THE RED CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is located in Australia's Red Centre. The park is named after the massive monoliths after which it is home to many ancient wonders. Just 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) apart, Uluru and Kata Tjuta rise from the soil in all their red grandeur. Uluru is the world's largest sandstone monolith, while Kata Tjuta is comprised of 36 massive domes spanning more than 20 kilometres (12.4 miles). For the native Anangu people, who have lived here for over 22,000 years, these locations are extremely spiritual and sacred.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN ULURu
Photo by Henrique Felix
DINE UNDER THE STARS IN THE DESERT
Photo by Explore Uluru
Dining beneath the brilliant night sky of the Australian outback is one of those unforgettable experiences. When visiting Uluru, there are three outdoor dining options to select from. As part of Ayers Rock Resort's Bush Tucker Journeys programme, each dish features historic Indigenous flavours, and each is shared under the stars in a timeless scenery that never fails to impress.
Tali Wiru, which means 'beautiful dune' in the local Anangu language, is an open-air restaurant with breathtaking views of Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta, capturing the romance of great dining beneath the Southern Desert night sky.
As the sun sets, you are greeted by the haunting strains of the didgeridoo, a private affair with only 20 people. Champagne is served with canapés such as pan seared scallops with gulgulk beurre noisette or smoked kangaroo and kutjera crostini.
The four-course table d'hote menu starts with pressed wallaby or beetroot and Illawarra plum mousse as an entrée, followed by Wagyu beef fillet or pan-roasted toothfish for the main course. Desserts include rosella and lychee petit gateaux or chocolate textures with Davidson plum, quandong, lemon myrtle, and hot chocolate sauce. The meal is complemented by a selection of top Australian wines.
An Indigenous storyteller tells tales of the past while you sip a nightcap around a crackling campfire. It's a night to remember for the rest of your life.
Photo by Explore Uluru
Birdwatching
Photo of Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo’s by Australian Wildlife Journeys
Uluru-Kata Tjuta is a birdwatcher's dream come true. In the park, they've identified 178 different bird species, including several uncommon ones.
Throughout the day, the birds flood the dry landscape with sounds and colours. Early dawn is the ideal time to watch birds at Uluru-Kata Tjuta. The secret to success is to be quiet, patient, and observant.
Birds are given names by Anangu depending on the sound of their calls. Because you're more likely to hear a bird before seeing it, this approach is incredibly useful for determining which birds are in the area.
Photo of Zebra Finches by Australian Wildlife Journeys
The park's cliffs, canyons, and rocky slopes are referred to as 'puli' by Anangu. Many birds visit these locations to drink and rest before moving on to graze and breed in other areas. Brown falcon, peregrine falcon, Australian kestrel, grey-headed honeyeater, pied butcherbird, fairy martin, and blackfaced woodswallow are some of the species to look out for.
The most frequent vegetation in the park is spinifex grass. It attracts small birds, who can be seen flying in and out of the grass. Look for zebra finches, budgerigars, and the rare dusky grasswren and painted firetail finch, among other birds.
Grevilleas, hakeas, and desert oaks make up the puti's habitat. It may be found on most of the park's key highways. Little woodswallows, willy wagtails, pied butcherbirds, Australian ringneck parrots, brown goshawks, emus, and other species rely on this environment for food and refuge.
Admire Aboriginal art and the artists who create it
Photo by Walkatjara Art
Maruku Arts and Walkatjara Art are two galleries in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park that exhibit Anangu art and crafts. The Cultural Centre is home to both galleries. They are owned and operated by Aboriginal people, with revenues going back into the community.
Anangu owns and directs Walkatjara Art, the Mutitjulu community's art centre. Mutitjulu artisans make bright paintings depicting indigenous Tjukurpa legends at Walkatjara.
Walkatjara Art at the Cultural Centre is open to park visitors who want to view the artists at work, learn about Anangu culture, and learn about the stories behind the paintings.
Walkatjara is a community enterprise that is not for profit. Artists earn 50% of the sale price of a painting, with the remainder going toward the art centre's operating expenditures.
Walkatjara is a vibrant and pleasant place where local artists may unwind and express themselves creatively, sometimes accompanied by family members. Artists are passionate about their work and their art centre, and they are strong supporters of local culture.
Photo by Maruku Arts
Explore Uluru's art and traditional woodwork, as well as the surrounding country. Explore the lively outlet store, which sells paintings, wood carvings (puu), reliefs (walka boards), tools, weapons, and lovely accessories. Learn about the method and purpose of local Anangu artists' work by watching demonstrations.
A visit to Maruku Gallery allows you to witness magnificent art from Australia's heartland while also learning about and appreciating Anangu culture.
The Maruku Gallery is a regional art centre that represents over 20 indigenous isolated communities across the Central and Western Deserts, including the Mutitjulu settlement, which is local to Uluru.
Walking in Uluru
Photo by Tim Davies
Take time to appreciate Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park's natural beauty and rich culture.
The walking routes are the best way to uncover the park's hidden treasures, from mind-blowing rock formations to boundless panoramas, soaring domes to incredible crevices and rock art paintings.
The majority of the tracks are handicap accessible and range in difficulty from easy to difficult.
The tracks of the ancestral beings can be followed on walks around Uluru's base. The shapes and textures of the rock contain knowledge and stories that have been passed down through Anangu ancestors and are still relevant today.
Kata Tjuta is a group of 36 steep-sided domes located 50 kilometres from Uluru. The Pitjantjatjara word Kata Tjuta means 'many heads'. This is a sacred Anangu men's location under Tjukurpa. Everyone is welcome to walk through this unearthly site, but like with all areas of the park, please stick on the designated paths.
Photo by Inspiration Outdoors