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GUNUNG · Australia

Uluru

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Source
Uluru

Photo: source

Information

Elevation
863 m
Country
Australia (AU)
Location / Range
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (UNESCO World Heritage), Northern Territory — not part of a mountain range
Mountain type
Inselberg / freestanding arkose sandstone monolith on the desert plains of Central Australia (±348 m above the surrounding plain)
Volcanic?
No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates
-25.3450, 131.0361
Difficulty
Easy to moderate: the Base Walk is flat but long (about 10.6 km), the Mala and Kuniya Walks are short; there is no climb to the summit
Best Season
The cool months of May–September; avoid summer (November–March) when there is extreme heat and some sections are closed during the day
Permits & Rules
A national park entry ticket is required (bought online). CLIMBING Uluru has been PERMANENTLY BANNED since 26 October 2019 out of respect for Anangu culture
Hazards
Extreme heat and dehydration (walk only in the morning, finishing before 11:00 when it gets hot), desert flies, little shade on some sections, and strong sun exposure. Climbing the rock is prohibited

Description

Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, is a massive arkose sandstone monolith rising roughly 348 metres above the desert plain of Central Australia, within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory. It is deeply sacred to the Anangu (Pitjantjatjara) people, the land's traditional owners, and is woven with creation stories (Tjukurpa) tied to its caves, waterholes and rock art. Since 26 October 2019, climbing Uluru has been permanently banned out of respect for Anangu beliefs and culture. Today the experience centres on respectful activities: walking around the rock's base (the ~10.6 km Base Walk), the Mala Walk, the Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole, and watching the rock glow at sunrise and sunset. Because it lies in a harsh desert, visitors must guard against extreme heat, carry plenty of water, and are advised to walk only in the cool morning hours.

Routes

Kuniya Walk (menuju Mutitjulu Waterhole)

Mudah (AWTGS Grade 2)
±30–45 menit (1 km)

Jalur pendek dan teduh dari Kuniya carpark menuju kolam permanen Mutitjulu, salah satu sumber air abadi taman. Lokasi kisah penciptaan tentang Kuniya (ular python) dan Liru.

Source

Mala Walk

Mudah (AWTGS Grade 2)
±1 jam 30 menit (2 km, pulang-pergi)

Jalur di sisi barat laut Uluru menuju Kantju Gorge, melewati gua tempat berkemah leluhur Mala serta contoh seni cadas. Sangat populer menjelang matahari terbenam ketika ngarai bermandikan cahaya merah.

Source

Uluru Base Walk

Mudah–sedang (datar tetapi panjang; AWTGS Grade 3)
±3 jam 30 menit (10,6 km, lingkar)

Jalur melingkari seluruh dasar Uluru melewati hutan akasia, lubang air, gua, dan seni cadas. Disarankan dimulai pagi hari dari Mala carpark dan diselesaikan sebelum pukul 11.00 saat musim panas karena risiko sengatan panas.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Because climbing Uluru has been permanently banned since 2019, the visitor experience now centres on respectful activities around the rock. Videos and vlogs most often capture the ~10.6 km Base Walk circling the base of the monolith — passing caves, waterholes and rock art — and sunrise and sunset, when the rock's colour shifts dramatically from orange to deep red. Recurring themes: walking in the morning to beat the desert heat, carrying plenty of water and fly protection, and respecting Anangu sacred sites by not photographing or entering certain areas. Many visitors pair the Base Walk with a cultural tour, the Mala Walk, or the Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.

  1. 1 Wikipedia Uluru en.wikipedia.org · EN
  2. 2 Wikidata Uluru (Q33910) wikidata.org · EN
  3. 3 Official Site Uluru walks uluru.gov.au · EN