Air Adventure Australia

Destination Profile - Uluru, Ayers Rock , Northern Territory

Uluru National Park is 450 km south-west of Alice Springs in the tough unrelenting country of the western desert. All 133,000 hectares of it is Aboriginal land was leased back to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1985.

Uluru, or Ayers Rock, the giant red monolith which gives its name to the Park, has in many ways come to represent Australia itself. The massive sandstone rock, which is in fact the summit of a buried mountain, generates an almost mystical power. The stories of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the Park, who call themselves Anangu, have recognised this power for some 10,000 years, or more.

To them, Uluru, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and the surrounding lands are of absolute cultural and religious significance. To the Anangu this harsh landscape is alive with explanations of life itself. They believe this country took on its unique form during the Tjukurpa creation period.

Uluru's statistics are impressive. It is 8.8 km around the base, 3.6 km long, 2.4 km wide and towers 348 metres above the surrounding plain. It occupies an area of 3.3km². There are also many walks to enjoy. At sunset Uluru puts on a spectacular light show that changes its colours from red to orange to lilac in a matter of minutes.

Uluru's important Aboriginal history means that the National Park is one of only two places in the world recognised as a World Heritage site because of its living cultural significance. It is jointly managed according to the rules of Anangu Law, the Tjukurpa.

Kata Tjuta, another sandstone and conglomerate formation, has thirty-six separate domes that in more ancient times may have been a single formation bigger than Uluru itself. Just 48 km west of Uluru and standing some 200 metres taller, are the 36 individual domes known to the Anangu as Kata Tjuta - the place of many heads.

Also known as the Olgas, you can stroll through the Valley of the Winds or Olga Gorge and catch a glimpse of some of the captivating creatures of the region - such as the Thorny Devil. Sunsets at the Olgas are also striking.

No matter how many pictures you've seen, nothing will prepare you for your first view of Uluru. Even from a distance, across the rich red plains of The Centre, the power of its ancient spirit will overwhelm you. Once you stand at its base, touch it and explore the mysteries of its perimeter, you will understand why it's not only a treasured icon to local Aboriginal people, but also one of the great wonders of the world.

This destination is part of the Flyaway Faraway Kimberley Style and Unseen Centre Australian Adventures.