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Ayers Rock from Above
For many visitors to the red centre, the prospect of climbing Ayers Rock is a large part of the attraction. Tourists arrive at Ayers Rock expecting to ascend, without awareness of the cultural debate that surrounds the activity.
What is the cultural debate?
There’s a long history behind cultural conflict in Australia. In a nutshell, Ayers Rock has a huge cultural significance to the local Anangu people. The wishes of the Anangu are quite explicit, and feature on signage about the park, the government website, yet still the climb remains open.
Why is it Important?
The Anangu are the traditional custodians of the land around Ayers Rock, including the landmark itself. They have lived in the Red Centre for thousands of years, and Uluru has only increased in its cultural significance in that time. The deeds for the land were returned to the people in 1985, and then leased by the Anangu back to the government. Which is where the problem occurs: the government will not close the climb up Ayers Rock until a suitable, similar tourist experience is in place. So the climb remains open, but the choice is still there for visitors.
What Should You Do?
The choice is up to each individual visitor for the most part. The climb is only closed during particular weather conditions that impact the safety of visitors. There are other options for seeing the landscape of the Red Centre from above, including popular Ayers Rock helicopter tour, which takes visitors over not just Uluru but also many other landmarks of the area. Much of the experience of visiting Ayers Rock comes from understanding the connection of the traditional owners to the land. It makes sense that if visitors choose to learn of the experience and traditions of the Anangu people, then they should also respect their wishes and not climb Ayers Rock. Until the climb is closed however, it remains a personal choice.
The Cultural Debate – Climbing Ayers Rock from Ayers Rock Things To Do
