Kata Tjuta

Come, wander the red earth in the shadow of Kata Tjuta. 

The homeland of the Aboriginal Anangu people for more than 22,000 years, Kata Tjuta rises from the desert of Central Australia. Located 40km west of Uluru, the light touches the rock like fire, creating an iconic image synonymous with the Australian outback.

Home to the Walpa Gorge Walk and the Valley of the Winds Walk, Kata Tjuta is a popular tourist destination. Anangu traditional owners and Parks Australia jointly manage Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, which is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area. Looking up at the domes creates an unforgettable sense of awe and respect.

Kata Tjuta, Northern Territory, Australia (Photo credit: Wendy Marr)

Meaning ‘Many Heads’ in Anangu, Kata Tjuta is a reminder of the nature of time. We might live a finite number of days; it has remained for eons. People come by busloads to spend mere moments at this site, yet it endures indefinitely.

We will never fully understand the mysteries of Kata Tjuta, but we must understand we are merely a shadow on the desert floor. The breeze blows our footprints away, and we are lucky if we are even remembered. For only a minute, an hour, a day we view its majesty. We say goodbye. We move on.

Behind us in the desert Kata Tjuta looms, unchanged.