Base Walk Around Uluru

I decided not to climb Uluru and the National Parks and Wildlife Rangers make it pretty clear that for safety reasons, as well as cultural reasons, people just should not walk up Uluru. 35 people have died since the walk opened, and when you look at the kind of climb you need to undertake, it is little wonder why. Even as a moderately fit person, I don't think I would have climbed it in the heat of the day. It'd be stupidity.

The sign that says that on this particular day, the climb was closed anyway, due to strong winds. You can see the climb in the background, and just how steep and exposed the climb is.

The rock of Uluru - a sedimentary rock called "arkose sandstone", which is a coarse-grained sandstone which mostly contains a mineral called feldspar. Interestingly, Uluru is actually not naturally orange. Rather, its been stained by the iron oxide in the surrounding desert sands.

My friend, Judith from Germany, and I took the 9.6km Base Walk of Uluru, which takes around 3.5 hours to do.

Here I am, touching Uluru. There are only a few places around Uluru where you can actually get to the rock and put your hands on it. Much of the area surrounding Uluru is roped off as it is "sacred land" of the Anangu people.

Uluru is full of surprises, including caves. The roof of this cave had an almost lattice effect created over the millions of years.

The walk around Uluru in the heat of day - approximately 35 degrees celcius.

Here I am, exhibiting the sheer size of Uluru.

The sandy paths around the base of the Uluru.

The sheer contrast between the blue sky and the orange stained Uluru.

Different perspectives....each angle creates a completely different perspective of Uluru. It never looks the same from the same view. Its quite amazing.

Aboriginal art work created by the Arangu people.

The rock in the blazing hot sun.

Another angle!

Jumping for joy after a long, almost 10km walk, around Uluru.

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