The Red Centre

One of the greatest natural wonders of the world, Uluru. Before my arrival, many told me it was a powerful place, and it really is – hard to explain why. It’s just so unbelievable, that in the middle of a desert, 450kms from the nearest town lies the largest monolith in the world – and it’s bright red! Not just a rock – but a cultural beacon for the indigenous people of Australia (really all Australians).

Some things you may not know…Uluru is very, very cold in winter – most activities are sunrise and sunset so rug up! Everybody thinks it’s always belting hot in the middle of oz – not true. I wore thermals the other day. It gets in the minuses often. Uluru was originally at the bottom of a large ocean (millions of years ago) and is bright red as it’s rusting due to all the iron content in the rock. It takes 2.5 hours to ride around the rock, at a leisurely pace (or a 4-hour walk).

Shooting photographs of Uluru is tricky – there are strict guidelines on what angles you can take, and you can’t deviate from paths, so we all shoot it from the same locations. Out of respect for the indigenous communities, you can’t shoot the entire NE side of Uluru when lit by the sun – as it reveals cracks and stories in the rock, that can only be told on site and not via a photograph. I had a personal 30 min briefing before I was allowed to shoot it. There are also signs all over it showing certain areas that cannot be documented. Don’t even think about flying your drone over it. Fascinating really – tightly managed.

I’ll walk away from this trip with greater knowledge of Indigenous Australia (as will my children) and encourage you all to take a short trip out here.

Now onto Kakadu. Hope the waves are cranking back home.

:: uge

Yesterday's Uluru Post

A Noongar man plays the Didgeridoo at sunset, Tali Wiru

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Looking outwards, from Walpa Gorge - Kata Tjuta

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The land of the dusty trail. The roads are endless

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Dinner views from Tali Wiru

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Roads to the great Rock

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Kata Tjuta

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Back roads

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Around every corner, a #vanlife wagon

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Kapi Mutijulu - not much water around out here.

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Old desert trees - seen a lot

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Living, breathing, cultural landscapes

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5 thoughts on “The Red Centre

  1. it’s not the worlds largest MONOLITH ROCK Mt August is in Western Australia get your facts right before you post !!!

    1. Oh dear, S Davies! (Insert image of index finger waving from side to side). Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. It’s Mt Augustus, not Mt “August”; and Mt Augustus is not a monolith – it’s a monocline.

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