Uluru is one of the most spellbinding places in Australia. Also known as Ayers Rock, it’s located in the very heart of the desert, towering above its surroundings and drawing visitors in from all over the world. Every year, thousands of people attempt the dangerous climb, contributing to erosion of the stone and pollution of local water resources. The rock itself is 95 stories tall--taller than the Eiffel Tower--and at least 35 people have died undertaking the steep, hot climb (Parks Australia). In addition, Aṉangu, the traditional owners of Uluru, have repeatedly asked visitors to respect their law and culture by not climbing the sacred site. Signs have been posted for years respectfully asking tourists not to climb, and now the Australian government, which jointly manages the site, is instituting a ban on climbing Uluru beginning October 26th of this year (New York Times). Nevertheless, the argument over whether or not people should be allowed to climb Uluru rages on. Since the climbing ban was announced, the number of visitors who climb Uluru skyrocketed from 50-140 people per day in 2017 to 300-500 in 2018, according to Indigenous news site Welcome to Country. The climbers mostly consist of Australian tourists, and opinion polls on the N.T. news and on Sunrise showed that over 60% of Australians want Uluru to remain open for climbing (Welcome to Country). Why the disparity? Why do so many people want to climb this sacred site despite being repeatedly asked not to? Popular opinions from climbers vary. Some have traveled too far and spent too much on entrance fees to be content with anything less than climbing to the top. Others believe it’s selfish for Aṉangu to prohibit climbing, as they believe Uluru’s sacred beauty should be open for everyone to experience. One Australian tourist commented:
Another tourist commented: "They were happy to take my entry fee, so now they'll just have to put up with me climbing their oh so sacred rock" (Outback Australia Travel Guide). This raises the question: who owns Uluru? Do you have the right to ignore the rules and requests of a place once you have paid an entrance fee? What rights do tourists have? The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is jointly operated by Aṉangu and Parks Australia; they have the right to make the rules. While personally, I would love to go behind-the-scenes in every art museum I’ve ever visited, I also know that simply paying for entry to the National Portrait Gallery doesn’t give me the right to touch Van Gogh’s work. Likewise, paying for entrance to Uluru doesn’t give me the right to do whatever I please there--particularly not when cultural respect and personal safety are on the line. Members of Fodor’s Travel Community posted in a forum debating whether or not you should be allowed to climb Uluru, where reviews were once again mixed.
The idea of ‘conquering’ Uluru is relatively common among reviews from climbers, as is the idea that because it’s a natural monument, it exists outside of the realm of religious significance. Few would deny that there is something sacred about this place--but the idea that the people who have built their lives and history around this sacred space should have their wishes respected is less common. There is something special--dare I say holy--about Uluru. Like countless others, I have a connection to this place which drew me to it from halfway around the world. I also recognize that whatever connection I have pales in comparison to the people who have an entire belief system built around this sacred site. We live in a time where the desecration of sacred spaces is becoming more and more common. The anguish that these communities feel is palpable, and reverberates worldwide. At Uluru, we have the choice of whether or not we will contribute to this growing trend of spiritual violence. I reject the idea that there is nothing to do in this land except to climb Uluru. I was able to have one of the most spiritually moving experiences of my life here without ever stepping foot on the rock. I would argue that my experience was more spiritually moving than it would have been if I climbed, because I did what I thought was right--I abided by personal morals which told me to listen to the people who know this place better than I do and who have a deeper connection here. I do not have the right to decide what Aṉangu believe about how tourists should behave. I can only decide how I choose to behave in this place. Until October 26th, you have the right to decide for yourself. Know Where You Walk: Uluru is traditionally home to Aṉangu, or the Pitjantjatjara people. Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that when you click on one of those links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, which costs you absolutely nothing. This commission helps supplement my income to ensure I can continue the upkeep on this blog and make your experience here a better one! I only recommend products and services that I absolutely believe in, and would purchase for myself. For more info, see my affiliate disclaimer under my about section. Like this post? Why not share it?If you enjoyed this article, please leave me a comment telling me what you think! Or, if you found it useful, share it with your friends! You'll be helping me turn my passion for travel into a business, and more importantly, you'll be helping your friends out with any travel questions they might have, too. See more adventures!If you liked this post, you may also like:
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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