Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT

Day 177 – 12th August 2011
Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT

Today we visited Uluru in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP ($25 pp entry fee). We decided to climb the rock in the morning before it gets too hot (2h). The climb is quite steep, especially at the start. The first part is without a chain as they figure “if you can’t make it to the chain without help, you will be in trouble later”. Well, Nele almost didn’t make it as it’s steep and the rock is slippery (the path is smooth from thousands of footsteps)– a combination she doesn’t like! But eventually she reached the chain and from there on it got easier - it’s still steep but at least you can hold on to something. You get a great view on the top of the surrounding area including The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) and Mt Connor. We had lunch after a visit to the cultural centre - very informative introduction to Anangu culture and also home of the ‘Sorry Book’ (a stack of letters from people around the world who in a fit of guilt or superstition have returned rocks after taken them from the park). In the afternoon we did the base walk around the rock (10.6km loop – 3h) with photo opportunities at Kantju Gorge and Mutitjulu Waterhole (a large area at the back of the rock is sensitive – secret men’s or women’s sites - where photography is not permitted). We finished the day with the must see sunset viewing to watch the colour changing of the rock while the sun sets down.

Uluru? Yes!

Ready to climb the rock?

And off we go.
Almost made it to the top of the chain
Made it!

Even when you get to the top of the chain, it's still up and down

Brr it's cold!

The walk resembles a ridge walk

Nice views


The highest point on the rock

Where is Nele?

Don't fall off the rock as it's quite a way down

Follow the white lined path

Andrew with Kata Tjuta in the background
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

Yeah!

Where is this chain taking us?

...  down the rock!

Wonderful scenery to our right
Wonderful scenery to our left

Holding on

Nele on her way down - nice but slowly

Not letting go of this chain till ...

the bottom

Uluru base walk

Kantju Gorge

Kantju Gorge

Having a rest

Uluru base walk

Uluru base walk

Mutitjulu Waterhole

Uluru base walk

Uluru at sunset

Sunset (moon rising behind the rock)

Sunset

Sunset

Sunset

Sunset

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