Soaring over the massive sandstone monolith of Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) in the heart of the Red Centre desert of Australia’s Northern Territory is an unforgettable experience. This incredibly huge rock is sacred to the indigenous people and it is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Australia.
The rock is located in the heart of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in an ancient landscape that is rich with indigenous culture and powerful spirituality. Aboriginal people have lived in this area for at least 10,000 years.
You can visit Uluru and walk around the bottom of it, but it’s hard to appreciate the enormous scale and shape of this rock from the ground. One of the best ways to see the rock is to view it from above on a helicopter tour. Gliding over the desert in a helicopter will be a thrilling experience that you will tell all of your friends about when you get back from Australia!
A View of Ayer’s Rock from the Sky
A helicopter tour of Ayer’s Rock will take you on a thrilling ride above the desert so that you can see this natural wonder from high in the air. You will be able to take photos through the huge windows that will capture a panorama of this amazing landscape. You will be overwhelmed by the sheer size and the natural beauty of these impressive wonders.
Your experienced pilot will offer you fascinating insight into the history of the area and will point out all of the features of the rock. The most spectacular time to see the rock is at dawn or sunset. When the light from the rising or setting sun hits Ayers Rock it makes the stone glow with an amazing reddish hue. If you can plan your helicopter tour at sunrise or sunset you will be able to observe this stunning sight.
On your tour you might also fly over the nearby rock formations of Kata-Tjuta – which are thought to be around 500 million years old. In fact, both Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the tips of a massive underground rock slab. The amazing red colour of the rock is due to the iron in the stone “rusting” as it reacts with oxygen on the surface.
Check Out This Natural Wonder from Above
It is possible to climb Uluru, but the traditional owners ask that you do not because of the spiritual significance of this important sacred site. Flying over the rock in a helicopter is the alternative, allowing you to see the rock from above and get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding desert without disrespecting the indigenous people.
Taking a helicopter ride over Ayers Rock will be one of the highlights of your trip to Australia and a travel experience that you will remember forever. To learn more about helicopter tours of Ayers Rock please feel free to contact us at any time.