{"id":186119,"date":"2025-04-15T13:05:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/what-not-to-do-at-uluru\/"},"modified":"2025-04-15T13:05:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:05:46","slug":"what-not-to-do-at-uluru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=186119","title":{"rendered":"What not to do at Uluru"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Everyone always talks about what you have<\/em> to do at Uluru, but what about the things you shouldn\u2019t be doing at all?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Uluru is often referred to as the spiritual heart of Australia<\/a>, not only because of its middle-of-the-country location but also for its great significance to Australia\u2019s First Nations peoples (and more specifically to the Anangu, the traditional owners of Uluru).<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although it may look like just a rock to most of us (albeit a very spectacular, impressive rock), Uluru<\/a> is actually a sacred area \u2013 the home of important Tjukurpa (creation) stories that have been passed down through generations of Anangu People over thousands of years.<\/p>\n

When you visit Uluru, your guide will tell you some of these stories as you embark on the Kuniya walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole around the rock\u2019s base, and as you listen, they\u2019ll come to life on Uluru\u2019s rusty-coloured surface. I know this because I\u2019ve just returned from Intrepid\u2019s Best of Uluru & King\u2019s Canyon trip.<\/a><\/p>\n

I knew witnessing this natural wonder in all its majestic, 500-million-year-old glory would be one of my favourite travel experiences to date, but I didn\u2019t know there were restrictions around what you can and can\u2019t do at Uluru. From using its colonized name to snapping photos at some of the rock\u2019s most sacred sites, here\u2019s what not to do at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t call it Ayers Rock<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"The\"The<\/a><\/figure>\n

While you might be staying at \u2018Ayers Rock Resort\u2019, you shouldn\u2019t really be calling Uluru by its colonized name. Explorer William Gosse (the first non-Aboriginal person to catch a glimpse of Uluru in 1873), named the rock after his superior, Sir Henry Ayers (the Chief Secretary of South Australia at the time), in one of the most severe cases of teacher\u2019s pet-itis the world has ever seen.<\/p>\n

However, the rock was always Uluru to the Anangu people, and this was officially recognised as its rightful name, first in 1993 when it became Ayers Rock\/Uluru and second in 2002 when it became Uluru\/Ayers Rock.<\/p>\n

Technically, there\u2019s nothing stopping you from calling it Ayers Rock. But you can\u2019t hear the Anangu\u2019s Tjukurpa stories or marvel at their daily life depictions that colour the rock\u2019s cave walls without wanting to show this culture the deepest respect and acknowledge their custodianship of the land.<\/p>\n

Read more: Everything you need to know about Uluru<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t take photos of sacred sites<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"An\"An<\/a><\/figure>\n

Before you start to panic, there are plenty of sites around Uluru where you can take photos \u2013 Uluru is one of the most photographed natural wonders in the world after all. But there are a few sites where you can\u2019t, out of respect for the Anangu people.<\/p>\n

One of these places is Mala Puta, an Anangu site that details women\u2019s business via paintings on the rock\u2019s surface. It\u2019s culturally sensitive and is still used by senior Anangu women today to communicate stories to the younger generations.<\/p>\n

Pulari is another culturally significant, sensitive site to the Anangu women. And while the rock art depicted here is some of the best at Uluru, it\u2019s enough to just see it with your own eyes and listen to the stories of how it got there in the first place. Trust me and put your camera away.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t climb the rock<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The first record of people climbing Uluru dates back to the 1930s and up until 2019, it was a popular activity among those looking for a challenging experience. The 2019 ban<\/a> came after years of tireless campaigning by the Anangu people, who view climbing Uluru as deeply disrespectful \u2013 akin to climbing onto a church altar or holy shrine.<\/p>\n

Now, the only way to experience the beauty of Uluru is by walking around it (or viewing it from above on a scenic flight), but you can still see the trail left by climbers, a white mark that locals call the \u2018scar of Uluru\u2019.<\/p>\n

Read more: So much more than a rock \u2013 Spoonful of Sarah\u2019s Uluru adventure<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t swim in sacred watering holes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Mutitjulu Waterhole is one of the most peaceful places you\u2019ll ever visit and I\u2019m not even exaggerating. The pathway to the waterhole is lined with native trees and their foliage creates a shelter of sorts, largely protecting you from the sun\u2019s piercing rays. You can hear the wind gently rippling the water\u2019s surface the closer you get and it\u2019s easy to imagine Kuniya\u2019s (the woma python woman) spirit protecting the nearby caves for the Anangu people to use.<\/p>\n

Taking some time to sit and be with the nature you hear and the sights you see is encouraged. You\u2019ll undoubtedly feel a stronger connection to the land and the creation stories you\u2019ve heard along the Kuniya walk on your way to the waterhole. Yes, the water might look inviting (especially on a 36\u00b0C day) but the Mutitjulu Waterhole is a sacred site and out of respect for the Anangu culture, swimming in it or even touching the water is prohibited.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t go searching for Kata Tjuta creation stories<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Two\"Two<\/a><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s a lot of information on Anangu creation stories at the cultural centre in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (and around the base of the rock itself). Still, not every part of the park has a story or ancestral being that\u2019s culturally appropriate for you to hear about. Take Kata Tjuta for example.<\/p>\n

The domes at Kata Tjuta remain an important men\u2019s business site and regular ceremonies are still held throughout the year. For this reason, knowledge of the Tjukurpa stories and cultural activities that go on here is restricted to initiated Anangu men and are not to be shared with travellers to the area.<\/p>\n

Join your own Uluru adventure with Intrepid<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone always talks about what you have to do at Uluru, but what about the things you shouldn\u2019t be doing at all? Uluru is often referred to as the spiritual heart of Australia, not only because of its middle-of-the-country location but also for its great significance to Australia\u2019s First Nations peoples (and more specifically to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":186120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11760],"tags":[73156],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-186119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-uluru"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat not to do at Uluru - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=186119\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What not to do at Uluru - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Everyone always talks about what you have to do at Uluru, but what about the things you shouldn\u2019t be doing at all? 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