When we passed the gates into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, we had just travelled 2000 kilometres from Darwin into the harsh centre of the Australian continent. A long journey admittedly to see a rock, albeit a popular one. 

Especially considering that we still had to travel another 2700 kilometres through equally barren desolation to get back to civilization, in our case Port Douglas in the Wet Tropics of Queensland. 

I think it is quite remarkable that more than 250,000 visitors every year travel to the faraway centre of Australia to see a rock. But then, I’ve not met a single person yet whose been to Uluru and regrets the journey. On the contrary, most would love to come back to see this most iconic of Australia’s major tourist attractions a second or third time even. 

Stay on a dusty campground, endure the blistering heat and, as I mentioned, an incredibly long, rather tedious journey, all for a look at that glowing red rock. As there are plenty of far more accessible rocks, gorges, and mountains scattered across the indescribable vastness of red earth studded with tussocky clumps of spinifex that is the Red Centre, it begs the question of why anyone would bother to seek out the most remote. One, that since 2019 is no longer allowed to be climbed and may not even be photographed from certain angles for cultural considerations.

Tourism organisations often show aerial shots of Uluru at sunset, of the giant monolith rising regally above the desert plains (a perspective you’ll not have unless you book an expensive helicopter flight) and glowing in the most furious shades of crimson. There’s never a person or car in sight except for maybe a stylish couple sipping champagne on a white blanket in a spot that is strictly off-limits to tourists.

I was almost sure I’d be disappointed by the real thing. But I was not. Uluru is a remarkably beautiful rock, the largest monolith on earth actually, and its remote location further adds to the allure. The colossal rock is dazzling in its entirety and equally fascinating close-up when you notice all the cracks and crevices in the rock face. It’s not surprising that this site became one of great cultural importance to the local Aboriginal people and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in recognition of its outstanding natural beauty in 1987 and yet again in 1994, this time for its cultural values.

Once you’re in the park, you can easily see Uluru in a day, preferably at sunset. It’s such a fascinating sight, however, that you can easily spend a couple of days without growing tired of the area. I don’t recommend a day trip from Alice Springs because you’ll either miss out on a spectacular sunset over Uluru or spend 5 hours driving back to Alice Springs in the dark and share the road with plenty of wildlife. 

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is Aboriginal land and belongs to the Anangu traditional owners. To honour the great cultural significance of this site to the owners, and also to minimize the risk of heat stress to visitors, your movement in the park, especially at Uluru itself, is restricted to several lookouts and well-maintained hiking trails.