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Uluru

ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park is Aboriginal land. We acknowledge and pay respect to the Anangu people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which Longitude 131º stands. In sharing elements of their history, heritage and culture we acknowledge the Anangu people of the Western Desert and their connections to Country.

We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. 

LOCATION

Located in the southern part of the Northern Territory, Central Australia. Uluru lies 335 km south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; or 450 km by road.

CLIMATE

The park receives an average rainfall of 307.7 mm per year, and average temperatures are 37.8 °C in the summer and 4.7 °C in the winter.

One of the true iconic destinations in Australia, Uluru was widely known as Ayers Rock until 1993 when the monolith was officially reinstated to its original name of Uluru. The UNESCO World Heritage area of Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park is one of the few locations in the world to be dual-listed for both outstanding natural and cultural values. Stretching out over 311,000 acres, this is Australia’s most famous natural landscape and arguably a journey to Australia’s heart.

Uluru is one of the great natural wonders of the world and the heart of Australia.

Visitors to Uluru and Kata Tjuta are exposed to an expansive living cultural landscape which few are able to experience. Whether they spend their time learning of the Anangu - the oldest living culture on earth, hearing about the plights of early European explorers, or discovering the unique flora and fauna with expert guides, face to face with this irresistible land, senses come alive.

Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m high with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km in circumference. For Anangu this is more than just a rock, it's a living place. Tjukurpa is Anangu law. It’s the foundation of all Anangu life and society and the inherent relationship between humans and the plants and animals and the land. A walk around Uluru highlights the evidence of Tjurkurpa, where the marks and signs of the creation beings are everywhere, revealing sacred stories.

Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red. Although rainfall is uncommon in this semi-arid area, during wet periods the rock acquires a silvery-grey colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas that serve as channels for water flow.

The National Park features another significant rock formation - Kata Tjuta, which was once named Mount Olga by Ernest Giles, an early European explorer. This striking group of more than 30 rounded red domes rise dramatically from the desert floor, about 25 km west of Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have significant meaning to the Traditional Owners, the Anangu people and form an important focus of their spiritual life, which continues to this day.