'Uluru' or 'Ayer's Rock' 

Uluru/Ayer's Rock is a large sandstone rock formation located in the middle of Australia, in the Northern Territory.

The iconic Australian Rock is about a four hours drive south of Alice Springs (450km) by road. Uluru is located within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for both cultural and spiritual significance.

Visitors can also see 'Kata Tjuta,' or 'Mount Olga' or simply "The Olgas" are another rock formation that is 25 km from Uluru.

Uluru/Ayer's Rock measures 348m above the surrounding land and occupies 3.33square km, and is transformed by colour at sunset. Watching the sun go down over Ayers Rock is a magnificent sight. It's natural colour at sunset can be seen to move from red to orange to lilac.

Since Uluru is sacred to Australia's indigenous people, the Anganu Traditional Owners ask that visitors do not climb out of respect for its cultural and sacred significance.

Although climbing the Rock is not prohibited, it can be quite dangerous to climb. Many people have died from heart failure either when climbing or a few days later.

If you visit Uluru/Ayer's Rock during winter, it can get very cold at night - sometimes down to -5 degrees celsius - so you will need warm clothes for nighttime. 

When visiting the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, there are guided tours around the area by the Anangu Traditional Landowners. They will point out all the natural flora and fauna as well as introduce you to what you can eat in the bush, and teach you about the Aboriginal Dreamtime.

When you go, you will prabably learn that some of the flora has medicinal qualities - such as the red sap of the bloodwood tree, which can inhaled to cure coughs and colds and which can also be used as a disinfectant.

Image courtesy of Rob & Jules, Flickr.