Uluru National Park is 465km (289 miles) south-west of Alice Springs,
and has an area of 1325 square km (511 sq miles), measuring 72km (45
miles) east-west and 16.5km (10 miles) north-south. The Yulara Resort,
which can accommodate over 5,000 people a day in the various establishments,
is 20km (12 miles) from Ayers Rock.
Climate
Average temperatures: January max 37C (99F) - min 22C (72F); July max 19C
(66F) - min 5C (41F). Average annual rainfall - 200-250mm (8-10 ins).
Characteristics
The National Park is Australia's first Aboriginal Park, and has the Territory's
greatest attraction, Ayers Rock. The Mutitjulu Community are permanent
residents in the Park, and 'Uluru' is the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock.
Uluru is one of the world's greatest monoliths and undergoes amazing colour
changes at sunrise and sunset.
The Olgas, 32km (20 miles) to the west, consist of a series of large domes
whose colouring and shape are impressive. The Aboriginal name for the Olgas
is 'Kata Tjuta' (sometimes written as one word).
How to Get There By Bus
Greyhound Pioneer have daily services to Yulara.
By Road
Alice Springs to Uluru is 465km (289 miles).
Alice Springs to Yulara is 445km (277 miles).
Yulara to Uluru is 20km (12 miles).
Yulara to Kata Tjuta is 28km (17 miles).
Yulara to Connellan Airport is 6km (4 miles).
Uluru to Kata Tjuta is 36km (22 miles).
Tourist Information
Visitors Centre is in Yulara Drive, Yulara, (08) 8957 7377, and is hopen
daily 8.30am-5pm.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Yulara,
(08) 8956 3138, has displays with a wealth of information on Aboriginal
culture, wildlife, landscape and geology of Ayers Rock and the Olgas. It
is open 8am-5pm.
There is a Ranger Station at Uluru, with toilets, a kiosk, and information
on tours and walks around Ulruru and Kata Tjuta.
The websites to explore are www.centralaustraliantourism.com or www.voyages.com.au
Accommodation
The accommodation prices listed here are for a double room per night, which
should be used as a guide only. The telephone area code is 08. You might
wish to browse through the websites at www.ayersrockresort.com.au or www.voyages.com.au
Sails in the Desert Hotel, Yulara Drive, 9399 1040. 228 rooms, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa $400-710.
Desert Gardens Hotel, Yulara Drive, 9339 1040. 160 units (private facilities),
licensed restaurant, swimming pool $320-350.
Outback Pioneer Hotel, Yulara, 9339 1040. 125 rooms, pool, licensed restaurant
$290-320.
Ayers Rock Campground, Yulara Drive, 8956 2055. (Pets allowed on leash)
500 sites, basic facilties, pool barbecue - powered sites $30 for two,
cabins $135 for two.
Points of Interest
There is an entrance fee to the National Park of $16.25 Êper adult, which
is valid for 3 consecutive days. If this seems a bit steep, it may help
to know that the funds go straight back into the maintenance of the park,
and to helping the traditional Anangu owners in their community.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
The first European to climb Uluru was Englishman William Christie Gosse,
and it had taken him about three months to reach the Rock, travelling
from Alice Springs with a camel train. The year before, the Rock had
been sighted by Ernest Giles, but he never actually reached it, being
forced to turn back to Alice Springs because of the salty marshes of
Lake Amadeus, 50km (31miles) north of Ayers Rock.
Gosse named the Rock after Sir Henry Ayers, then Chief Secretary and later
Premier of South Australia. Giles had previously named the Olgas after
Queen Olga of Wurtemberg in Germany.
The first plane landed at the Rock in 1930, piloted by journalist Errol
Coote, a member of the support party which accompanied Lasseter in an unsuccessful
attempt to locate a reef of gold in the south-west corner of the Northern
Territory. The same year, the first rough track was carved by pastoralist
Sid Stanes of Erldunda Station, to Ayers Rock from the Station.
In the early 1940s the first graded road linked the Alice and the Rock,
but it was usually impassable after heavy rains. At this time, Ayers Rock
and the Olgas formed part of the Petermann Aboriginal Reserve, which covered
almost 45,000 sq km (17,370 sq miles) of the south-western part of the
Territory. In 1958, both rock formations and about 1325 sq km (511 sq miles)
were excised from the reserve to become the Uluru (Ayers Rock/Mt Olga)
National Park. The first ranger, Bill Harney, was appointed the same year
on a part-time basis, only spending the winter at the Rock.
It was around this time that Alice Springs resident Len Tuit established
a base camp to the west of the Ayers Rock climb and started the first tourist
operations. The first official record of visitor numbers showed that in
1958, 2296 people made the arduous twelve hour journey from the Alice to
gaze in wonder at the giant monolith. The next year leases were granted
to two tour companies for the operation of a hotel, four motels, a store,
and a service station and fuel depot at the airstrip.
Improvements were made to the road from Alice Springs during the 1960s,
and the number of visitors in 1968 was 23,000.
It had been decided in 1965 that there was a need for a resort such as
Yulara, but establishing a virtual town in an isolated area with extreme
temperatures and no power, water or sewerage was a monumental task. There
were many feasibility surveys carried out by both private and government
authorities, and finally the Yulara Resort was completed in 1984, one year
after the Alice Springs-Ayers Rock road became an all-weather sealed highway.
Now to 'The Rock' itself. The maximum height above ground is 348m (1142
ft); the area is 3.33 sq km (1.28 sq miles); the circumference is 9.4km
(5.8 miles); and the height above sea level is 862.5m (2829.7 ft).
