When is the best time to visit Uluru?
Uluru Travel Planning Resources
- Best Time to Visit Uluru and Alice Springs
- What to do in Uluru, Alice Springs and Kings Canyon
- How to get to Uluru
- How to rent a car in Uluru or Alice Springs
- How to rent a campervan in Alice Springs
- Half and full day tour options from Uluru
- Multi day tour options which start and finish in Uluru
Where to stay in Uluru?
- Red Ochre Spa – relax with all kinds of boutique spa treatments
- Ilkari Restaurant – feast in the brasserie-style restaurant
- Walpa Lobby Bar – great for cocktails, music and Indigenous-inspired cuisine
- Mulgara Gallery – amazing Indigenous artworks
Why is Uluru sacred?
What are the 7 Wonders of Australia?
- The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
- Uluru, Northern Territory.
- Twelve Apostles, Victoria.
- The Horizontal Falls, Western Australia.
- Australian War Memorial, Australian Capital Territory.
- Sydney Opera House, New South Wales.
- Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.
Where is Uluru on the map?
- As you can see from the map, Uluru Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta are 50 km far from each other.
- The airport is located north of Yulara / Ayers Rock Resort and just 20 mins from Uluru.
- Yulara / Ayers Rock Resort is just a few minutes drive from the airport.
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Why was Uluru named Ayers Rock?
When did Uluru become a European settlement?
What is Uluru known for?
When did Australia return Uluru to the Pitjantjatjara?
When did the first tourists arrive in Uluru?
When did Kata Tjuta become Uluru?
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About this website
Why was Ayers Rock name changed to Uluru?
In this year, the name of the national park changed from Ayers Rock-Mount Olga National Park to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The change was put in place to show respect for the Anangu people and, specifically, to acknowledge their ownership of the land.
Who changed Ayers Rock to Uluru?
In the last 150 years the rock has held a variety of official titles; the first European to discover it named it Ayers Rock in 1873. Then, in 1993, the Australian government changed the name to Ayers Rock/Uluru; in 2002 the titles were reversed and its current official name is Uluru/Ayers Rock.
What was Uluru called before Ayers Rock?
Uluru: The Original Name Uluru is a Yankunytjatjara word. Yankunytjatjara is the name of the Aboriginal people whose land Ayers Rock is located on. Uluru is not just the name of Ayers Rock itself, but also of the country around Ayers Rock.
How many years old is Uluru Ayers Rock )?
Uluru and Kata Tjuta started to form about 550 million years ago.
What's the Aboriginal name for Australia?
Local Indigenous Australian peoples named all of Australia in their languages before the invasion. Uluru is the Aboriginal name for this significant site in Central Australia which should be respected and recognised.
Is calling Uluru Ayers Rock disrespectful?
That means you can use either Uluru or Ayers Rock to refer to the rock. However, in the national park we always use the original name: Uluru.
What does Uluru mean in English?
/ (ˌuːləˈruː) / noun. a large isolated desert rock, sometimes described as the world's largest monolith, in the Northern Territory of Australia: sacred to local Aboriginal people.
Is Uluru the biggest rock in the world?
Contrary to popular opinion, it is Mount Augustus, and not Uluru, which is the largest rock in the world. Rising 717m above the flat plains which surround it, Mount Augustus covers an area of 4,795 hectares, making it one-and-a-half times larger than Uluru (3,330 hectares).
Why is Uluru so special to Aboriginal?
It has been a significant landmark to Aboriginal people since the Beginning. The natural landmark is thought to have been formed by ancestral beings during the Dreaming. According to the local Aboriginal people, Uluru's numerous caves and fissures were all formed due to ancestral beings actions in the Dreaming.
Who was the first Aboriginal to see Uluru?
Gosse was the first to reach Uluru and named it after Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief Secretary of South Australia, from this point on Uluru was widely recognised as 'Ayers Rock'. In the early 1900's it was declared that land belonged to the government which allowed for many tourism and mining opportunities.
How long have Aboriginal people been at Uluru?
30,000 yearsAboriginal people have lived in the area around Uluru and Kata Tjuta for at least 30,000 years. For Anangu, their culture has always existed here. The Central Australian landscape (of which Uluru and Kata Tjuta are an important part) is believed to have been created at the beginning of time by ancestral beings.
Is Ayers Rock taller than the Eiffel Tower?
How high is Uluru? Uluru rises 348 metres above the surrounding plain. That's higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Chrysler Building in New York or the Eureka Tower in Melbourne.
The Significance of Uluru to Australian Indigenous Culture
For many, Uluru and its neighbour Kata Tjuta aren’t just rocks, they are living, breathing, cultural landscapes that are incredibly sacred. Known as being the resting place for the past ancient spirits of the region. A large portion of its surrounds is Indigenous Protected Area, which protects the biodiversity, cultural, and social features within.
Uluru Ayers Rock Facts - Quick Facts & Interesting Information
Here are some more facts about Australia's iconic rock formation in the Northern Territory. Uluru was named "Ayers Rock" by Europeans in 1873 when William Gosse gave it its title after Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief Secretary of South Australia at the time
What is the name of the rock in Northern Territory?
