Uluru/Ayers Rock is Australia’s most recognisable natural icon. Standing 348 metres high, the monolith has a great cultural significance for the traditional Aboriginal owners, the Anangu people. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is located 440 kilometres by road south-west of Alice Springs and encompasses both Uluru/Ayers Rock and the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta/The Olgas, and both dating back hundreds of million of years. Visitors to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park can also browse through the informative and award-winning Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.
When exploring the base of Uluru/Ayers Rock, there are a number of excellent interpretative walks, including the Uluru Base Walk and the Kuniya Walk. The Valley of the Winds Walk winds through the domes of Kata Tjuta and includes spectacular lookout points. These walks can be done independently or as part of a tour. Visitors stay at Ayers Rock Resort, which is the focal point for the township of Yulara.
Atila / Mt Conner, located 100 kilometres east of Uluru, is a spectacular mesa that is often mistaken for Uluru. It is three times as large as Uluru and can be visited on tours from Curtin Springs Station.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta region (sometimes referred to as the Peterman Region) also includes the stunning Kings Canyon within Watarrka National Park. Kings Canyon lies 310 kilometres west of Alice Springs. The canyon’s 300 metre high sandstone walls are breathtaking, and the surrounding area is home to diverse flora and fauna. Travellers can hike to the canyon rim, follow a walking trail through the scenic desert surrounds, or stroll along the boulder-strewn valley floor. The 22 kilometre Giles Track begins at Kathleen Springs and ends at Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park.