Uluru: Northern Territory, Australia
This post has taken ages to write for a variety of reasons. On the one hand, I'm still pinching myself that we were able to visit and on the other, there is just so much to try and cover... which makes me worry I won't be able to do it justice. However, I'll do my best because Uluru was easily one of the most incredible places we've ever been.
The Anangu traditional custodians of the land consider Uluru (one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks) to be one of the most sacred areas within their culture and the push and pull between tradition and tourism was evident during our visit. By complete chance, we happened to be there the weekend that the climb (which allowed visitors to hike up and down) was closed. This long running debate began in 1963 with the installation of a chain to help guide climbers to the top. However, the Anangu have always requested that visitors do not climb the rock as not only is it incredibly dangerous (37 people have died since records began!) but also because the path crosses a sacred Dreamtime track. When Prime Minister Bob Hawke promised to give the land back to the Anangu in 1983, the decision was made to work towards closing the climb and this was finally enacted on October 26th, 2019. It was incredible to see the media attention and hear the debate first hand. Before our visit we had already decided to not to climb out of respect for the Anangu and seeing the joyful response to its closure confirmed we made the right choice.
In total, we spent two nights in the area with only one full day of exploring so we knew we had to be strategic with planning our trip. To make the most of our time, we booked two experiences that we really can't recommend enough as they made for an absolutely perfect day.
The first activity of the day began with a shockingly early pick up from our hotel at 4:35 am in order to get to Uluru in time to watch the sunrise. When we arrived, we were provided with coffee, tea and hot chocolate before being directed to the viewing platform. There was plenty of space to spread out, take lots of photos and just enjoy the quiet of the morning. It was surprisingly chilly so we were glad we'd brought our windbreakers! Watching the sunlight softly bounce along the surface of the rock (the photo above was from this time), we really felt the magic of this unique place. We also appreciated that, although we had another stop to make on the tour, we never felt rushed by our guide so we could really soak in the atmosphere.
After the sun had fully risen, we hopped back on the bus and headed out into the outback to Kata Tjuta. Located about 16 miles from Uluru, these large dome shaped rock formations were also known as the Olgas by European settlers. Made of the same sediment that created Uluru, these peaks are also sacred to the Anangu as the setting for several Dreamtime legends. Our tour focused on Walpo Gorge where we disembarked the bus and had a little snack before heading to the viewing platform.
Walpo, meaning windy, certainly lived up to its name as we battled strong winds during our walk across the incredible setting. It made us think that this must be what walking on the red surface of Mars would be like as we carefully picked our way over the rocks. Listening to the wind whistling through the gorge, it was easy to understand how this unique and mysterious setting would give rise to powerful legends. I can honestly say that seeing the outback up close was surprisingly moving - it's just so different to anything we've experienced before.
After the tour dropped us back at our hotel at 10 am, we jumped in the car and spent a few hours enjoying some solo time wandering around Uluru. Along the ages of the rock, you can find the Uluru Base Walk which is a little path following its curving sides. Uluru's large size meant we often found ourselves alone as we explored.
The scenery really was out of this world - the colours were so vibrant! One thing we were slightly unprepared for was the incredible number of flies - they were everywhere! We had seen fly net hats on sale at the local shop and would definitely recommend buying some for your walk as it made it a little hard to focus on our surroundings at times.
The full Base Walk will take you several hours to complete and its recommended that you bring sun protection and plenty of water as temperatures can soar quickly during the heat of the day. We decided to take the easier route and drove along the base instead. This allowed us to hop out and look at the different areas up close while still keeping an eye on the time. After a few hours, we headed back to the Yulara town centre for a snack and then to our hotel to get ready for our evening under the stars...
This was by far the experience I had been dreaming about the most in the run up to our trip. Not only were we heading out for an incredible meal under the outback sky but it also happened to be my birthday! We were picked up at our hotel at 5:45 pm and taken out to our dinner location which provided a lovely view of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
First up was cocktail hour with free flowing Prosecco and other drinks while standing in the shadow of Uluru. We had such a nice time chatting to our fellow diners as canapés of kangaroo, crocodile and other local treats were passed around.
We were also treated to a didgeridoo player which really added to the unique atmosphere. It was incredible to listen to the complex music coming from just one instrument! Our fellow guests were a mix of Australians and other nationalities and we were all equally impressed.
We struck up a conversation with a very nice couple from Sydney and ended up at the same table when we were taken to the dining area. We were so, so lucky with our table choice as all of the other diners were friendly and made the evening so much fun. We had an older couple from Britain (who were on a fantastic trip that saw them leaving Uluru for Sydney the next day where they would then hop onto a cruise around the Pacific islands), two ladies from Melbourne, the couple from Sydney, and a couple from Tasmania.
As we sat chatting, the sun began to set over Kata Tjuta in the distance. It was astoundingly beautiful! The meal itself was also delicious with a starter of bush tomato soup and a buffet main course. Matt from Tasmania helped me get the perfect picture of my plate (using his cellphone flashlight!): lamb chop, leg of lamb with couscous, barramundi fish, chicken, roast potatoes, rice and veggies. It was all so tasty and we even had dessert and free flowing wine. A perfect evening!
And if that wasn't enough... when the sun had completely set, we were treated to a talk by their resident astronomer who pointed out constellations and set up two telescopes so that we could see Venus and Saturn. It really was such a perfect evening - if I could design a special meal like this, there is truly nothing I would change.
This part of our honeymoon was truly something we'll never forget and we're so, so glad we made time in our itinerary for a visit. One word of warning: our two night stay and the flights to get to and from Yulara cost nearly as much as eight days in Sydney. This is primarily due to how remote the town is and the limited accommodation options. We chose the cheapest - the Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge - and couldn't recommend it enough. It was clean, had a lovely pool, and great dining options. Basically, all you need on a trip where you'll be spending most of your time away from your room. The hotel is both a hotel and lodge so we went with the hotel option for a private room but if you're on a budget, the lodge might provide better bang for your buck!
Full Details:
Cost: $80.86 AUD (£40) per person
Time: 5 hours
Cost: $229 AUD (£115) per person
Time: 4 hours
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