Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park

When overseas visitors think of Australia they think of the Sydney Opera House, they think of the Gold Coast and they think of Uluru. I have been lucky enough to visit Uluru twice in my life, and would definitely recommend it to any visitor to Australia, as well as any Australian.

Found in the heart of Australia, about 450km south-west of Alice Springs, Uluru is a spectacular monolith that rises out of the desert. According to the Aboriginal Dreamtime story "Uluru was built up during the creation period by two boys who played in the mud after rain." and when looked at from a vertical view, it does kind of look like a couple of boys playing in the mud.

Map Of Australia

 Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) were part of an ancient mountain range that ran through the middle of Australia and has eventually eroded away. Because of the nature of the sandstone that Uluru and Kata Tjuta are made of, they have managed to survive and become some of the most famous rocks in the world.


Activities

Uluru Aerial View

When it come's to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, one obvious activity comes to mind - going to see Uluru! Whether or not you want to climb Uluru, it is spectacular to just see Uluru. Entry fee in the park is $25 per person for a 3 day pass (and you'll probably need the 3 days) There is a walk around the rock which is 10.6km and will take roughly three and a half hours. You definitely need to start this walk in the morning, take plenty of water and wear a large hat! There is limited shade and even if you go in the winter months, it still gets quite hot during the day. If you're not quite up to the big walk, there are a number of shorter walks that you can undertake.

During your visit you also want to do see Kata Tjuta, another rock formation, not far from Uluru, there are a couple of different walks that you can do at Kata Tjuta, and it is a bit cooler than Uluru, due to the shade cast by the rocks. The walks are a bit shorter than those around Uluru, and easier. However it is still recommended to take plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.

If walking isn't quite your thing, I would definitely recommend a camel tour. It's fun, it's a bit different, and it's definitely an interesting story to tell your friends when you go home.

To look for other activities that you can do while at Uluru, just go here. There are a number of different things that you can do, for all different types of people.

Accommodation

When visiting Uluru there are a number of different options for accommodation, from camping to five star hotels. When you stay at Uluru, you will not be staying in the National park, but instead at Yulara, a small town nearby that has all your needs. If camping is your thing, then the Ayers Rock Campground is the place to go. Be warned though that the sites are a bit small. Normal sized camping trailers fit comfortably, but don't expect to put up an awning, anything bigger and you may want to think about booking 2 spots.

For something a bit more luxurious you may was to go with Sails in the Desert Hotel. A five star hotel in the middle of the Australian Outback. The Sails in the Desert Hotel is an amazing place to stay with beautiful rooms and a great bar.

There are a number of different options in between that you can choose from, and you can view them here. However, if you have the money and are looking for something romantic, you absolutely cannot pass up Longitude 131°. This is what is called "Glamping" or "Glamorous Camping". This is the only accommodation with views of Uluru itself, and with just 15 tents available, it's the perfect romantic location.


Restaurants and Bars

If I could recommend just one restaurant for you to go to, it would be the Bough House Restaurant. For dinner they have a buffet that serves Australian "Bush Tucker" and meats such as Emu, Kangaroo, Crocodile and Camel. They also have a kids menu available (in case the little ones aren't quite up to eating Kangaroo). The only downside is that it closes for a couple of weeks in May each year.

To see the range of restaurants and bars available, go here.

So that's a bit about the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Hopefully it sparks an interest to visit, I definitely think it is something that should be on everyone's bucket list!

-Steph