Many visitors want to climb Uluru. The traditional owners advise against
it not only because of spiritual beliefs, as is widely thought,
but also because of the dangers involved. Far fewer people make the climb
now than a decade ago. It is not as easy at it looks, and those with high
blood pressure, asthma, angina, fear of heights, or vertigo, should not
even contemplate it. There are plaques near the designated climbing spot,
dedicated to people who have died trying. For the fit and healthy, the
climb up and back takes about two hours, and there is a hand chain to aid
climbers on the way up, and steady them on the way down. It is much steeper
than it looks, but the view from the summit is worth the effort. Remember
to take plenty of water, and a few oranges. If you want to experience at
least part of the climb, many people manage to get to 'Chicken Rock', where
the chain begins, without much trouble. For those who would prefer to stay
at ground level, the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service have
some interesting guided walks, which are free. They either leave from the
Ranger Station, or from the Climb Car Park, and hbegin about 9.30am. For
information, times, and bookings 8956 2299.
One walk is around the caves at the base of the Rock with their ancient
Aboriginal paintings, and another, with an Aboriginal female guide, introduces
visitors to the 'bush tucker' which abounds in the seemingly barren landscape.
Both tours include talks on the history and geology of the area, the Aboriginal
perception of Uluru, and the flora and fauna.
Then there is the round-the-rock walk, which is on flat land all the way,
and takes about 3 to 4 hours. All you need are strong shoes, a sun hat,
plenty of cool drinks, and a nice added touch is a picnic hamper from one
of the hotels at Yulara. The track is well marked, and passes caves with
Aboriginal paintings, little Ayers Rock (known to the Aboriginal people
as Taputji), and the beautiful Maggie Springs. ÊWhen you are walking around
the Ayers Rock area you will see signs denoting Aboriginal sacred sites,
which are off-limits to visitors. These signs must be obeyed, and that
will in no way effect your enjoyment of the walk.
If you want to take the almost obligatory photograph of the Rock at sunset,
you'll have no trouble finding the best spot to take it from, just follow
the crowds.
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)
The 36 domes of Kata Tjuta, together with Uluru and the lesser-known flat-topped
monolith called Mount Conner, are all that is left of a mountain chain
formed some 600 million years ago. There is no doubt that Uluru is the
most famous of the trio, but many visitors judge Kata Tjuta to be more
spectacular, and like the Rock, they also change colours at sunrise and
sunset.
The Mount Olga Gorge walk is fine for all the family for the first part,
then the trail enters a narrow track and becomes more difficult. The Mount
Olga Lookout walk is about 3km long, and takes about 90 minutes there and
back. It is suitable for all, but only those with some experience should
continue along the top of the dome and down to the car park.
The Valley of the Winds walk follows the creek around the base of the dome
to the lookout and takes about 2 hours. It is best to check with the Ranger
Station at Uluru about details of the walks, and make sure you have plenty
of water.
The only facilities at Kata Tjuta are walking trails, car parking areas,
and pit toilets.
Yulara
The completion of Yulara (which is an Aboriginal word meaning 'howling'
as dingoes do) in late 1984 meant that not only could around 5000 people
a day be accommodated near Uluru, but also that the fragile and endangered
ecology of the sand-dune lands immediately surrounding the Rock could be
restored and protected from further damage.
Prior to the development of Yulara, a collection of old and sub-standard
motels and camping areas had grown haphazardly in the shadow of the Rock,
and vehicles and visitors had gradually caused damage to the flora. This
prevented the sand-dunes from drifting, and caused the animal life to retreat
to safer and more peaceful areas.
Uluru was a national park which had been included in a world network organised
by UNESCO, and it was obvious that a far-reaching plan was needed to protect
the park, and provide better facilities for a growing number of visitors.
When you first see the national park, with its red sand-dunes reaching
up to 13m, it appears that there could not be much in the way of flora
and fauna, but this is not the case. It is home to more than 566 species
of flora, approximately 24 species of native mammals, several species of
introduced Feral animals (including rabbit, fox, cat, house mouse, camel
and dog), around 72 reptiles, and a number of amphibians and aquatic crustaceans.
Approximately 161 species of birds have been sighted in the park, many
of them being migratory.
It was decided to construct Yulara outside the park boundaries, about 20km
(12 miles) from Uluru and 30km (19 miles) from Kata Tjuta. This site was
selected for a number of reasons - its acceptability to the Aboriginal
people who have inhabited Central Australia for around 10,000 years; its
proximity to underground water sources; and the views of Uluru and Kata
Tjuta which could be afforded visitors. The old accommodation places were
closed down and the landscape returned to its natural state. Yulara was
designed by Australian architect Philip Cox, and caused quite a sensation
when the artist's impressions were first released in 1981.
The reality is no less sensational, with the many characteristic 'sails',
used to create shade, making up the main feature. In the complex are shopping,
entertainment, information, convention centres and accommodation from five-star
downwards. Separated from the main resort complex by sand-dunes are the
campgrounds, staff accommodation, a school, police station, fire station,
service station and essential service operations. Yulara has a resident
community of around 2,400 people, and is the fourth largest population
centre in the Northern Territory when fully booked.
Tours
There are many National Park and Resort Tours available, and the Visitors'
Centre at Yulara has all the details. There are trips to the major attractions
of Central Australia, camel rides, cattle station visits, scenic flights,
cultural tours, dinner & champagne tours, and more. A selection of
operators to contact are Austour 1800 335 009, Australian Pacific Touring
1800 891 121, Anangu Tours 8956 2123, Frontier Camel Tours 8956 2444,
Uluru Experience 1800 803 174, VIP 1800 806 142 and Sahara Outback Tours
1800 806 240.
