Destinations
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
TheLionVoyager
Explore the best of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
everything you need to know about the Australian Red Heart
The Red Centre is a semi-desert in the centre of Australia in the outback of the Northern Territory near the large town of Alice Springs. It is known for its vast red desert landscapes, impressive mountain ranges and sandstone rocks such as the famous Uluru that with Kata Tjuta, the MacDonnel Ranges and the King Canyon make one of the most popular destination to visit in Australia.
Uluru also known as Ayers Rock is sacred to the Anangu Aboriginal people of the area, it’s a spiritual site known for its healing energy. It is many things to the Anangu, including the centre of the universe and the home of the Earth Mother. It is famous also for its ability to change colour based on the time of year and the time of day.
Arrive by car or by plane?
One of the most important decisions that you will have to make once you are planning a trip to Australia is how to move around this huge continent. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is exactly in the middle, around 2000 km from Darwin and Adelaide and 3000km from Sydney and Brisbane.
If you are planning a quick visit of 2 or 3 days to Uluru, then I’d suggest to do so by plane, landing in Alice Springs Airport and hire a car from there. While if you are planning a road trip for weeks, driving in the desert and around Uluru will be an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it.
How to move around the Australian Outback
The best way to travel around is to hire a 4WD or 2WD vehicle. Plan your refuelling stops in advance or as soon as you see one just fill up the tank, there are enough roadhouses along the road but you should not miss any of them.
Another important thing to remember is to have always enough food and fresh water tank in the car, that you can use for any need (brush your teeth, wash your face with it or wash dishes).
Driving at night is not recommended, most of the people advise against it as a lot of animals are crossing the roads. If you planned to drive a long way, it’s a good idea to start early in the morning and stop around 6pm, so you can make the most of the time you have in the Outback.
More about Kata Tjuta
Formerly known as the Olgas, the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta cover more than 20 square kilometres. Together with Uluru, they make two of the most popular landmarks in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is considered to be a sacred site to the Aboriginal people of Australia. Kata Tjuta is a magical place that really shows the true natural beauty of Australia. This part of the country is renowned for its rich Aboriginal history and its incredible scenery so, if you’re in the area, be sure to check it out and learn all about the stories and legends.
In the Olgas there are few walks that will take you in some of the best views, though many have been closed in recent years to stop tourists from trampling the ancient landscape. Even so, visitors can still enjoy up to 7 kilometres of walking trails, including the popular Walpa Gorge Walk that, at 2.6 kilometres long, is one of the easiest to complete. The views from down here are breath-taking.
Some cool tips you should know
01.
Have a wild swim in West MacDonnell Ranges National Park
Just outside Alice Spring, there are few spectacular natural places where you can swim. The best one are Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge. The gorge has a permanent waterhole that is ideal for swimming, especially in the warmer months, the surroundings are so picturesque
02.
Sunrise and sunset
While in Uluru, watching the sunrise and sunset is a 'must thing to do'. As the sunlight goes down, the landscape and the rock formations change colours many times. It's an amazing spectacle of the nature
03.
Visit the Kings Canyon
Watarrka National Park is only three hours’ drive from Uluru, and is home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Rise before the heat and watch the sun come up from the top, Kings Canyon Rim Walk offers spectacular views of the gorge and of the surrounding landscape below
