Why you can no longer climb Uluru, and what to do instead

Climbing Uluru has been closed since 26 October 2019. The park’s board of management voted to close it, and the reason comes down to one thing: for the Anangu, the Traditional Owners, the rock is sacred, and climbing it goes against Tjukurpa, their law and culture.

The ban wasn’t a sudden safety rule or a response to a single accident. It was a decision announced two years ahead, after a process that started in the 1980s.

How the decision came about

According to Parks Australia, climbing began in the late 1930s and the first chain was installed in 1964. In 1985 the park was handed back to the Anangu, who have asked visitors not to climb ever since, and “Please Don’t Climb” signs went up in the 1990s.

The park’s 2010 management plan set out when the climb would close: if enough new visitor experiences existed, if the share of visitors climbing fell below 20 percent, or if cultural and natural experiences became the main reasons people visit. In November 2017 the board decided those conditions had been met and voted to close the climb from 26 October 2019. That date was chosen on purpose: it was the 34th anniversary of the handback of the park to the Anangu.

What the ban means today

Climbing is no longer just discouraged. Parks Australia says it is a breach of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, so it is a legal matter, not a request.

What to do instead

The park’s own website points visitors to other ways to see the rock:

• Ranger-guided activities and walking tours
• Rock art sites
• Sunrise and sunset viewing
• The Cultural Centre
• Photography

I haven’t verified current prices, opening hours or park-entry rules, and they change, so check them with the park before you plan.

Why it matters for planning

If you read older guides that describe the climb, they’re out of date. A trip to Uluru today is built around the surroundings and the culture of the people who own the land, not around the summit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you still climb Uluru?

No. The climb has been permanently closed since 26 October 2019.

Why was the climb closed?

Because Uluru is sacred to the Anangu and climbing is against their law and culture, Tjukurpa. The board voted to close it once the conditions in its management plan had been met.

Why 26 October 2019?

It was the 34th anniversary of the day Uluru and Kata Tjuta were handed back to the Anangu, in 1985.

Sources

• Uluru climb closure, Parks Australia: the history of the climb, the 2017 decision, the 26 October 2019 closure date, the 20 percent threshold, the legal status and the alternatives.
• Uluru closed to climbers after crowds make final ascent, The Jakarta Post, 26 October 2019: the closure on the date set.

Park rules, fees and opening times change. Confirm them with Parks Australia before you go.