"Calling out Love at the Centre of the World" - Uluru/Ayers Rock in Central Australia (Part 2)
Last time, we introduced the basic information of Uluru and some expensive self-funded activities. This time, we will continue to introduce the free beautiful scenery and noteworthy places of Uluru.
Uluru's romantic sunrise and sunset are amazing. At sunrise, you can witness the first ray of sunlight shining on the red soil wilderness, and at sunset, you can enjoy the magnificent sunset scenery. In addition, at both times, you can see the ever-changing colors and light caused by the different sunlight hitting the Uluru rock, which is breathtaking. Of course, you don’t have to participate in the self-funded activities mentioned in the previous article to see such beautiful scenery. Those with limited budgets can also drive to the park by themselves or take the shuttle buses provided by the resorts to watch the sunrise and sunset for free.
However, it is worth noting that the national park is generally open at 5:00 a.m. in the summer and from 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. in the winter. The sunrise time in the summer is approximately 5:45 a.m. and in the winter it is approximately 7:30 a.m., which means that there are only about 45 minutes from the opening of the park to sunrise. So every morning before dawn, you will find a long line of cars driving to the park and queuing up at its gate for admission. It is recommended to arrive at the entrance to queue up 30 minutes before the park opens (please allow time for a 25-kilometer drive from your accommodation to the park), because the traffic queue is too long, and after parking, you still have to walk a short distance to reach the observation deck. If you arrive too late, the advantageous positions in the front row will have been occupied. Similarly, the beautiful sunset can also be viewed from several observation decks, but please note that the park’s closing time is generally between 7:30 pm (in winter) and 9 pm (in summer), so remember to leave the park early after viewing the sunset.
When you come to Uluru, in addition to watching the beautiful sunrise and sunset, there are also some special experiences for tourists to participate in, such as the famous local Sounds of Silence dinner, which is held in the wilderness, with dining facing the giant rock as a selling point. Visitors who have booked the Sound of Silence dinner will arrive at the venue before sunset and then drink a glass of champagne while watching the sunset, while there will also be performances of traditional Aboriginal instruments. After sunset, guests will have a three-course dinner, and after dinner they will be able to learn about the southern hemisphere starry sky, the Southern Cross, the zodiac and other constellations from the tour guide. The entire dinner lasted 4 hours and cost approximately AUD229.
Another famous paid activity is the Uluru Field of Light, an art installation designed by internationally renowned light artist Bruce Munro. The exhibition uses more than 50,000 solar bulbs that start lighting up after sunset, illuminating an area of desert equivalent to four football fields. The art exhibition was originally scheduled to end on December 31, 2020, but due to popular demand, the exhibition will be extended indefinitely to give travelers plenty of time to plan their trip to Uluru. Tickets for the Wilderness Starlight Tour are AUD44 and are open every day after sunset.
We must remind everyone here that since 4 pm on October 25, 2019, Uluru has officially launched a climbing ban. Humans are permanently prohibited from climbing the giant rock to respect the beliefs and cultural traditions of the local Aboriginal Anangu people. The Anangu people believe that Uluru is the sacred place of origin of Aboriginal culture. However, the influx of thousands of tourists from home and abroad has not only changed the way of life of the Aboriginal community, but also caused varying degrees of damage to Uluru. The giant rock is a very precious place for the indigenous people, like a church, but rude climbers trample on their holy places at will and show no respect for local culture. Many accidents and deaths also occur from time to time during the climbing. After decades of struggle, they have successfully fought for the permanent closure of the mountain, which is really the long-awaited good news.
Finally, I have to mention the weather in Uluru. Australia is in the southern hemisphere, and its summer is from November to March. Uluru is located in the central desert. In the hottest summer, the temperature can reach 40 degrees, and the rainfall here is only about 40 mm, so the weather is very dry. You must pay attention to sun protection and moisturizing. Autumn in April is the best season to visit Uluru. It is warm during the day and cool at night, with an average temperature between 12 and 27 degrees. During this period, there is neither the heat of summer, nor the cold of winter, nor the showers of spring. It is the most suitable season for travel throughout the year. Choose a time now to travel to the center of the world! Finally, don’t forget to buy a fly net hood before you set off, otherwise you will definitely regret it.