Uluru / Ayer's Rock

Uluru / Ayer’s Rock is the most widely recognizable natural landmark in Australia, situated in a remote area in the middle of the continent close to the ‘Red Centre’ of the Northern Territories. This massive sandstone rock formation has a perimeter of aprox. 10 km (6 miles) and three quarters of its mass is beneath ground level. It takes 3-4 hours to walk around the base, climbing onto the rock has been recently prohibited.

Uluru is sacred to the local indigenous people, the Pitjantjatjara, though it is humbling to anyone before its majestic presence. The desert sun paints an array of colour on the rock as the day progresses from dawn to dusk contrasting with the azure sky and sage brush. A rainstorm is a rare occurrence here causing the red sandstone to deepen in colour.

I traveled to this area in April 2021, aptly bracketing Earth Day and due to the pandemic border closures there were very few visitors so access was unfettered.