Fifteen minutes away from Yulara lies Ayers Rock, one of the world's most identifiable natural wonders, rising precipitously from the surrounding desert floor. We headed there early in the morning the day after our arrival to take advantage of the cool morning air on a day where the forecast temperature was 35 C (mid-90s F). In fact, we faced this heat every day during our visit to Central Australia, but fortunately it was a dry heat with very little moisture.
In the past, visitors could climb the rock to the summit and one still can though on our visit (a) the climb was closed and (b) the local Aboriginal peoples request visitors not to do it for cultural reasons. So, we decided to walk around the base of the rock on a well-defined trail - about 11 km in all and taking perhaps three hours with all the stops for pictures, refreshments, admiring views and so on. Dot came part of the way with us, but Bec Max and I walked the remainder - or most of it.
From a distance, Ayers Rock looks just like a massive rounded lump of stone. Close up, it is rather more rugged, with valleys, caves, overhangs, clumps of vegetation, occasional pools of water after heavy rains, and so on. Come for a walk with us, start with a view of Bec and Max walking to the rock from the car-park.
In many places there are piles of fallen rocks.
In sheltered hollows, which collect and harbour water, there is often more lush vegetation.
There are many caves which could be used as shelter by Aborigines and where their rock-art still remains.
Another valley in the rock with relatively lush vegetation (for a desert). I should caution, however, that the central Australian 'desert' rarely looks like the Sahara. Yes, the Simpson Desert to the east has sand dunes and little vegetation, but the area around Ayers Rock and indeed much of the southern part of the Northern Territory is rather semi-desert and can support a permanent population, albeit the Aboriginal populations lived a sometimes fraught existence. Rainfall at Uluru (the Aboriginal name for the rock) is actually 308mm (12 inches) annually, though high evaporation reduces its usefulness for plant growth.
Here a dry creek bed provides a backdrop to Bec.
Here I am, wearing appropriate gear for a warm and sunny day.
And we found this little fellow straying across our path. He (or she) kindly posed still for this shot and ambled off. The thorny devil (Moloch horridus) hardly lives up to its name and I'd happily keep one as a pet.
I hope you enjoyed your walk around the rock. We certainly did. It's one of life's great attractions - a bit like seeing the grand canyon or the great wall of China.
AS
In the past, visitors could climb the rock to the summit and one still can though on our visit (a) the climb was closed and (b) the local Aboriginal peoples request visitors not to do it for cultural reasons. So, we decided to walk around the base of the rock on a well-defined trail - about 11 km in all and taking perhaps three hours with all the stops for pictures, refreshments, admiring views and so on. Dot came part of the way with us, but Bec Max and I walked the remainder - or most of it.
From a distance, Ayers Rock looks just like a massive rounded lump of stone. Close up, it is rather more rugged, with valleys, caves, overhangs, clumps of vegetation, occasional pools of water after heavy rains, and so on. Come for a walk with us, start with a view of Bec and Max walking to the rock from the car-park.
In many places there are piles of fallen rocks.
In sheltered hollows, which collect and harbour water, there is often more lush vegetation.
There are many caves which could be used as shelter by Aborigines and where their rock-art still remains.
Another valley in the rock with relatively lush vegetation (for a desert). I should caution, however, that the central Australian 'desert' rarely looks like the Sahara. Yes, the Simpson Desert to the east has sand dunes and little vegetation, but the area around Ayers Rock and indeed much of the southern part of the Northern Territory is rather semi-desert and can support a permanent population, albeit the Aboriginal populations lived a sometimes fraught existence. Rainfall at Uluru (the Aboriginal name for the rock) is actually 308mm (12 inches) annually, though high evaporation reduces its usefulness for plant growth.
Here a dry creek bed provides a backdrop to Bec.
Here I am, wearing appropriate gear for a warm and sunny day.
And we found this little fellow straying across our path. He (or she) kindly posed still for this shot and ambled off. The thorny devil (Moloch horridus) hardly lives up to its name and I'd happily keep one as a pet.
I hope you enjoyed your walk around the rock. We certainly did. It's one of life's great attractions - a bit like seeing the grand canyon or the great wall of China.
AS
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