. There are a few different tour agencies that provide experiences throughout the Uluru area. Blueprint Travelers recommend Mulgas Adventures as our preferred tour group to explore Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and even Kings Canyon because they are a small business that is owned and operated directly in the region, giving them strong connections to the local communities.
If you aren't using a multi-day group tour or an individual tour, you will need to rent a car (preferably a 4x4) to explore the area.