Ayers Rock was the most widely used name until 1993, when the rock was officially renamed Ayers Rock / Ulu r u – the first feature in the Northern Territory to be given dual names.
What is the name of the rock in Australia?
Australia’s most famous natural landmark has two names – Ulu r u and Ayers Rock. So which one is correct? The rock was called Ulu r u a long time before Europeans arrived in Australia. The word is a proper noun from the Pitjantjatjara language and doesn’t have an English translation.
Where is Uluru located?
Uluru/Ayers Rock, giant monolith, one of the tors (isolated masses of weathered rock) in southwestern Northern Territory, central Australia. It has long been revered by a variety of Australian Aboriginal peoples of the region, who call it Uluru. The rock was sighted in 1872 by explorer Ernest Giles and was first visited by a European ...
What is the name of the monolith in Uluru?
Take this quiz to see how much you know—and learn lots of fascinating facts and history! The monolith is within Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park (established in 1958 as Ayers Rock–Mount Olga National Park and renamed in 1993), which also includes the Olgas (Kata Tjuta), a group of tors about 20 miles (32 km) west-northwest of Uluru/Ayers Rock.
What is the name of the rock that Olga visited?
Olgas. …giant tors; the others are Uluru/Ayers Rock and Mount Conner (Artilla). They were visited and named in 1872 after Queen Olga of Württemberg by the explorer Ernest Giles. Their Aboriginal name, Kata Tjuta, means “many heads.”. The rocks offer visitors a constantly changing array of colour as the sun moves….
What is the color of the rock at sunset?
Composed of arkosic sandstone, which contains a high proportion of feldspar, the rock changes colour according to the position of the Sun; it is most visually striking at sunset, when it is coloured a fiery orange-red by the Sun’s rays.
What are the caves at the base of the rock?
Shallow caves at the base of the rock are sacred to several Aboriginal tribes and contain carvings and paintings. Britannica Quiz. National Parks and Landmarks Quiz. Whether you would like to visit Yosemite, the Eiffel Tower, or the Taj Mahal, national parks and landmarks welcome millions of visitors every year.
Is the Rock of the World a World Heritage Site?
The rock and the surrounding park were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and UNESCO gave the park a second World Heritage designation in 1994 for its cultural significance. The region’s climate is hot and dry for much of the year, with considerable diurnal (day-night) temperature variation.
Is Mount Augustus a monolith?
It is the world’s largest monolith. (Mount Augustus [Burringurrah] in Western Australia is often identified as the world’s largest monolith, but, because it is composed of multiple rock types, it is technically not a monolith.) Uluru/Ayers Rock, Northern Territory, Australia. Uluru/Ayers Rock, Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, ...
What is the name of the mountain in Uluru?
Close-up view of Uluru's surface, composed of arkose. Uluru is an inselberg, meaning "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region.
Where is Uluru located?
It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs . Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Aṉangu. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings.
What is the name of the national park in Australia?
Uluru and Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park . Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks and has been a popular destination for tourists since the late 1930s. It is also one of the most important indigenous sites in Australia.
How tall is Uluru?
The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high, rising 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total perimeter of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the local Aṉangu people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the bush, food, local flora and fauna, and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.
What is the name of the rock in the movie 447?
447. Inscription. 1987 (11th session) Uluru ( / ˌuːləˈruː /, Pitjantjatjara: Uluṟu Pitjantjatjara pronunciation: [ˈʊ.lʊ.ɻʊ] ), also known as Ayers Rock ( / ˌɛərz -/, like airs) and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in Australia.
What is the name of the rock strata that makes up Uluru?
For the purpose of mapping and describing the geological history of the area, geologists refer to the rock strata making up Uluru as the Mutitjulu Arkose, and it is one of many sedimentary formations filling the Amadeus Basin.
How far is Uluru from Yulara?
From Uluru it is 17 km (11 mi) by road to the tourist town of Yulara, population 3,000, which is situated just outside the national park. On 8 October 2009, the Talinguru Nyakuntjaku viewing area opened to public visitation.
When did Uluru change its name?
The return was part of the acknowledgement of their place as the original custodians of the land. However it wasn’t until 1995 that the name change officially took place.
What is the name of the rock that is the most iconic in Australia?
Uluru vs Ayers Rock: The Name Change of Australia’s Most Iconic Monument. Standing at 348 metres above the desert floor, Uluru is the world’s largest monolith and Australia’s most iconic landmark. But it hasn’t always been known as Uluru. In fact, for most people, the towering red rock formation is simply known as Ayers Rock and has been for years.
Why did the name of the National Park change?
The change was put in place to show respect for the Anangu people and, specifically, to acknowledge their ownership of the land. Since the beginning they have cultivated this land and built their societies here.
What is the rock called that is a red rock?
In fact, for most people, the towering red rock formation is simply known as Ayers Rock and has been for years. However, its rich and cultural significance encouraged a name-change in the 90s. In 1872, European explorer Ernest Giles first dubbed the rock Ayers Rock after the South Australian Premier Sir Henry Ayers.
Is Uluru a popular tourist attraction?
