Kata Tjuta in Central Australia - the inspiration for the Japanese animation Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
When talking about the center of the world or the huge rock in central Australia, I believe everyone will say the name Uluru without any prior agreement. However, the place introduced today is not inferior to Uluru at all. It is even taller, wider and more spectacular than Uluru. This is Kata Tjuta, which is listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage together with Uluru. Kata Tjuta, also known as Mount Olga, was named in 1872 by explorer Ernest Giles in memory of the Russian-born Grand Duchess Queen Olga. The local government officially adopted a dual naming policy on December 15, 1993, so today, we often see these two names appearing at the same time.
According to the language of the local Aboriginal people, Kata Tjuta means many heads. In fact, Kata Tjuta is indeed composed of 36 uniquely shaped dome-shaped boulders. The boulders vary in shape and size. Most of them appear brown-red when viewed from a close distance. However, they show different colors under the sunlight, especially at sunset, when the afterglow is reflected in the valley, which is very beautiful. According to local people, tens of millions of years ago, these 36 hills were originally combined into one giant mountain, which was even several times larger than Uluru today. Later, due to crustal movement, the giant mountain gradually split into the current 36 hills. Even so, the tallest hill is still 200 meters higher than Uluru, which shows how huge the mountain was back then.
Kata Tjuta is located about 30 kilometers west of Uluru. It is planned together with Uluru to form Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. They are the two main landmarks of the park. In fact, it is Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park that is listed as a world natural and cultural dual heritage. It is said that the Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki once came to Kata Tjuta. Seeing its mysterious grandeur, he referred to its scenery to paint the scenes of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, which became the inspiration for his famous animation "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind".
There are two trails in Kata Tjuta. One is the Walpa Gorge trail, which is 2.6 kilometers long and takes about an hour to go back and forth. It is a relatively simple entry route. You can walk along the canyon of the two highest peaks of Kata Tjuta. There is an observation deck at the end where you can see the V-shaped valley in front and feel the wonders of nature. As for the other trail, the Valley of the Winds Trail is seven kilometers long and takes about four hours to go back and forth. It is quite difficult and a challenge to your physical strength, but it has breathtakingly beautiful scenery along the way, especially the two viewing platforms, which are the best places to view Kata Tjuka. However, going to the Valley of the Wind Trail also depends on the weather. If the temperature exceeds 36°C before 11am that day, especially during the summer from December to February, the trail will be closed. However, even if the trail is open, you still need to pay attention to safety while hiking, carry plenty of drinking water and pay attention to sun protection. You must know that in the open desert with no shelter, the temperature can exceed 40 degrees in summer, and it will be unbearable to stand for a long time.
Another best perspective to appreciate Kata Tjuta is from the air. If you are flying to and from Ayers Rock Airport, as long as you sit firmly on the same side, you will be able to see Uluru on the left and Kata Tjuta on the right once on the way there and once on the way back, so you don't miss both attractions. Of course, if your budget allows, you can also choose to take a helicopter to fly over Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The price of the helicopter depends on the flight time, and generally a 15 to 20 minute flight costs around AUD120.
Tickets: 3-day pass costs AUD38
Opening hours: The opening hours vary from month to month, please check the official website for the latest opening hours before departure