AYERS ROCK

AYERS ROCK :

The icon of Australia is the world's second largest free standing monolith. Ayers Rock rises solitarily 348 meters (1141 feet) above the desert plain and is over 9 kilometers (5 miles) in circumference. It's also known for its sacredness and changing colors.

Ayers Rock is the popular English designation (named after Sir Henry Ayers, a 19th century Australian governor). However, the rock's official appellation is Uluru, the one given by the Anunga Aborigines of Australia.Although Ayers Rock is less than half the size of the world's largest monolith (Mt. Augustus in Western Australia), it has a more dramatic shape and overall appearance.Ayers Rock is like an iceberg because only its tip is visible - the rest extends deep into the ground.

The Anungas discourage (but do not prohibit) visitors from climbing their sacred mountain. Roughly 1 out of 10 visitors climb the rock, using an ancient Aborigine trail. A few slip and lose their lives each year. Once on top, the view is staggering. Note: The trail is closed when it is windy, rainy or excessively hot.Ayers Rock is in the middle of Australia in the middle of nowhere. The nearest modest-sized city (Alice Springs) is nearly 500 kilometers (300 miles) away.If you base yourself in Alice Springs, you can make sort of a loop visiting three of my Hillman Wonder medal winners in Australia: Ayers Rock (gold), the Olgas (bronze), and Kings Canyon (bronze). This proximity enhances your Ayers Rock trip.

That's mid-December to mid-March in the southern hemisphere. Average midday temperatures are close to 38°C (100°F) and have soared as high as 45°C (113°F). Remember, you're in a desert.