Do not leave Australia without getting a glimpse of the Uluru. This is one piece of advice most tourists and natives of Australia will likely tell you. The Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is the world’s second largest free standing monolith.
This scenic wonder is more than a tourist attraction. It is actually a sacred site for the Pitjantjatjara or Anangu, the largest group of Aborigines in Australia. In fact, the main reason why Uluru is the official name for it is because this was the name chosen by the Anangu people. Ayers Rock is just an English appellation for it, taken from a 19th century Australian governor named Sir Henry Ayers.
While Mt. Augustus, the largest monolith in the whole world, is more than twice the size of the Uluru, the latter has a more climactic appearance. It resembles a fiery iceberg in the middle of the desert with its tip being its only visible part. The rest of its body extends deep into the ground.
Uluru’s greatest charm does not lie in its size but in its changing colors. Its hues dramatically change throughout the day with grey, yellow, red and orange included in its palette. The stunning changes in the hues of these colors not only depend on the time of the day but also on the weather, your distance from it and your viewing angle.
If you want to see Uluru at its best, you should come early in the morning or stay until late afternoon for its most stunning colors appear during sunrise and sunset. While summer brings with it the fieriest hues of Uluru, it is recommended that you avoid visiting during this season.
If it’s your only available time, be prepared to brave a desert with a 38°C to 45°C temperature. Expect also to tour with flies as your companions as summer is their favorite time to breed.