Climb safety and the environment
The Uluru climb can be dangerous
The climb is physically demanding. Do not attempt it if you have high or low blood pressure, heart problems, breathing problems, a fear of heights, or if you are not reasonably fit.
For your safety the climb is always closed:
- OVERNIGHT - from 5.00 pm
- SUMMER - from 8.00 am during the summer seasonal closure period: December, January and February
The climb may also be closed with little or no notice because of:
- HEAT - if the actual temperature reaches 36°C or above
- RAIN - when there is greater than 20 per cent chance of rain within three hours
- THUNDERSTORMS - when there is greater than 5 per cent chance of thunderstorms within three hours
- WIND - if the estimated wind speed at the summit reaches 25 knots or above
- WET - when more than 20 per cent of the rock surface is wet after rain
- CLOUD - when cloud descends below the summit
- RESCUE - during rock rescue operations
- CULTURE - if the traditional owners request closure for cultural reasons, for example during a period of mourning.
Environmental impacts
The climb is damaging Uluru. You can see the climb has been worn smooth, eroded by the millions of footsteps climbers have taken since the 1950s. Each step a climber takes changes the face of Uluru.
There are no toilets on top of Uluru and no soil to dig a hole. You can imagine what happens many times a day when the climb is open. When it rains, everything gets washed off the rock and into waterholes, polluting the water for the many plants and animals found in the park.
Working towards closing the climb
Most of the people who visit Uluru today choose not to climb. They choose not to climb for many reasons, including their own fitness, but most people tell us it is out of respect for Anangu.
In 2010 our Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board of management decided to start working towards closing the climb for cultural, safety and environmental reasons.
We won't permanently close the climb without significant industry consultation and until we have alternative experiences in place for our many visitors. We have committed to giving at least 18 months notice to the tourism industry.
We're are working closely with the tourism industry to make sure our visitors continue to be provided with a rewarding experience of the park.
