Uluru, the aboriginal name for the big red rock or Ayers Rock as it is also commonly known is found in the centre of Australia and a must-see tourist attraction.
I had always wanted to visited this iconic landmark as for many people, this really is the heart-and-soul of the country.
There are numerous tours to choose from but if you are trying to save the pennies then The Rock Tour is the best option for backpackers. It costs $375 for a three day tour from either Ayers Rock airport or Alice Springs airport and finishes in Alice Springs. We were lucky enough to have an AMAZING tour guide called Matt that made this tour even more unforgettable with his knowledge, passion for the aboriginal culture.
As soon as you land, you jump straight onto the bus and get driven to the cultural centre right next to Uluru, to learn more about this unique destination. Matt, our tour guide, explained that certain parts of Uluru are culturally sensitive so can’t be photographed and that some parts are only visited by aboriginal men or women and they are not allowed to know what the other parts of Uluru look like.
As we drove around this landmark we listened to an epic soundtrack put together by our guide of the didgeridoo and other Australia themed music to build the atmosphere of our visit.
One thing you quickly realise is how huge Uluru is! Once you have driven around the outside of it, you start to get a feel for the scale of it. We walked only a section of it which took 40mins and learnt more stories about why it is so scared and important to the aboriginals and tourism.
We watched the sunset over Uluru which was the highlight of my entire trip to Australia.
Our tour was the first to arrive at the spot to watch the sunset and meant we could pick the best spot before the coach-load of other tourists arrived. To my surprise, they didn’t even stay long and took their pictures and left before the sun had even set. I’m was really glad to not be on one of those tours!
After the sun had completely set, and darkness had set in, it was time to head off to our deluxe hotel…nah not really! Time to sleep in the bush in a “swag”, which is similar to a sleeping bag but thicker and waterproof. That night, looking up at the stars miles away from cities, the night-sky was breathtaking and so clear that you could even see the milky way!
I would highly recommend this trip and thanks again to our epic tour leader! 🙂
Tips: Bring a big bottle of water to refill and a mosquito head net, depending when you go, the mosquitos can get really annoying.