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🗼 Taller than the Eiffel Tower Uluru stands at 348 metres making it taller than the Eiffel Tower, the Chrysler Building, and even the Great Pyramid of Giza (Ward, 2019).

⏱️ A 3.5-hour walk around the base The base walk is about 9.4 km long and takes roughly 3.5 hours to complete. It’s best done early in the morning before the desert heat kicks in.

🌏 Most of it is underground What you see is just the tip—Uluru extends at least 2.5 km below the surface, like a giant geological iceberg (Ward, 2019).

🧬 500 million years old Uluru formed around 500 million years ago, making it older than dinosaurs and nearly twice as ancient (Ward, 2022).

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Uluru is an inselberg (a.k.a. "a monadnock" or "island mountain"), a large, solitary rock formation that rises abruptly from a plain or similar flat area of land. Uluru is considered an inselberg because it looks like a single rock formation from a distance (it is 348 metres tall), but is made up of different types of rocks, the major one being arkose sandstone. The most remarkable feature of Uluru is its distinctive red colour, which is particularly striking at sunrise and sunset. Uluru also features many caves, valleys, and waterholes created by geological processes and erosion.

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In 2019, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park saw approximately 407,000 visitors, with roughly equal parts international and domestic (Road Genius, 2024). Although international visitation decreased from pre-COVID levels, total visitation of the park was approximately 222,118 in 2022, which was a 45% decrease from pre-COVID visitation rates. Overall, a clear pattern of recovery is occurring with domestic visitation increasing and a more gradual return of international visitors.

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This graph shows how many people visited Uluru each year from 2017 to 2022. Visitor numbers peaked in 2019, dropped sharply in 2020, and slowly increased again through 2022.

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The Uluru Cultural Centre, a key site for learning about Anangu culture, is a popular attraction, with around 216,000 visitors in a year, representing 90% of total visitors (Whittington, 2021). This highlights the importance of cultural tourism in the region and the desire of visitors to learn about the local heritage (Whittington, 2021).

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The Uluru climb closure in 2019 was a direct response to the environmental damage caused by climbing, including erosion, littering, and disturbance of sacred sites (Cameron Ward, 2019). Additionally, the park rangers have reported increasing issues with rubbish left behind by campers and visitors, which can negatively impact the environment and attract unwanted pests.

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While tourism provides economic benefits, tourism also raises concerns about cultural sensitivity and respect for traditional owners (SBS News, 2019). The climb itself was seen as culturally insensitive, and the closure aimed to address this issue and promote more respectful forms of engagement with the site (SBS News, 2019).

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Tourism is a vital part of the Northern Territory economy, and Uluru plays a significant role in attracting visitors and generating revenue (N. T. Budget, 2022). While visitor numbers have fluctuated, there is a continuing focus on sustainable tourism practices that balance economic benefits with environmental and cultural preservation (N. T. Budget, 2022).

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Uluru is significant to indigenous culture/history because it is considered a deeply sacred site, believed to have been shaped by ancestral beings during the creation period (Cameron Ward, 2017). The stories of these ancestral beings are embedded within the rock formations and surrounding landscape, forming the basis of Tjukurpa, the Anangu belief system that guides their lives (Cameron Ward, 2017). Uluru is valued culturally and spiritually by the Anangu people as a sacred site linked to Tjukurpa, while tourists appreciate its aesthetic beauty and unique landscape (Ayers Rock Resort, 2024). Uluru also holds economic value through tourism, supported by built infrastructure, organisational management, and technology that help protect and promote the site.

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Uluru is located in the southern part of the Northern Territory of Australia, within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru is a large sandstone formation rising from the flat landscape of the Australian desert. The coordinates of Uluru are approximately 25°20′42″S 131°02′10″E (Anon, 2025).

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To travel sustainably around Uluru, simply choosing not to walk up the rock already helps, but you can go further: stick to marked paths, take time to discover what the site means to the Anangu, and leave the place as you found it. Pack light, discard as little as possible, and let the region’s shops, guides, and artisans share the story they care about while you shop and explore. Pick guided experiences that centre culture and protection, and the difference becomes part of your own journey. Uluru faces threats from tourism pressure, environmental degradation, and climate change. To protect its sustainability, measures like the climbing ban, visitor education programs, and joint management by the Anangu people and park authorities help preserve its cultural and natural values for the future (Parks Australia, 2024).

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🌿 Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park Ratings

Sustainability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – strong measures, but ongoing threats from climate change remain.

Indigenous Connections: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – rich cultural experiences and deep respect for Anangu traditions.

Tourist Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – excellent facilities and tours, though accessibility is limited due to remoteness.

🌱 Quick Tips for Sustainable Tourism

Respect sacred sites – Don’t climb Uluru.

Pack reusables – Water bottles, bags, containers.

Buy local – Support Indigenous-owned tours and shops.

📝 Reviews

Indigenous Connections: More Anangu-led tours would deepen cultural understanding.

Sustainability: Limit peak-season visitors and expand eco transport to reduce impact.

Tourist Experience: Add immersive education to help visitors respect the sacred site.

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Uluru's dynamic landscape is evidence of the interaction between human and natural processes like rock-fall and fire scarring, and cultural protection and management by the Anangu. This photo shows it all.

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Uluru’s arid environment is home to a surprising number of plants, birds and animals. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia. The park is home to both Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Anon, 2024).

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The average annual rainfall is around 300 mm, but this varies a lot from year to year. While rain can fall at any time, heavy rains are most likely between November and March (although very heavy downpours have also occurred in May). Lightning storms are most common from October to February and are often preceded by strong, dry winds (Anon, 2022).

