DownUnderFlyer
Sep 23, 09, 7:05 pm
Just an FYI for visitors to the heart of Australia. There have been some significant changes to roads and tracks around Uluru and a few more are coming in the next couple of months.
1. The road at the southern side of Uluru has been moved about 2-3 km away from the rock. The section between Park Headquarters and Kuniya Carpark has been closed. The new road "leads through previously inaccessible landscapes and vegetation zones surrounding Uluru". Rather than being close by you now drive quite a distance away with Uluru visible behind the dunes.
2. The Uluru base walk has been moved about 1km away from the rock at the North Eastern side of Uluru. "The four-kilometre north-east section of the walk now meanders past mulga trees and desert bloodwoods, avoids sacred sites and offers better views of Uluru."
It used to go between the rock and Taputji but now goes further out to avoid the sacred sites in the area. At the northern end (near Warayuki) you currently need to walk by the road as the track has been moved away from Uluru.
3. A new (sunrise) viewing area is currently under construction 2.5km south of Uluru and is due to open in the next couple of month. This area will replace the current sunrise viewing area 1km to the east of Uluru which will be closed. You will be further away and to the south of Uluru but there is no danger anymore to take pictures of the north eastern side of Uluru which contains many interesting rock formations and sacred sites (this is the reason why you normally see no sunrise photos of Uluru published anywhere as the eastern side is totally off limits to commercial photography (private pictures are still allowed until the viewing area moves)).
The new viewing area will have some infrastructure in form of shades, walkways etc. and provide business opportunities for the local Aboriginal corporation.
1. The road at the southern side of Uluru has been moved about 2-3 km away from the rock. The section between Park Headquarters and Kuniya Carpark has been closed. The new road "leads through previously inaccessible landscapes and vegetation zones surrounding Uluru". Rather than being close by you now drive quite a distance away with Uluru visible behind the dunes.
2. The Uluru base walk has been moved about 1km away from the rock at the North Eastern side of Uluru. "The four-kilometre north-east section of the walk now meanders past mulga trees and desert bloodwoods, avoids sacred sites and offers better views of Uluru."
It used to go between the rock and Taputji but now goes further out to avoid the sacred sites in the area. At the northern end (near Warayuki) you currently need to walk by the road as the track has been moved away from Uluru.
3. A new (sunrise) viewing area is currently under construction 2.5km south of Uluru and is due to open in the next couple of month. This area will replace the current sunrise viewing area 1km to the east of Uluru which will be closed. You will be further away and to the south of Uluru but there is no danger anymore to take pictures of the north eastern side of Uluru which contains many interesting rock formations and sacred sites (this is the reason why you normally see no sunrise photos of Uluru published anywhere as the eastern side is totally off limits to commercial photography (private pictures are still allowed until the viewing area moves)).
The new viewing area will have some infrastructure in form of shades, walkways etc. and provide business opportunities for the local Aboriginal corporation.