Travel to Kata Tjuta The Olgas

Like Uluru the Olgas are located in the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park. When visiting Ayers Rock the Olgas or Kata Tjuta are on everyone's schedule. The Olgas are about 25km to the east of Uluru and 50km to drive from Yulara and there is a clearly singalled turnoff to Kata Tjuta as you drive from the resort town of Yulara towards Uluru. If you are driving to Kata Tjuta straight from Uluru head back towards the park exit and turn left at the intersection before the gate to Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park.

Geologically The Olgas are very much like Uluru, it displays the same famous red rock but it is made up of 36 peaks spread over an area of more than 20km2. The highest point of Kata Tjuta is Mount Olga at over 1000m above sealevel and about 550m above the surrounding desert plain.

Kata Tjuta, formerly called "the Olgas"

Kata Tjuta, formerly called "the Olgas" are the second major natural destination within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the ticket you buy to enter to see Uluru is also valid to visit Kata Tjuta. Just like around Uluru the roads to take you to Kata Tjuta are all sealed and kept in perfect conditon so visting the Olgas does not require for you to rent a large 4WD. You can save quite a bit of money on your Uluru and Kata Tjuta visit by renting the smallest class of cars which is perfectly adequate.

Just like Ayers Rock Uluru Kata Tjuta looks its best at sunset - and sunrise although I clearly prefer sunset. Kata Tjuta has an offical sunset viewing area like Uluru which is easily found using the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park maps provided when you arrive.

In many ways Kata Tjuta is a lot less accessible then Uluru. There are 2 spectacular walks which are open to the public but most areas are not only closed for tourists but also for any Aboriginal people not participating in ceremonies under the Tjukurpa cultural law. Please don't go off the defined walking tracks they are impressive enough and observe the fact that Kata Tjuta is a sacred and significant place for the traditional owners. Because of the high tourist volume most traditional ceremonies formerly held at Uluru have been relocated to Kata Tjuta where the required seclusion and privacy can still be granted.

When you hike the 2 walking tracks at Kata Tjuta open to the public you will just like at Uluru find yourself immersed in a surreal world of red light and spectacular rock formations and the spiritual significance of the Olgas is easily appreciated without knowing any of the stories surrounding it. Just like Uluru Kata Tjuta is a spiritual place visible even to the most modern of city dweller visiting for a few hours only. However you want to define it there is "something" about Kata Tjuta and we ask you to enjoy The Olgas with enough respect to bring back your bubble gum wrappers.

Passing Kata Tjuta is the start of the Great Central Road which is both unsealed and requires permits for you to use it. This is not your 1 day Uluru experience, this 4WD track takes you across the desert to Western Australia and requires a 4WD and planning.

The Walks at Kata Tjuata - the Olgas

There is two walks to consider when travelling to Kata Tjuta. Lets start with the short and easy walk first. The Walpa Gorge Walk, 2,6km return takes you about an hour and takes you into the Walpa Gorge up a rocky slope and on into the shady Gorge itsel which has its own microclimate with lots of green and flowing water. This walk takes you up to a viewpoint between the towering peaks of Kata Tjuta. Just like with any walks on the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park please come prepared with water and clothing for heat and the cold. Once you enter the Gorge the hot climate can turn into cold real quickly and you regularly encounter strong winds which once you have reached the shady part of the walk can chill you to the bone. Beautiful walk but on to the spectacular one:

The Valley of the Winds Kata Tjuta

The Valley of the winds as you may gather is home to strong winds and as discribed before please come ready for cold not only heat and carry plenty of water with you. The Valley of the winds takes about 3 hours to walk and is 7.4km long.

Except for the Uluru Basewalk this is by far the best walk in all of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Many people will argue its even better but to me the Uluru Base Walk still tops it all. But hey great to have choices like this. The Valley of the winds at Kata Tjuta is wild, rugged and simply spectacular. And it is not even close to receiving the number of visitors Uluru does.

While most walks in the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park are easy and remain level the valley of the Winds is a lot more demanding than that going up and down and narrowing to a small trail unlike the wide maintained base walk at Uluru. This is the way to approach the valley of the Winds walk.

The initial section of the Valley of the Winds walk is not part of the circuit and leads to Karu lookout at only 1.1km from the carpark. Once you have enjoyed the Karu lookout you start the loop walk. The second destination is Karingana lookout by following the southern part of the loop. To reach Karingana is the most demanding part of the Valley of the Winds but the effort is absolutely worth it and once you are there you know that everything after will only get easier. Karingana is a narrow gap in the rock faces hi above the valley and the views are why you've come here.

As it gets easier from here on you might aswell complete the Valley of the Winds Walk before you return to Uluru.

Uluru Menu