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This graph shows Uluru’s average weather throughout the year, including high and low temperatures and rainy days. The key highlights that summer months are hot with highs up to 39°C, while winter months are cooler with fewer rain days. The red shows the high Celsius, the blue shows the low Celcius, and the yellow shows the rainy days. 

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The graph shows a steady decline in visitor numbers to Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park from 2005 to 2014, dropping from over 349,000 to around 260,000. 

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This photo shows a rare scene of waterfalls flowing down Uluru, surrounded by mist and low clouds.

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The best time to come is between May and September, when the maximum temperature during the day is usually between 20°C and 30°C (Anon, 2024). The cool weather means it is safer and much more pleasant to walk, and there is very little rain. Overnight temperatures can be very cold during winter, so be sure to bring some warm clothing with you.

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Uluru is in the semi-arid zone of Central Australia. The weather is extreme, rainfall is difficult to predict, and the seasons are diverse. The average rainfall at Uluru is 291 millimetres per year (Anon, 2022).

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Uluru’s environment is primarily biophysical, consisting of a natural desert landscape with unique flora and fauna adapted to arid conditions (Anon, 2024). Uluru is also managed through conservation efforts and cultural practices by the Anangu people and park authorities to protect its natural and cultural values (Anon, 2024).

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This stunning view shows the natural beauty and rocky landscape of Australia's outback. Uluru stands tall and timeless under a clear blue sky.

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Uluru stands bold and isolated in the vast Australian outback, its red sandstone glowing beneath a soft, cloudy sky.

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Uluru began to form around 500 million years ago when sand and mud settled on the floor of an ancient inland sea. They were cemented over time into firm sandstone, then subjected to movements in the earth that pushed it upward to form a huge body of rock. The wind, rain, and fluctuating temperatures throughout the years in Uluru gradually sculpted it into the steep-sided monolith it is. Weathering and erosion are natural processes that keep its surface, creating caves, valleys, and crevices that are significant to the Anangu.

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This diagram shows the underground rock layers that formed Uluru and Kata Tjuta. The key highlights red pebble sandstone curving beneath the surface, which helped shape these famous landmarks over time.

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Uluru has experienced changes due to increased tourism and environmental management, including the ban on climbing to respect Anangu cultural beliefs, which has helped protect the rock and preserve its spiritual significance (Alice Fox, 2024). Human processes impacting Uluru include tourism activities, infrastructure development, and land management by the Anangu people and government agencies (Alice Fox, 2024). Natural processes include weathering, erosion, and seasonal changes like temperature fluctuations that shape and slowly wear down the rock formation.

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To travel sustainably around Uluru, simply choosing not to walk up the rock already helps, but you can go further: stick to marked paths, take time to discover what the site means to the Anangu, and leave the place as you found it. Pack light, discard as little as possible, and let the region’s shops, guides, and artisans share the story they care about while you shop and explore. Pick guided experiences that centre culture and protection, and the difference becomes part of your own journey.

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Uluru Base Walk – a 10 km track circling the rock, letting visitors see caves, waterholes, and ancient rock art sites.

Mutitjulu Waterhole – a permanent water source at the base of Uluru, important to Anangu culture and wildlife.

Talinguru Nyakunytjaku Viewing Area – a platform offering stunning sunrise and sunset views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) – a group of 36 large domed rock formations, also spiritually significant to the Anangu.

Cultural Centre – an educational hub where visitors learn about Anangu traditions, Tjukurpa stories, and park sustainability.

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This is my own map of Uluru. I used BOTLSS onto the map.

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Uluru faces pollution challenges primarily due to tourism, including litter, waste runoff, and illegal camping, which threaten its environment and water quality (Anon, 2025).

Sources of pollution:

Tourist waste

Water quality concerns

Illegal camping

Rubbish dumping

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Uluru tours. Cameron Ward, 2017. Available at: https://ulurutoursaustralia.com.au/blog/the-significance-of-uluru-to-australian-indigenous-culture/

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Osu.edu. Jessica Fries-Gaither, 2011. Available at: https://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/earths-changing-surface/the-forces-that-change-the-face-of-earth#:~:text=Wind%2C%20water%2C%20and%20ice%20erode,in%20the%20Arctic%20and%20Antarctica

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Dcceew.gov.au. Anon, 2022. Available at: Climate and seasons - DCCEEW

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This image shows Uluru’s location in Australia and a cross-section of its layers. The key explains that the surface is made of Cainozoic sand plains, while the core is Precambrian Mutitjulu Arkose, highlighting the rock’s structure.

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🌧️ It gets rain—and even waterfalls Despite being in the desert, Uluru receives about 300 mm of rain annually. When it pours, temporary waterfalls cascade down its sides (Anon, 2024).

🦎 Home to surprising wildlife From lizards and snakes to rare plants, Uluru supports a surprising amount of biodiversity despite its arid surroundings (Anon, 2024).

🛑 Climbing is prohibited Out of respect for the Anangu people’s wishes, climbing Uluru has been banned since 2019. It’s a sacred site with deep cultural significance.

🎨 Living cultural landscape The Anangu people have lived in the area for over 30,000 years. You might see dot painting, traditional dance, or bush tucker gathering if you visit (Parks Australia, 2024).

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This picture shows some of the beautiful animals that live near Uluru.

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This image compares the height of Uluru to famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. The picture shows that Uluru is taller than all of them, standing at 348 metres.

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Visitors ascend the iconic red sandstone slopes of Uluru, surrounded by the stark beauty of Australia's arid outback.

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Abs.gov.au. Anon. Available at: 2021 Mutitjulu - Uluru, Census Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Sightseeing Tours Australia. Cameron Ward, 2019. Available at: 11 fascinating facts about Uluru

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