Uluru in the Northern Territory

Kata Tjuta National Park: 280 miles (450km) southwest of Alice Springs. Ayers Rock/ Uluru, the world's largest monolith and an Aboriginal sacred site is Australia's most famous natural landmark. Visitors may wish to make the tough 1.6km ascent to the top or take a walking tour around the rock with an aboriginal guide , learning about its fascinating history with the Uluru people and its importance in dreamtime legend.

European explorer William Gosse called the rock Ayres Rock in 1873. In 1985 the region, including the Olgas was returned to it's tradional owners, and re-named Uluru. It rises 348m from the ground, and stretches and enormous 6km below the surface. The Rock is 863m above the sea level. A trip around the rock at its base measures 9.4km.

Uluru features stunning Aboriginal rock art sites that can be viewed on guided walks and tours around the base. The spectacular changing colours of Uluru at sunrise and sunset are visions not to be missed.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta and the surrounding land became a national park in 1958 and lies in the territory of the Anangu people.

Kata Tjuta, also more commonly known as the Olgas, is Uluru’s sister formation, meaning “many heads”, and comprises 36 magnificently domed and coloured shapes covering about 35 sq km. Take the 3 hour Valley of the Winds walk which winds through the crevices and gorges of this magnificent rock system, with spectacular views and a variety of flora and fauna.

Also in this enormous park are many Aboriginal sacred sites, spectacular scenery and famous rock formations. Visit the Olgas/ Kata Tjuta, a dramatic series of 36 dome-like rock formations which stand up to 1,701ft (546m) high and cover an area of 35km and like Uluru, produce an incredible light show at sunset, with crimsons turning to rusts, and pinks to mauves.

Rising from the broad desert plain in the deep centre of Australia. Uluru/Ayers Rock is Australia's most recognisable natural icon. 

The famous "Rock" stands348 metres high and, like an iceberg, has most of its bulk below the surface. It is located 440 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Forty kilometres to the west of Uluru/Ayers Rock is Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas. This massive pile of rock domes dates back 500 million years.

Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great aboriginal cultural significance for the Anangu traditional landowners, who lead walking tours that inform about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area.

Watarrka National Park, encompassing Kings Canyon, lies 300 kilometres to the north-east of Uluru and approximately a four hour drive by road. Kings Canyon has 300-metre-high sandstone walls, walking trails, palm-filled crevices and views across the desert.