Uluru, at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is a spiritual site and one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. I've written two posts about how to visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and my experiences here, and now I'm happy to share with you some of the best hikes Uluru has to offer. While some areas of Uluru are off-limits due to their sacred nature, there’s still so much to see and so many hikes to take that you won’t be left wanting. Kuniya Walk and Mutitjulu WaterholeGrade 1 | 1 km round trip | Wheelchair access The Kuniya Walk heads to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, where birds sing, a rare waterfall appears during rain, and a wanampi (ancestral watersnake) is said to reside today. Small plaques tell the story of how Kuniya and Liru (the woma python woman and poisonous snake man) helped to create Uluru. Kuniya’s spirit is said to live here today, and nearby caves are still used for spiritual purposes by Anangu. Mala WalkGrade 1 | 2 km round trip | Wheelchair access This walk traces along the base of the rock and through Kantju Gorge, with highlights including a small cave featuring rock art by the traditional landowners, Anangu. Additionally, there is a free ranger-guided tour, offered daily at 8am (Oct-April) and 10am (May-Sept). Listen to the story of the mala (rufous hare-wallaby) people and the stories behind the nearby rock art. Lungkata WalkGrade 2 | 4 km round trip | Wheelchair access Wati Lungkata is the blue-tongued lizard man, and his story, again told in plaques alongside the trail, warns against taking what is not yours. This is a tranquil walk, less traveled than the popular Mala or Kuniya walks, and is also an excellent place to watch the sunset. Be mindful that in some places along this walk, photography is prohibited due to its proximity to sacred areas of the rock still used for spiritual practices today. There are some areas where the trail veers away from Uluru to protect the secret nature of these sites. Uluru Base WalkGrade 3 | 10.6 km round trip The Base Walk features a stunning view of Uluru’s geography, animals, and plantlife as you wander through woods and grasslands. Fewer travelers walk this path than the other trails, making it an excellent route for those trying to quietly soak Uluru in. Although this walk is best experienced in its entirety, even walking a kilometer or two out and back along this trail from the Mala carpark is a beautiful experience. Finally, in the past, it was technically legal to climb Uluru, but as of October 2020, it is finally no longer allowed. I have a post explaining the arguments around whether or not climbing Uluru should be allowed, but Kunmanara, one of the Anangu traditional owners of Uluru, sums up Anangu sentiments here, saying: "That's a really important sacred thing that you are climbing... You shouldn't climb. It's not the real thing about this place. And maybe that makes you a bit sad. But anyway that's what we have to say. We are obliged by Tjukurpa to say. And all the tourists will brighten up and say, 'Oh I see. This is the right way. This is the thing that's right. This is the proper way: no climbing." Uluru is a sacred spiritual place, said by Anangu to be “created by our creation ancestors. In their travels they left marks in the land and made laws for us to keep and live by.” Just as you would want a visitor to respect the places you hold dear, please also respect this holy place. 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:
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
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!
searchLooking for somewhere in particular? Search here:
shopsocial mediapopular postsThis website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies. Opt Out of Cookies |