Exploring Ayers Rock by Hire Car
In the language of the indigenous people, the 863-meter-high Ayers Rock is also called Uluru.
The viewer is offered a magnificent spectacle of color, because the Ayers Rock has all shades of hyacinth red to pale pink within a day.
Majestic sunsets and the silence of the central Australian desert create an atmosphere of harmony. Australia’s only insular mountain is a must-see on a trip down Under.
Sights Ayers Rock
Ayers Rock is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the main sights of the entire continent.
To the Aborigines, it is considered a sacred mountain, as it is the intersection of mythical dream paths that are part of their tribal beliefs.
Due to different dust particles as well as light conditions, the mountain has completely different hues depending on the time of day and season, which adds to its unique appeal.
The mountain can be hiked along a predetermined path. Furthermore, rock paintings of the Aborigines can be admired at it. However, the Aborigines reserve the right to close off the mountain on ceremonial days.
From March to November, it is even possible to cycle around the mountain on a bicycle, which can be hired from the cultural centre.
hire car price comparison Ayers Rock
A good restaurant at Ayers Rock
True Australian cuisine can be found in the town of Yulara, which is about 20 kilometres from Ayers Rock. A visit to the Arnguli Grill restaurant at the Desert Gardens Hotel is highly recommended.
With a glass of wine and one of the excellent lamb dishes, the day can end nicely here after a visit to the “Red Heart” of Australia, as Ayers Rock is also called.
Finding a good hotel at Ayers Rock
Visitors to Ayers Rock are recommended to stay at Sails in the Desert Ayers Rock Resort in the town of Yulara.
Here you can find rooms with views of Uluru or even the beautiful gardens.
A spacious pool area and restaurant provide a relaxing ambience. The hotel’s garden features the Sturts Desert Rose, which is something of a national symbol of northern Australia.
Link to hotel: Sails in the Desert Ayers Rock Resort
A worthwhile destination in the area
Hire car comes in handy around Ayers Rock, as destinations that aren’t in the immediate vicinity are still well worth seeing.
The Uluru is part of the Uluṟu-Kata-Tjuṯa National Park. Within this are found the Kata Tjuta, another group of mountains whose name means “Many Heads”.
This name fits the shape of this mountain group very well. There are several hiking trails here, ranging in duration from one to three and five hours.
However, there is no overnight accommodation; so the Kata Tjuta can only be visited as a day trip from Yulara, which is about 50 kilometres away.
A short trip by hire car to the central Australian desert around Ayers Rock is also worthwhile. There are special bright red sand dunes here, which can be up to 40 metres high. The vegetation is very diverse – from acacias to grevilleas to eucalypts, all kinds of plant species can be admired here.
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Road Trip Australia - the far north
Road Trip Australia - the far north