Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru, is an iconic symbol of Australia. More than 250,000 people visit the red center of the country each year. It's an effort to journey out there alone. Australia is a big country and not exactly what you'd call densely populated.
Uluru from the sky
Flying to Uluru takes a good three hours from the capital cities of most Australian states. If you're travelling by car, the quickest route is 29 hours of straight driving.
It stands to reason that anyone who commits to journeying out to the heart of the Australian desert would be determined to get something out of it. Unfortunately, many tourists conclude that the best way to do this is to climb the rock itself.
Case in point
This is an act that is not only very dangerous but considered to be highly disrespectful to the Aboriginal people who still call this part of Australia home.
They believe that ancestral beings formed Uluru during the Dreamtime (the creation of the earth). Some areas of the structure are said to represent ancestral spirits, and rituals are still held in sections of the rock today.
Uluru is considered sacred to them, which is why they would prefer that people honor this by not climbing it.
Luckily, there are other means of experiencing Uluru that are far more rewarding than scaling a small section of the monolith could ever be. Here are some alternatives to climbing Uluru in Australia that you might want to consider.
I survived the Uluru Base Walk!
This is by far the best way to take in the full scope of Uluru. The Uluru Base Walk is 10km (6.21 miles) long and takes around three hours to complete.
The track is marked with relevant information about the Anangu people, who have resided there for thousands of years, detailing how they lived off the land and their traditional stories.
There are even some cave paintings that have survived the test of time and foolishness of early tourists to the rock (tour guides used to throw water on them, the better to show them off to the crowds!)
Some parts of the rock are still considered to be especially important to the Aboriginal people, and they ask that you refrain from taking photos in these sections.
Don't worry. They're all clearly marked, so you'll know when you're able to start snapping away again.
The path begins
If you have any strength left in your legs after completing the walk, take the two-kilometer path out to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
You'll have the opportunity here to learn a bit more about both the rock and the people who called the area home before European settlement. After that, you can eat whatever you wish for dinner that night—you've earned it!
Bikes are available on site and offer a speedier option for journeying around the base of Uluru.
Post-sunset
Uluru will take your breath away with its magnificence at any time of day. That being said, it's worth making the time to see it either during sunrise or sunset.
I was lucky enough to experience seeing the rock in the light of the setting sun. Uluru glowed a deep, earthy red, which it and the Australian outback are world-famous for. It was one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.
If you're carless, buses are available in Yulara (the village where all visitors to Kata Tjuta National Park are required to stay) for both sunrise and sunset sessions. These can be booked at the tourist information center in the town square or at your hotel.
How's that view for a dinner partner?
There are two options available when dining with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your companions.
The Sound of Silence experience features a buffet meal that showcases quintessentially Australian bush tucker. You'll find yourself gnawing on crocodile, kangaroo, barramundi, and quandong (an Australian desert plant).
You'll knock back GH Mumm Champagne and watch the sunset over the rock to the soothing sound of a didgeridoo. The night concludes with dessert and a detailed explanation of the constellations visible in the night sky from this part of the globe.
Tali Wiru is a similar deal, with a few notable differences. The setting is much smaller. You'll find yourself dining with no more than 16 other people.
Rather than a buffet, you select your dishes straight from a menu, and they may be some of the best meals you'll consume in your life. I experienced Tali Wiru for myself last year. It was a magical evening that I'll never forget.
Not a bad view at all
If you have a bit of extra cash to spare, I highly recommend splurging on either a plane or helicopter flight. Don't sit in the front seat if you're as terrified of heights as I am. There will be a glass floor at your feet; you'll be looking straight down, and you will be utterly terrified.
Flights are available via both helicopter and plane at any time of the day. If you're going to do it, I recommend shelling out a bit more to see the rocks at either sunrise or sunset. It's worth it!
As travelers, it's essential to respect the local beliefs and culture of the countries that you visit. This way, you can experience Uluru at its very best, without causing any offence to the traditional inhabitants of this part of Australia.
The post Alternatives To Climbing Uluru in Australia appeared first on Go Backpacking.
