Nganana Tatintja Wiya - 'We Never Climb'
Cultural reasons | Safety reasons | Environmental reasons | Other things to do
video: We do not climb
video: About Tjukurpa
video: Creation story
That's a really important sacred thing that you are climbing... You shouldn't climb. It's not the real thing about this place. The real thing is listening to everything.
And maybe that makes you a bit sad. But anyway that's what we have to say. We are obliged by Tjukurpa to say. And all the tourists will brighten up and say, 'Oh I see. This is the right way. This is the thing that's right. This is the proper way: no climbing.'
Kunmanara, Traditional Owner
What visitors call 'the climb' is of great spiritual significance to us. The climb is not prohibited, but we prefer that, as a guest on Anangu land, you will choose to respect our law and culture by not climbing. When you visit the Cultural Centre you will learn more about the significance of Uluru in our culture.
- For more information please read: Please do not climb Park note (PDF - 221 KB)
Safety reasons
Traditionally we have a responsibility to teach and safeguard visitors to our land. The climb can be dangerous and over 35 people have died while attempting to climb Uluru; many others have been injured. We feel great sadness when a person dies or is hurt on our land. Please read the safety information on the back of this guide before you decide whether or not to climb.
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 - outside Park opening times
- SUMMER - from 8am during the Summer Seasonal Closure Period: December, January and February
- HEAT - from 8am if the temperature forecasted (at 4.30pm the day before) is 36°C or above.
The climb may also be closed with little or no notice:
- HEAT - if the actual temperature reaches 36°C or above
- RAIN - when there is greater than 20% chance of rain within three hours
- RAIN - when there is greater than 5% 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% 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 reasons
There are also significant environmental impacts of climbing Uluru. If you have a close look you can see the path is smooth from thousands of footsteps since the 1950s. This erosion is changing the face of Uluru. Also, there are no toilet facilities 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 the waterholes where precious reptiles, birds, animals and frogs live and depend on that water. A water quality study at Uluru has found significantly higher bacterial levels in the waterholes fed by runoff from the climb site, compared to those further away.
Fewer people are climbing
The proportion of visitors who climb Uluru has dropped. It is estimated that around 38 per cent of visitors climb each year, down from 74 per cent in 1990. Visitors from some countries are much more likely to climb than others. At the last survey visitors who didn't climb generally mentioned the request from traditional owners and their desire to show respect for Anangu and their culture. Other reasons include lack of interest in climbing, safety concerns, lack of fitness and fear of heights.
Other things to do
There are other challenging and interesting things to do at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
- Cultural Centre
- Ranger guided activities
- Sunrise and sunset viewing
- Walks in the park
- Rock art sites