After absorbing the beauty of Uluru from a distance and captured photos of its iridescent colours at sunset, please do yourself a favour and return to sunrise for a close-up view and a hike around its base. The Uluru base walk of 10 km circumnavigates this sacred rock. It will lead through the changing landscapes, from the lush foliage to acacia woodlands, waterholes, bare sun-scorched desert, and stands of bloodwood trees.
Walking around the rock takes you close to see the etchings and ever-changing colours of the surface of the rock. The track is well-known and flat, and the interpretative signs on the fascinating road share details about the ecology and importance of the rock for the local population of Anangu. Better still, book an aboriginal-guided hike for more information about the cultural importance of this iconic milestone and its surroundings, which also includes how to find Bush Tucker.
It takes around three to four hours to complete the trail, with stops along the way. The best technique to tackle the hike is to start at the Mala carpark in the early morning and walks around the rock in a clockwise direction. Make sure to respect the local people’s culture and refrain from taking pictures at sensitive points along the trail. Various signs on the trail will warn you where photography is not allowed.
This is one of the best hikes for the family in Australia. Note that parts of the trail are closed when the temperatures increase during summer afternoons due to the danger of heat strokes.
Now that tourists are prohibited to climb the rock out of respect for the local population. The Uluru Base walk is one of the best ways to appreciate its beauty.