The National Park, which consists of the most popular australian icon Uluru and group of Kata Tjuta has been formed in 1958 at that time under the name Ayers Rock – Mount Olga National Park.
In 1987 the park has been named as UNESCO World Heritage Site, two years after the territory around sacred Aboriginal places had been given back to local people.
Uluru
These are the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people referred as Anangu, and at present they take care of the area with the support of Australian government, which since 1950′s actively promotes the park among international visitors. In the town Yulara, 7km from Uluru there is a new resort Ayers Rock which every year accommodates more tourists and enlarges the activities offers, which include Camel rides and night desert dining.
There is a small entry fee to the national park and besides of the rocks tourists can visit the Cultural Centre with geological history of the area, and information of Aboriginal history and art, which one can buy in the shop run by the locals.
Uluru is known for stunning changes of colour depending on the time of the day, and the most popular is watching the rock during sunset with obligatory bottle of champagne waiting for this very moment.
There are several trails around Uluru lasting up to three hours led by local gudes from the Cultural Centre.
Located about 40 km from Uluru Kata Tjuta consists of the gorup of 36 rocks with valleys and walking trails between, including Valley of the Winds and The Olga Gorge.
Climbing of the rocks, however popular is discouraged as they are the places of sacred rituals, thus are the special places to Anangu people.
While planning the trip bear in mind very high temperatures, and equip yourself with decent amount of water and necessary clothes.
In the close neighbourhood of Uluru there is a local Ayers Rock Airport, and the drive from Alice Springs takes some 4 hours in your car on aboard of one of numerous tourist coaches.