Uluru - also known as Ayers Rock - is known as an Australian icon. In 1973, Uluru was discovered by explorer William Gosse and named after former South Australian Premier Henry Ayers. Uluru has long been a sacred and revered place for many Australian Aboriginal people in the area. For the Anangu indigenous community, Uluru is considered the navel of the Earth.
Ayers Rock was formed over 600 million years ago. It was once under the sea and today it is incredibly located 348m above the ground. Another surprise is that about 2.5km of the giant rock is underground.
The special rock formation is located in the heart of the Australian desert.
Ayers Rock is located in the western part of the Simpson Desert, about 335km southwest of Alice Springs and 463km by road. It is one of the most impressive natural wonders on the planet, but not the largest, as that title goes to Mount Augustus in Western Australia.
The highlight of Uluru is its ability to change color according to weather conditions, climate and different times of the day. At sunset, the rocks here have a characteristic fiery orange-red glow. The rugged monoliths with folds, indentations, ancient drawings depict the formation process, battles and deaths of the ancestors of the Anangu people (the people who live here).
This rock is located in Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park. The area was established in 1958 as Ayer Rocks - Mount Olga National Park and was renamed in 1993. The national park containing Uluru and Kata Tjuta was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Ayers Rock Resort Campground.
The ecosystem in Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park is quite diverse. There are about 400 species of plants in this national park including desert oak, desert poplar, some species of eucalyptus, Grevillea species (a genus of shrubs and trees that live mainly in Australia),... Wildlife includes mammals such as red kangaroos, rodents, many species of reptiles, amphibians such as geckos, lizards, snakes,... There are also more than 175 species of birds, notably falcons, ospreys, magpies,...
The Anangu people who own Uluru encourage you to walk around the rock rather than climb it, for its spiritual significance and your own safety. You can join a ranger-led Mala walk, which departs from the Mala car park each morning. The Uluru Walk is a flat, red dirt track that is 10km long and takes 3.5 hours to complete.
Visitors can watch the sunrise and sunset over the changing colors of Uluru and Kata Tjuta on camelback. From the Ayers Rock Resort camel farm, you can enjoy panoramic views of the rock formations while sipping on a few craft beers.
Field of Light by Bruce Munro.
Ayers Rock Resort has a range of self-contained rooms and lodges. You will have an amazing experience by visiting a dot painting workshop, taking a four-wheel drive tour and enjoying Bush Tucker – a traditional Australian dish originating from ancient Aboriginal times. You can also learn the cooking skills of this dish and hear stories about the land from an indigenous Anangu guide.
Another must-see is Bruce Munro’s Field of Light, one of the largest art installations in Australian history. Over 50,000 rotating light shafts transform the desert floor into a multi-coloured garden at night.
