Uluru in the Rain (Uluru (Ayers Rock))

Member Name: TigerMystery

Product:	Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Date:	23/08/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's like nothing else.

Disadvantages: Some people might not be able to cope with the walk.

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 sunshine!
So in a place with an average rainfall of 308mm/ 12" rain a year, the locals really appreciate it when it does rain. Our tour guides kept telling us constantly how lucky we were because hardly anybody gets to see what Uluru looks like in the rain.

So what does Uluru look like in the rain? Well, several waterfalls form on the rock, which are pretty amazing. Due to the sky being very cloudy, the rock was generally a dark red colour, and it was interesting to see it looking different to the way it doesn on postcards.

Obviously, there were some downsides to this, as our tour guides had to completely restructure the whole tour. We were supposed to go to Kings Canyon, but couldn't because it was closed off. We were also supposed to sleep in swags under the stars. Firstly, the stars werent visible because of the clouds, and secondly I didn't fancy being rained on in my sleep! The amazing sunrise/ sunset views of the rock were pretty disappointing as the sky was so cloudy
I hadn't prepared for cold weather at all, so when we did the base walk around Uluru, I was wearing shorts, a vest top and a cardigan. However, this didn't really matter as the walk is fairly long, and I was pretty much warmed up by the time we finished.

These disadvantages were certainly outweighed by the fact that I was lucky enough to experience something that hardly anybody gets to.

One of the biggest dilemmas faced when visiting Uluru is whether to climb it or not. The locals prefer that you don't, but give you the option to decide for yourself. I had already decided not to, but this didn't really matter as the climb was closed off due to the rain anyway.

On a further note, the cultural centre is definitely worth a visit. Here you can learn about Anangu culture and see some arts and crafts. The building itself resembles two snakes, Kuniya and Liru, whose stories are based around Uluru.

I saw Uluru as part of 3 day tour with Outback Safaris. There are several tours going to Uluru from Alice Springs, and to be honest they all seem to be fairly similar in terms of itineraries. They differ slightly in budget which will affect what sort of transport (small bus vs air-conditioned coach) you'll be on and where you'll stay (tent, hostel, hotel). I would recommend going with one where you can sleep in swags under the stars, as this was the one thing I was most disappointed about missing out on.

Summary: Definitely a must-see, whatever the weather.