Uluru walks
Walking reveals the natural beauty and rich culture of Uluru. You will be following the footsteps of the ancestral beings that shaped the landscape. By choosing to walk around Uluru instead of climbing, you will be respecting Tjukurpa and Anangu wishes.
You can take the entire Uluru Base walk, or just concentrate on one or more of its sections, depending on how much time you have, your level of fitness and if the weather allows. In summer we recommend walking only during the cool part of the day (finishing before 11am) and drinking one litre of water per hour. All walks are self-guided and on flat terrain, and are wheelchair accessible in dry weather.
Free ranger-guided Mala Walk
8.00 am
Park rangers guide a daily Mala Walk. Meet at the Mala Walk sign at the carpark. A ranger will take you along the base of the rock, stopping to tell the story of the mala (rufous hare-wallaby) people. Learn about traditional Anangu culture, rock art and how the park is managed.
Uluru base walk
We recommend you start the base walk from the Mala carpark in the morning. Escape the crowds and take a meandering journey through acacia woodlands and grassed claypans. Discover the diverse plants, animals and geological features of the park. From Kuniya Piti follow the snake-like grooves at the base of the rock which were left from Kuniya's journey to Mutitjulu waterhole. Encounter bloodwoods, native grasses and many waterways and soaks. The Base Walk is the best way to fully appreciate the natural and cultural beauty of Uluru.
Grade 3 | 10.6 km loop | 3.5 hrs
Mala walk and Kantju Gorge - north-west side of Uluru
This is where the Mala (rufous hare-wallaby) people camped when they arrived at Uluru in the beginning. There are examples of Anangu rock art along this walk and you can experience the sheer vertical walls and profound peacefulness of Kantju Gorge. A great sunset location in winter.
2 km return | 1.5 hrs | wheelchair access
Lungkata walk
Starting at Kuniya Walk, learn about Lungkata (the blue-tongued lizard man) and why you should not take what is not yours. Learn how one of Uluru's first visitors discovered the dangers of climbing Uluru. During the summer months this is a great close-to-the-rock sunset location.
Grade 2 | 4 km return from Mala or Kuniya carparks | 1.5 hrs | dry weather | wheelchair access
Kuniya walk
From the Kuniya carpark, visitors can walk the short track to Mutitjulu waterhole, home of a wanampi, an ancestral watersnake. In the special times of rain, experience the magical waterfalls, while in the warmer months watch for noisy finches and nankeen kestrals soaring on the thermal winds. For the keen bird watcher, you may spot nesting black-breasted buzzards or tawny frogmouths.
Here you can learn how Kuniya and Liru (the woma python woman and poisonous snake man) helped create Uluru. This is a living cultural landscape. Kuniya is still here. Her spirit is here. The art caves are still used by Anangu today. This is a special place.
Grade 1 | 1 km return | 30-45 mins | wheelchair access
Liru walk
This walk will take you between the Cultural Centre and the base of Uluru. The track winds through stands of wanari (mulga) and after rain, often displays colourful flowers.
Grade 2 | 4 km return | 1.5 hrs
Minimising your environmental footprint
You are one of a large number of visitors the park receives every year. Each footprint in the sand may last many weeks and desert plants are sensitive to disturbance. Walking off track can also spread weed seeds and collapse underground burrows. You can help this fragile environment by staying on the designated walking areas.
