Base Walk Uluru

Walking around the circumference of Uluru (Ayres Rock) has always been something I have wanted to do so now that we are finally here, of course we did it!  The walk is long at just under 11k  but it is a very easy walk.  The path is well kept gravel for most parts and it follows far enough away from the rock to be able to see its gigantic size but close enough to be able to see the hollows that have been washed out from wind and rain over billions of years.  This is the biggest monolith in the world and it is similar to an iceberg because the majority of it is underground - around 2.5 kilometres!

We set the alarm for 5am again to watch the sun hit Uluru at sunrise.  Hundreds of others had the same idea it seems.  There were many people at the viewing platforms and surrounding paths.  Philip and I were both a little underwhelmed at sunrise.  We both thought we would see more colour.  Perhaps sunset will be better.

We started our walk at the exact same spot that Philip climbed Ayres Rock in 1977.  The walk was closed in 2019 but you can plainly see the path heading up the side of the rock.  Philip tells me that there was a chain for 2/3rds of the way but when the chain ran out they had to climb the rest of the way on their hands and knees!

There are many places to stop and look along the base walk but many more places that you cannot photograph.  It was a little hard to tell where those zones began and ended so if any indigenous are reading this blog and see a photograph that shouldn't have been taken, please forgive me....

Dozens of people are cycling, running, walking and segwaying the base walk but everyone politely gives way to each other, after all, we are all there for the same reason.

It is a very easy walk although our legs were tired by the time we had completed the circuit. It was cold and windy today, and so different to the weather we had when walking Kings Canyon that was just a perfect temperature.  We walked clockwise around the rock and consequently were walking into the cold southerly wind for half our walk.  I would advise at this time of the year to walk anti-clockwise with your back to the cold southerly.

Tonight we will return to the rock for  Sunset and Bush Tucker Dinner at the Field of Lights.  I'm very excited!