Rock star ways to EXPLORE ULURU
Woman’s Day’s ALLISON YEE recommends some new ways to enjoy our majestic wonder
There’s something magical about Uluru. From the very first sighting when it looms out of f the desert as you descend into Ayers Rock Airport to finally getting up close to something ing you’ve seen in movies and postcards, nothing can prepare you for the experience. But there’s more than meets the eye when exploring Uluru. From sunrise to sunset, to being bathed in twinkling lights, here are some of the best ways to see the famous rock…
SUNRISE TOUR
Even the grumpiest of morning people won’t have a problem setting their alarm before dawn to catch Uluru’s incredible colours as sunrise hits. Book a SEIT Outback Australia Kata Tjuta tour and be taken to a beautifully remote lookout so you can take in ancient rock domes of Kata Tjuta (formerly known as the Olgas) as well. Bring a jacket – it can be chilly in the early morning.
CAMEL ADVENTURES
They’re built to cruise through the desert with ease, so what better way to take in the sights without breaking a sweat than on the back of a camel? Arriving at Uluru Camel Tours, I was matched with my tall, tanned and handsome ride, Tex. Surprisingly friendly y and boosting g me a lot higher in the air than expected, there here was nothing to do but hold on as s Tex and his convoy of camel l pals meandered through h the dry, red dunes. With h informative guides walking alongside and talking through the animals and plants of the landscape, it’s the perfect way to get up close to nature
– without getting your feet dirty!
SEGWAY SCOOTING
Hot, dusty and spanning 12km, it’s a llong way around the base of Uluru. So for those who want to make the trek without being bothered by sun and relentless flies, a segway is your new best friend. OK, so it might not have the coolest reputation, but after donning every item of safety wear known to man and taking a quick spin around the Uluru Segway Tours training area, I was sold. Not only is it a cinch to master the basics, motoring along the flat track as a guide explains fascinating facts about the geology, rock art, flora and fauna, quickly becomes effortless.
FIELD OF LIGHT
If there’s one thing that almost manages to upstage the majesty of Uluru, it’s this. Imagine 50,000 spindles of light spread over seven football fields, lit up in a rainbow of colours and you have artist Bruce Munro’s renowned art installation. Arrive before sunset to catch Uluru’s pinky purple afternoon glow, before the landscape changes dramatically as the lights flicker on. After being extended for years, this exhibit will end in December 2020, so add it to the bucket list!