Uluru (Ayers Rock)

There are already a few Uluru reviews up here, but thought I would contribute one anyway, because my experience was slightly differerent. Whilst I was there, it pretty much rained the whole time. Not what you'd expect in the middle of the outback, but apparently it is a semi-arid zone, so they do get some rainfall. However it is an extremely rare sight. One of the major differences between Aussies and Brits is in attitudes towards rain. Aussies understand that water is a precious commodity, and don't moan about it the rain like we tend to! They celebrate rain the way we rush outside in our shorts and vest tops when there is 5 minutes of ...  Read the complete review

Uluru (or Ayers Rock) is a UNESCO world heritage site in the south of the Northern Territory, Australia. The rock itself is sandstone, and around 200 miles from Alice Springs (the nearest large town). It is located in the Kata Tjuta National Park, and is the bigger of the 2 main rocks, Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Uluru is sacred to the local aboriginal people (the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara). ~~~ Name ~~~ The name Uluru is the one used by the aboriginal people. The word itself has no meaning in their traditional language, but is the family name of the tribe elders. It was named Ayres Rock in 1873 by William Gosse, who was a surveyor; it was ...  Read the complete review

Ive recently came back from travelling around Australia for six months and I have to admit that my time during the outback has to be the highlight, Uluru opitimising it all. You wont go to Uluru for an extended stay, you will end up in Yulara, a resort built specifically for people wanting to visit Uluru by request of the Aboriginals. You can reach this destination by car, bus and i believe the Gahn(train) it also has planes going in regulary, however this is expensive. I dont believe you will get the most out of a visit here without knowing about the Aboriginal history and their struggle and what it means to them. Without this prior knowledge i wouldnt have ...  Read the complete review

Ayers Rock (or Uluru to give it it's Aboriginal name) is a place that you are unlikely to go for an extended stay. It is a place where you will stop off at on your travels around Australia or, like us, a quick flight in and out with an overnight stay. When you shut your eyes and think about Australia some people will visualize The Opera House, others will see The Great Barrier Reef but many will see the burnt orange glow of Uluru in all it's splendour and wonder what it is like in the flesh. Well, I can say that it is truly amazing. ***History*** The area surrounding the rock was first inhabited around 20000 years ago by the Anangu, the ...  Read the complete review

We spent seven months in Australia, which obviously isn't going to fit in one op, so I thought I'd start at the very pinnacle of our Oz experience. Although it isn’t the easiest place to get to, Ayers Rock has to be one of the most magical places I have ever visited. Pretty much slap bang in the centre of Australia, Ayers Rock was “discovered” by the a Victorian explorer who somehow managed to get back and tell people about it, unlike the majority of other explorers who wound up just another pile of dessicated bones in the landscape while looking for a route from south to north, or even more implausibly trying to find the “inland ...  Read the complete review