From October 26, 2019, no one will be allowed to climb Uluru after the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board decided to ban it. So it seems fitting to share a travel guide for Australia’s red centre, showcasing all the non-climbing activities one could do should they wish to visit. At a quick glance, there is plenty to sink your teeth into, from helicopter flights to camel riding. So, let’s start with non-climbing activities:
Witness The Stunning Sunset Or Sunrise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5w5JNuGHvI
Watch the hues cascading off the sides of Uluru as the sun goes down. It’s a spectacular sight. You could find a spot in the vast expanse of desert surrounding the rock and set up a makeshift picnic. Or, if you feel like being a tourist, you could check out the specially designed areas for viewing. There’s the sunrise viewing area on the south-east side of Uluru, with the opposite side holding the sunset viewing area.
Trek Around The Base
Mutitjulu Waterhole. Image: FiledIMAGE
Catch up on your exercise regime while taking in the enormity of this red-hot monolith – from right up close. It’s ten kilometres of different shades of red, with hidden caverns and fragments of rock scattered around the base. Along the way, you will also see the Mutitjulu Waterhole, a landmark filled with history. If you head to the cultural centre on Uluru Road, you can purchase brochures to use for your own self-guided tour. For any trekking expeditions, wear a hat, use sunscreen, carry plenty of water and rest regularly.
Visit Kata Tjuta
Not as large and magnificent as Uluru, but Kata Tjuta boasts some rather unique activities. Like Uluru, you can view the sunrises and sunsets from specially marked locations and walk around it. However, you can trek through unique walks such as the Walpa Gorge track or trek around the whole thing, or you could seek out the Karu Lookout or the Karingana Lookout.
Scenic Flights
After all that walking and seeing everything on the ground level, you should take to the skies and see everything from a bird’s-eye view. Or even if you’re not bothered enough to walk at all. Professional Helicopter Services offers a range of flight itineraries, from short flights witnessing Uluru to long flight tours witnessing all the marvels of Central Australia – from Kings Canyon to the Domes of the Lost City. Every flight includes informative commentary from the pilot.
Sounds Of Silence
Treat yourself to a luxurious buffet dinner after your laborious day of walking. The Sounds of Silence has been considered one of the top tourist attractions in central Australia and is complete with a didgeridoo performance and a guided tour of the night sky. Sink your teeth into a 3-course bush tucker-inspired buffet and take in the dazzling sight of Uluru in the background.
Field Of Light
“More than 50,000 slender stems crowned with frosted-glass spheres bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland,” says the Northern Territory website. And that is the epitome of it all. Immerse yourself in a spectacular display of riveting colours under a vast expanse of twinkling lights above. There are various tours to choose from, ranging between $39 and $189, and all can be found in the hyperlink. Better hurry, though, because this exhibition is set to finish in late 2020
Camel Tours
View the wonders of Uluru and surrounds by riding a camel. It would have to be, by far, the most quirky travel experience you can get in central Australia. There are various tours to undertake, ranging between $80 and $129. The one in the video above is the sunset camel experience, featuring “friendly” camels and cameleers who will share the stories of central Australia, and then finish the trip with freshly baked damper and Australian-made beverages.