Since the beginning they have cultivated this land and built their societies here. Today, Uluru remains an incredibly popular attraction with a hefty cultural history imbued in its dusty red surface. Visitors flock to the sacred site to marvel at the impressive natural structure of the rock.
When did the Australian government open Uluru?
The Australian Government declared ownership of the land in the early 1900s and by the 1930s had opened up the area to visitors. The first tourists visited Uluru in 1936 and by the 1950s the rush to the rock had well and truly flourished with tourists and miners paying regular visits to the region.
How was Ayres Rock formed?
Composed of sandstone, Ayres Rock was formed by massive geological and erosional processes over millions of years. Alluvial fans were created from the erosion of the surrounding mountain ranges, then compacted by rising seawaters over 500 million years ago to form a layer of hard rock.
Who was the first European to climb Ayers Rock?
The following year, William Christie Gosse went on an expedition from Alice Springs with a camel train to climb the rock he named Ayers Rock, making him the first European to do so. Ayers Rock was then named after Gosse’s superior, the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.
When did the government move the Yulara hotel?
As the years passed the concerns grew for the effects this influx in tourism would have on the precious land, so as a result the Government agreed to move the newly erected accommodation sites to a new location in Yulara in 1973.
Ayers Rock in '73
I climbed Ayers Rock in '73'. Back then it was called Ayers Rock and it was a prerequisite of our school to climb.
Ayers Rock 1970
I was a boy of 8 when we went to Ayers Rock 40 years ago. There was nothing there but the rock. Of course I climbed it! I will always remember it. I wore a hole in the seat of my shorts because I came down on my bum doing the crab-walk all the way! What about climbing it now? Yes, you should be able to climb it.
Why was Uluru named Ayers Rock?
Why was Uluru ever called Ayers Rock? Uluru was first named ‘Ayers Rock’ by Ernest Giles, a European explorer who first sighted the rock in 1872. The name Ayers Rock was chosen by Giles who named it after the South Australian Premier at the time, Sir Henry Ayers.
When did Uluru become a European settlement?
Prior to this, communities of Aboriginal people, the indigenous people of Australia, lived in and were sustained by the area. In 1940, permanent European settlement of the Uluru area began as a result of the Aboriginal welfare policy of the time and in an effort to encourage tourism to Uluru.
What is Uluru known for?
Uluru, one of Australia’s most famous and immediately recognisable landmarks, was more widely known as ‘Ayers Rock’ for a number of years. In fact, many Australians grew up knowing Uluru by only the name of Ayers Rock.
When did Australia return Uluru to the Pitjantjatjara?
From Ayers Rock to Uluru…. October 26, 1985 signified an important date in the history of Uluru. On this day, the government of Australia officially returned the ownership of Uluru to the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal people, the group of people who are the traditional custodians of the land.
When did the first tourists arrive in Uluru?
It is believed that the first tourists arrived in the Uluru area in 1936.
When did Kata Tjuta become Uluru?
In 1958 the Kata Tjuta National Park was separated from the Petermann Reserve — this area would become Uluru. At this time, the name Ayers Rock–Mount Olga National Park was given to Uluru and it became managed by the Northern Territory Reserves Board.
Overview
Name
The local Aṉangu, the Pitjantjatjara people, call the landmark Uluṟu (Pitjantjatjara: [ʊlʊɻʊ]). This word is a proper noun, with no further particular meaning in the Pitjantjatjara dialect, although it is used as a local family name by the senior traditional owners of Uluru.
On 19 July 1873, the surveyor William Gosse sighted the landmark and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. Since then, both names ha…
Description
The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high, rising 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total perimeter of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the local Aṉangu people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the bush, food, local flora and fauna, and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.
Geology
Uluru is an inselberg, meaning "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region. Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although this is an ambiguous term that is generally avoided by geologists.
Fauna and flora
Historically, 46 species of native mammals are known to have been living near Uluru; according to recent surveys there are currently 21. Aṉangu acknowledge that a decrease in the number has implications for the condition and health of the landscape. Moves are supported for the reintroduction of locally extinct animals such as malleefowl, common brushtail possum, rufous hare-wallaby or …
Climate and five seasons
The park has a hot desert climate and receives an average rainfall of 284.6 mm (11.2 in) per year. The average high temperature in summer (December–January) is 37.8 °C (100.0 °F), and the average low temperature in winter (June–July) is 4.7 °C (40.5 °F). Temperature extremes in the park have been recorded at 46 °C (115 °F) during summer and −5 °C (23 °F) during winter. UV levels are extreme between October and March, averaging between 11 and 15 on the UV index.
Aboriginal myths, legends and traditions
According to the Aṉangu, traditional landowners of Uluru:
The world was once a featureless place. None of the places we know existed until creator beings, in the forms of people, plants and animals, traveled widely across the land. Then, in a process of creation and destruction, they formed the landscape as we know it today. Aṉangu land is still inhabited by the spirits of d…
History
Archaeological findings to the east and west indicate that humans settled in the area more than 10,000 years ago.
Europeans arrived in the Australian Western Desert in the 1870s. Uluru and Kata Tjuta were first mapped by Europeans in 1872 during the expeditionary period made possible by the construction of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. I…