The change that defines the visit
Can you climb Uluru? No — here's why, and what it means
The climb closed in 2019, and it reshaped how everyone experiences the rock.
The short answer
No. Climbing Uluru was permanently closed on 26 October 2019, at the long-standing request of the Anangu Traditional Owners, for whom Uluru is a deeply sacred site. There is no exemption, no seasonal reopening, and no plan to reverse it. The chain and the old climb route are gone, and attempting to climb is not permitted.
Why it closed
The Anangu had asked visitors not to climb for decades — both out of respect for the site's spiritual significance and because of the deaths and environmental damage the climb caused. When climbing numbers fell below a threshold and the park's joint management agreed, the closure was set. It's widely seen as an act of respect that has deepened, not diminished, the visitor experience.
What you can do instead
Everything that makes Uluru extraordinary is still open to you: the base walk around its full circumference, the changing colours at sunrise and sunset, Anangu cultural tours, the rock art and waterholes, and the Field of Light. Many visitors who expected to miss the climb find the ground-level, guided experience far more meaningful.
Kata Tjuta, just next door
The same national park contains Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a cluster of massive domed rock formations a short drive away, with the superb Valley of the Winds and Walpa Gorge walks. It's often overlooked next to Uluru but is spectacular in its own right, and it rounds out a Red Centre visit beautifully.
Visiting respectfully
With the climb closed, the spirit of a good Uluru visit is one of respect: staying on marked walks, not photographing the signed sacred sites, and taking the time to learn the Anangu stories through a cultural tour. It's less about conquering the rock and more about understanding it — which is exactly what the Traditional Owners have always hoped for.
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