 | Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) Warnings or Dangers | Tips 1 - 10 of 47 |  |
Popular Warnings or Dangers | Other Warnings or Dangers Tips | All Tips (47) a word of advice.. do not bring anything new, clean or expensive to uluru. there is red dust everywhere, seeing it is the desert and all. oh, and don't wear high heels (this comment mainly directed to the japanese tourists who think gucci shoes constitute as walking shoes!). the area is rough, it can be rocky, you rub against rock that stains clothes... you weave through scrubland, you might feel invigorated and roll in the dust...
whatever you do, just bring your old crappy gear, you ain't gonna impress anyone out here, so dont worry about it! Leave a Comment
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this picture was taken at a viewing platform on a hill overlooking the olgas (kata tjuta). we were all on the metal grated platform, enjoying the view when someone screams "snake".
right under our feet was this massive brown snake, which apparently our guide told us was poisonous! my gosh, you had never seen people run so fast off the platform! it could have easily poked its tongue/head through a slot and nipped at our legs.
anyway it continued to pass on its way, and we went back onto the platform to take more photos of the beautiful landscape. so when you come across a snake, just move slowly away from it, and you should be alright. Leave a Comment
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I took the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs, normally about 18 hours via Greyhound.
Unless you have an Emu hit your windscreen (windshield). this photo was takena few minutes after an unformtuate feathered friend tried to cross the road in front of the bus.
The Emu did not survive the impact. The windscreen was badly shattered. The bus driver pulled over and taped up the cracked window, and then boarded it up - we were in the middle of nowhere, so no chance of getting another bus or replacing the glass.
this accident occurred on the main road around 10:30am, we were supposed to arrive in alice at 4pm, but since the window was not fully stable, the driver had to reduce his speed for the rest of the trip, so we ended up arriving in Alice after 6pm - 2 hours late.
There is also a big danger of hitting kangaroos in the middle of the night on the road, depsite the most experienced drivers, sometimes accidents with the animals in the outback just can not be avoided.
Be prepared for anything while travelling in the outback! Leave a Comment
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there are no particularly dangerous animals out here, except for the odd snake, spider and the like. no different then anywhere else in oz really. This little fella, the 'thorny' devil' (note Thorny starting with a T) is a gentle creature that wont bother you at all, so long as you leave it alone.
as with all animals here, the national park rangers ask that you do not pick them up, as they are not so used to humans. this one we had to pick up but, he was about to get run over by the bus before we got to him! Leave a Comment
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Lots of fires in the outback are started by lightning. This one was surrounding the road entrance to Uluru and all the traffic was stopped for about 45 minutes, while we waited for the fire danger to reduce.
Due to the massive water shortage in these dry parts, they usually do not put alot of effort forward to put out the fires unless they pose extreme danger, normally these fires just take their natural course and life goes on.
Much of the vegetation in this area actually THRIVES on the fires and are born again when the rain comes.
During my several days in the outback, there was more than a few fires that were burning very close the road Leave a Comment
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only a fool like me would take a photo of themself looking hideous and bright in yellow. sadly, the day i arrived it was pouring rain, the first time in over a year the locals said. so of course, all the tourists had bought out the nice plastic raincoats, and all miss incredible had left to buy was yellow garbage bag type of things. how embarressment! well not really, i was laughing all the time imagining how sexy i was. and hey, i wont get lost in the desert wearing this bright thing! for $4 it was the cheapest and best option! Leave a Comment
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There are few places on earth with flies like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and its environs. They pursue anything that walks in a desperate quest for moisture. You`ll find yourself swatting constantly as you move about. It makes eating outside a near impossibility, and even talking is a risk as your open mouth becomes an inviting target.
You can get used to it after a few days, one thing you can do is purchase a fly net to place under your hat. These don`t cost much more than a few dollars and are available in most souvenir shops and kiosks.
It is worth mentioning that there are much fewer flies between May and August.
In this case, I didn`t have a flynet. I just wrapped my cloak around my face in frustration :-) Leave a Comment
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Be extra careful of spinifex when going off any desginated walking trail.
Spinifex is hardy arid-region grass and has several varieties. It grows very slowly and hard spinifex is sharp and very strong.
Usually the worst you`ll get is a scratch or a minor cut, but it can be more serious. I fell heavily in patch of spinifex, causing splintering in my left tibia.
Spinifex covers about twenty percent of the Australian continent. The patches of spinifex in the foreground of this picture are between five and ten years old. Leave a Comment
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Don`t approach dingoes if you encounter them. They tend to be shy of humans anyway and will generally slink away if you approach.
They will often appear where food is being cooked outdoors or where people regularly leave scraps behind. Remember to throw away your leftovers and don`t try to feed them - they look fairly docile but are capable of some serious damage if cornered or provoked.
There have been a few injuries over the years, often bites to the hand, to people trying to feed these animals. Leave a Comment
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Well, let me give you the full story from both sides, so you can make your decision.
1 - It is not illegal or immoral to climb to the top of Uluru. Even the Aboriginal people do not forbid it, they just ask politely for you not to.
2 - The reason the Aboriginal people ask you not to climb is not because it is a sacred site per se, it is just that they would feel sadness for you, your family and for themselves for allowing you to climb the rock in case you fell off and joined the 30+ people who have died on the rock's property. (Many more have died as a result of their rock experiences, via heartattack, stroke, or other physical exertion).
3 - There is really nothing to see at the top. After all, the things you want to see and experience are much better on the ground around the base of the rock. On top, there is nothing but a view of the Outback. On the ground you can see paintings, watering holes, rock formations, and sometimes waterfalls!
After all this, make an educated decision, its your choice.
Sarah and I chose to respect the wishes of the traditional land owners of this property, so we did not climb!
Nganana Tatintja Wiya - 'We Never Climb' Leave a Comment
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