Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta, meaning many heads in Pitjantjatjara, is a group of thirty-six domes of conglomerate rock, boulders and gravel cemented together, spread over about twenty square kilometres. Mount Olga, the highest, reaches 546 metres above the plain, some two hundred metres taller than Uluru. Two walks are open: the Walpa Gorge track, a straightforward two-kilometre return between two domes, and the Valley of the Winds, a seven-and-a-half-kilometre circuit through the formation with two lookouts, sections of which close when the forecast exceeds thirty-six degrees. The site is sacred to Anangu men and much of its meaning is not shared publicly; photography is restricted in some areas.

What you actually see

• The domes - thirty-six conglomerate formations, taller than Uluru at the highest.
• The Valley of the Winds - the circuit walk through the middle of the group.
• Walpa Gorge - the shorter walk into the gap between two domes.
• The dune viewing area - the sunset and sunrise viewpoints from the road.

When to go

April to September; the Valley of the Winds closes past the first lookout when the forecast reaches thirty-six degrees, which is most summer days. Sunrise from the dune viewing area is the classic view. Winter nights drop below freezing.

Honest expectations

Walks close on hot days and rangers enforce it. Water must be carried and flies are constant in warm months. Certain sites are sacred to Anangu men and photography restrictions apply; signage explains where.

Nearby

Uluru lies fifty kilometres east; Yulara is the only accommodation base.