Rising from the desert of central Australia, Uluru is the spiritual heart of Australia’s Red Centre — a giant red sandstone monolith that draws visitors from every corner of the globe. Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks, an iconic rock and a place of cultural and spiritual meaning for its traditional owners. Here are the fun facts, figures and stories worth knowing. To explore more of the country’s famous sights, see our guide to Australian landmarks.
What Is This Sacred Rock?
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a huge rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory. The formation of Uluru began around 550 million years ago when layers of sediment built up, tilted and folded as ancient ranges eroded away. What we see today is the tip of a much larger slab that continues far below the surface, and it is often described as the largest monolith in the world. To the traditional custodians, it has always been far more than scenery: it is a living cultural landscape full of stories, songlines and sacred sites.
How Big Is the Rock?
The numbers are staggering. Uluru stands 348 metres above the surrounding plain. It is taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and like an iceberg most of its mass continues far underground — geologists call it an inselberg, a rock island left standing after eons of erosion lowered the plains around it. In total elevation the rock reaches roughly 860 metres above sea level. Its ever-shifting face ranges from ochre-brown to blazing red to deep purple as the light moves across the day, and walking the full base track takes about three to four hours, revealing caves, waterholes and ancient rock art at every step.
A Brief History
The history of Uluru stretches back thousands of years of continuous occupation, making it one of the oldest living cultures on Earth. In 1873, surveyor William Gosse became the first European to sight the rock, naming it Ayers Rock after the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. But the traditional custodians had their own name — and their own law. In 1985 the Australian government handed the title back to the Anangu traditional owners, who now lease the land to Parks Australia so it remains a national park for everyone.
Kata Tjuta National Park
The rock sits inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage area listed for both its natural and cultural values. The park protects both Uluru and Kata Tjuta — the latter formerly called The Olgas — a dramatic cluster of 36 rounded rock formations about 50 kilometres away. Rare desert wildlife survives here, including dozens of species of birds, and some of the oldest art anywhere on the planet. Learn more about the country’s unique wildlife in our native animals guide.
Can You Climb the Rock?
No — climbing Uluru has been banned since 26 October 2019. The Anangu asked visitors to respect their law, which asks people not to climb the sacred path, and the final climbers came down that day to applause. Today the best way to experience the rock is to walk the 10-kilometre base trail, join a ranger-guided tour, or simply sit and watch the colour shift from a distance — an experience many travellers describe as far more rewarding than the old climb ever was.
Seeing Sunrise and Sunset
Dawn and dusk are the golden hours here. At first light Uluru’s face glows deep red; as the sun sinks it seems to burn orange, then fade to shadow. The viewing areas are easy to reach by car from the resort township, and photographers set up their tripods well before dawn to catch the show. The colour change comes from iron minerals in the sandstone reacting to light — a natural phenomenon no camera quite captures.
How Old Is Uluru Exactly?
The rock formed slowly over immense spans of time. Its story began about 550 million years ago when central Australia was covered by a shallow sea, and the distinctive exposed profile we see today was shaped over the hundreds of millions of years that followed.
Is It Older Than Dinosaurs?
Yes. The material that became the rock was deposited about 550 million years ago, long before the first dinosaurs appeared roughly 230 million years ago. In every sense it is far older than dinosaurs.
Who Are the Traditional Owners?
The Anangu people — Aboriginal custodians of this land — are the traditional owners, specifically the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara peoples, who have cared for this country for countless generations. Their stories of creation, known as Tjukurpa, are woven into every cave and crevice of the rock.
How Much of the Rock Is Buried?
Like an iceberg, most of it. The visible bulk is only the tip of a slab that extends several kilometres underground — one of the reasons geologists find it so fascinating.
Can You Touch the Rock?
Yes, at ground level along the base walk, touching the stone is permitted. Some spots are sacred and marked with signs asking visitors not to photograph or enter — respect the signage and you cannot go wrong.
Do You Need a Pass to Visit?
Yes. A three-day park pass is required and can be bought online or at the entry station, where rangers also hand out maps and other interesting information. The nearest town with full services is the resort township, about 20 minutes’ drive away, while the nearest major city is Alice Springs — the rock lies roughly 450 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs, a four-and-a-half-hour drive through the Australian outback.
What Animals Live Around the Rock?
Despite the desert setting, the park protects hundreds of species — birds, red kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, emus and a host of reptiles. After rain, the normally dry waterholes come alive and the desert blooms.
References and Sources
- Official park facts: parksaustralia.gov.au
- Tourism facts guide: uluru.gov.au