You haven’t truly immersed yourself in the vast Australian Outback until you’ve witnessed the majesty of Ayers Rock. Rising dramatically from the spinifex plains of Australia’s Northern Territory, the sacred monolith of Uluru stands as a powerful symbol of this incredible Southern Land.

Although it lies 462 km from Alice Springs, Ayers Rock draws countless visitors for a reason—there’s simply nothing else like it on Earth. Watching its surface shift through shades of terracotta and crimson at sunset over the Pitjantjatjara lands is an awe-inspiring sight, and waking to the morning sun casting its light across Uluru is a deeply moving experience.

The ancient monolith is pretty impressive close up and boasts intriguing statistics, below are some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions and interesting facts about Uluru.

Fact: Uluru used to be known as Ayers Rock; it was named by William Gosse in 1873 after Sir Henry Ayers. ‘Uluru’ was the Aboriginal name for this sacred place, and is now the official name. Uluru lies west of the Simpson Desert, not far from the ‘Red Centre’ of Australia, about 335kms southwest of Alice Springs (as the crow flies) and 463kms by road.

How Old is Uluru?
Uluru is about 500 million years old.It is believed the rock was created over some 500 million years, and the Aborigines have been in the area for the last 10,000 years. To put this fact into perspective, the first mammals and the dinosaurs inhabited the Earth around 300-200 million years ago. So a fun fact for kids is that Uluru is about twice as ancient as the dinosaurs!

How was Uluru formed?
It originally sat at the bottom of a sea, but today stands 348m above ground. Uluru is an inselberg (which means island mountain) and there was a time when Uluru was at the bottom of the sea, but it was just the hard rock of the monolith that remained after eroding away the softer sections. But just how did Uluru form? The formation of Uluru started around 550 million years ago, when the Petermann Ranges to the west of Uluru were substantially higher and the and and rock were eroded by rainwater and placed into fan-shaped patterns on the plains as the mountains were eroded. The around 500 million years ago, the region was submerged under water. The fans were coated in mud and sand as it sank to the bottom and the new seafloor compressed the fans under its weight. Sanstrone rock (Uluru) was formed by one fan, whereas conglomerate rock formed the other fan (Kata Tjuta). The oceans dried up around 400 million years ago. The earth’s tectonic plates moved, causing rocks to bend and tilt. Uluru and Kata Tjuta both move and tilted. During the last 300 million years Uluru and Kata Tjuta were formed by softer rocks eroding away, leaving behind their stunning shapes.

How big is Uluru?
Uluru is about 3.6kms long and 1.9kms wide, with a circumference of 9.4kms. The climb to the top (which we don’t do any more) is 1.6kms, much of which is at a steep angle, while the summit is generally flat.

How high is Uluru?
Uluru is 348 metres (1141 feet) high above the surrounding area, and rises 863 metres (2,831 ft) above sea level. So at 348 metres, Uluru is taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower at just 324 metres to the tip! One of the most startling Uluru facts however, is that it is estimated some 2.5kms of its bulk is underground (no-one knows exactly how far). Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t the biggest monolith in the world; Mount Augustus in Western Australia holds that title.

Why is Uluru special?
Uluru and the neighbouring Kata Tjuta National Park are traditionally owned by the Anangu people.Uluru is a living and breathing landscape that is incredibly special, sacred and spiritual to the land’s indigenous owners for thousands of years. Uluru is said to have been formed in the Dreamtime, the earliest period of time.

From the breathtaking landscapes of the Red Centre to its rich cultural experiences, this extraordinary region offers unforgettable adventures. Visit the Red Centre website to explore tailored delegate packages, pre-planned itineraries, and a range of activities, from guided tours with expert storytellers to unlimited-kilometre car rentals for independent exploration. 

Whether it’s your first visit or a return to this iconic destination, Central Australia is waiting to be discovered—start planning your adventure today!