Reviews for Ayers Rock Sunrise Experience & Climb

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This tour was really interesting and totally brought Aboriginal culture alive. It started really early at around 4.45 am when we got on a minibus and drove to the 'sunrise viewing area'. It was pretty cold and we were so grateful for a steaming hot coffee and biscuits when we got there! Then we waited for the sun to come up. It took its time at first, slowly creeping up the side of the gigantic rock and bathing it in the most spectacular burning red and gold light. It really took my breath away. We took lots of photos and then the group who wanted to climb went off with the guide. Meanwhile we strolled along the 'Mala Walk' which traverses part of the base of Uluru. The walk is peppered with illustrated signs pointing out the plants Aboriginal people still use to this day for food or healing purposes, and charting the Aboriginal stories centred on various crevices and fissures in the rock. When our guide and the rest of our party returned, we resumed our guided tour of the base of Uluru which I found fascinating. We saw rock paintings and caves used for shelter, and learnt how water was conserved, how the hunter-gatherer tribes preserved meat and knew and respected the animals they hunted. It was an absolutely amazing insight into an ancient and threatened culture and I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Uluru.
The only thing I did not agree with was the fact that we walked around the base of Uluru AFTER some people had climbed to the top. I think quite a lot of people would not have climbed had they known the spiritual significance of the rock and how discouraged it is by the Aboriginal community.
Also, take a fleece for warmth and a light scarf for protection - there are so many flies once the sun comes up you need to totally cover your head and face!

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