Ayers Rock

candid Australia tips

 

Why
Ayers Rock
is special

The icon of Australia is the world's second largest free standing monolith. Ayers Rock rises solitarily 348 meters (1141 feet) above the desert plain and is over 9 kilometers (5 miles) in circumference. It's also known for its sacredness and changing colors. 

Interesting insights
about Ayers Rock

Sacred

The rock is sacred to the local Anunga Aborigines.

Name

Ayers Rock is the popular English designation (named after Sir Henry Ayers, a 19th century Australian governor). However, the rock's official appellation is Uluru, the one given by the Anunga Aborigines of Australia.

Compared to
Mt. Augustus

Although Ayers Rock is less than half the size of the world's largest monolith (Mt. Augustus in Western Australia), it has a more dramatic shape and overall appearance.

Sits deep
into the ground

Ayers Rock is like an iceberg because only its tip is visible - the rest extends deep into the ground.

Geology

The monolith is sandstone, the product of layers of sand laid down in an ancient sea bed about 500 million years ago.

Varying hues

The rock's surface conspicuously changes colors as the day passes - and according to weather conditions, your distance from it, and your viewing angle. Hues include reds, oranges, yellows, and grays.

Best times
of the day

Ayers Rock is at its visual best at sunrise and sunset.

Caves

The monolith is pock-marked with small caves - see black dots on the photo above.

Climbing

The Anungas discourage (but do not prohibit) visitors from climbing their sacred mountain. Roughly 1 out of 10 visitors do climb the rock, using an ancient Aborigine trail. A few slip and lose their lives each year. Once on top, the view is staggering. Note: The trail is closed when it is windy, rainy or excessively hot.

If you elect
not to climb

There are several interesting ground level paths. One stretches completely around the monolith. An Aborigine guide will explain his culture's mythology relating to the rock and will show you rock paintings.

Remote

Ayers Rock is in the middle of Australia in the middle of nowhere. The nearest modest-sized city (Alice Springs) is nearly 500 kilometers (300 miles) away.

Nearby wonders

If you base yourself in Alice Springs, you can make sort of a loop visiting three of my Hillman Wonder medal winners in Australia: Ayers Rock (gold), the Olgas (bronze), and Kings Canyon (bronze). This proximity enhances your Ayers Rock trip.

Think twice about
visiting Ayers Rock in
the height of summer

Scorching hot

That's mid-December to mid-March in the southern hemisphere. Average midday temperatures are close to 38°C (100°F) and have soared as high as 45°C (113°F). Remember, you're in a desert.

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