Kata Tjuta at Sunset – Australia’s red centre


Meaning “many heads”, this outcrop of rocks not far from Ayers Rock (Uluru) is a favoured sunset visit while staying in this barren area. Named the Olgas by the Europeans (in honour of Queen Olga of Wurttemberg) it is less than an hour’s drive from the main accommodations around the Ayers Rock resort.

We took a drive out on our arrival at our hotel in Ayers Rock, and it was at least as spectacular a visit as the one next morning to its illustrious neighbour. The fading evening light really brought out the red earth perfectly, and we stood in admiration enjoying a little drink at the side of the road while watching the sun drop below the horizon and cast a multi-coloured spell across the desert landscape. It was fascinating to wonder around the base of these rocks too, which show off many more secrets on close inspection than from a distance (this is even more true at Ayers Rock).

You make a choice whether to climb up these rocks or respect the wishes of the Aborigine people and stay at ground level. We walked around the base of both sites and saw a very different side of Ayers Rock – small pools, waterfalls, sharp eroded fins of rock and a couple of hours of great stroytelling by an Aboriginal guide made our experience a memorable one.

It’s a long detour from anywhere to get to this place – a visit to Kings Canyon and Alice Springs makes it a three day stay, but if you visit in mid summer as we did you will welcome returning to the fresh breezes of the coast again.

(Dec 2000)

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About Andy Jarosz

Owner, 501 Places. Freelance writer.
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