Uluru from the sky
Flying to Uluru takes a good three hours from the capital cities of most Australian states. If you're travelling by car, the quickest route is 29 hours of straight driving.
It stands to reason that anyone who commits to journeying out to the heart of the Australian desert would be determined to get something out of it. Unfortunately, many tourists conclude that the best way to do this is to climb the rock itself.
Case in point
This is an act that is not only very dangerous but considered to be highly disrespectful to the Aboriginal people who still call this part of Australia home.
They believe that ancestral beings formed Uluru during the Dreamtime (the creation of the earth). Some areas of the structure are said to represent ancestral spirits, and rituals are still held in sections of the rock today.
Uluru is considered sacred to them, which is why they would prefer that people honor this by not climbing it.
Luckily, there are other means of experiencing Uluru that are far more rewarding than scaling a small section of the monolith could ever be. Here are some alternatives to climbing Uluru in Australia that you might want to consider.
I survived the Uluru Base Walk!
Walk Around the Perimeter of the Rock
This is by far the best way to take in the full scope of Uluru. The Uluru Base Walk is 10km (6.21 miles) long and takes around three hours to complete.
The track is marked with relevant information about the Anangu people, who have resided there for thousands of years, detailing how they lived off the land and their traditional stories.
There are even some cave paintings that have survived the test of time and foolishness of early tourists to the rock (tour guides used to throw water on them, the better to show them off to the crowds!)
Some parts of the rock are still considered to be especially important to the Aboriginal people, and they ask that you refrain from taking photos in these sections.
Don't worry. They're all clearly marked, so you'll know when you're able to start snapping away again.
The path begins
If you have any strength left in your legs after completing the walk, take the two-kilometer path out to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
You'll have the opportunity here to learn a bit more about both the rock and the people who called the area home before European settlement. After that, you can eat whatever you wish for dinner that night—you've earned it!
Ride a Bike
Bikes are available on site and offer a speedier option for journeying around the base of Uluru.
Ogle Uluru During Sunrise or Sunset
Post-sunset
Uluru will take your breath away with its magnificence at any time of day. That being said, it's worth making the time to see it either during sunrise or sunset.
I was lucky enough to experience seeing the rock in the light of the setting sun. Uluru glowed a deep, earthy red, which it and the Australian outback are world-famous for. It was one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.
If you're carless, buses are available in Yulara (the village where all visitors to Kata Tjuta National Park are required to stay) for both sunrise and sunset sessions. These can be booked at the tourist information center in the town square or at your hotel.
Dine in the Desert, With the Rock as Your Companion
How's that view for a dinner partner?
There are two options available when dining with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your companions.
The Sound of Silence experience features a buffet meal that showcases quintessentially Australian bush tucker. You'll find yourself gnawing on crocodile, kangaroo, barramundi, and quandong (an Australian desert plant).
You'll knock back GH Mumm Champagne and watch the sunset over the rock to the soothing sound of a didgeridoo. The night concludes with dessert and a detailed explanation of the constellations visible in the night sky from this part of the globe.
Tali Wiru is a similar deal, with a few notable differences. The setting is much smaller. You'll find yourself dining with no more than 16 other people.
Rather than a buffet, you select your dishes straight from a menu, and they may be some of the best meals you'll consume in your life. I experienced Tali Wiru for myself last year. It was a magical evening that I'll never forget.
Opt for a Bird's Eye View Instead
Not a bad view at all
If you have a bit of extra cash to spare, I highly recommend splurging on either a plane or helicopter flight. Don't sit in the front seat if you're as terrified of heights as I am. There will be a glass floor at your feet; you'll be looking straight down, and you will be utterly terrified.
Flights are available via both helicopter and plane at any time of the day. If you're going to do it, I recommend shelling out a bit more to see the rocks at either sunrise or sunset. It's worth it!
As travelers, it's essential to respect the local beliefs and culture of the countries that you visit. This way, you can experience Uluru at its very best, without causing any offence to the traditional inhabitants of this part of Australia.
The post Alternatives To Climbing Uluru in Australia appeared first on Go Backpacking.