Uluru/ Ayers Rock – Northern Territory

Hey all! Guess what?? I have been just recently to Uluru/Ayers Rock, Northern Territory, Australia. The ‘Australian Outback’, to be more specific. Have you ever heard of the Uluru rock? So, it is located there! It is actually in the middle of nowhere, considering urban areas. The closest major city to Uluru/Ayers Rock is Alice Springs, located 467 Km away.

It is isolated, it is very dry, it is hot (during the day), it is beautiful! It actually reminded me a lot of the Northeast Semi-Arid area of Brazil, region where I am originally from. However, the red earth tones in the ‘Australian Outback’ are very unique and gorgeously integrate with the overall landscape.

Uluru, Uluru/Ayers Rock, NT

The landscape is amazing, the Aboriginal culture is very interesting, the Uluru itself is gorgeous, and the architecture I found there, especially for the hotels, is very unique, even though there are not many indigenous influenced elements clearly visible. However, still interesting and apparently concerned about local climatic needs. It actually reminded me a little bit of the architecture of Lelé, Joao Filgueiras Lima, Brazilian Architect famous for his environmentally friendly architecture style. The similarities are probably due to architect’s concern with shading and internal passive cooling systems.

Desert Gardens Hotel, Uluru/Ayers Rock, NT

Desert Gardens Hotel, Uluru/Ayers Rock, NT

Desert Gardens Hotel, Uluru/Ayers Rock, NT

Desert Gardens Hotel, Uluru/Ayers Rock, NT

Example of Lelé’s architecture, Hospital Sarah Brasilia. Extracted from: https://www.vitruvius.com.br/revistas/read/entrevista/19.073/6891?page=7

Example of Lelé’s architecture. Extracted from: https://www.vitruvius.com.br/revistas/read/arquitextos/16.181/5592

The city of Uluru/Ayers Rock is basically a big resort in the middle of nowhere with three main hotels which serve as support for the tourists whom go to visit the Uluru and its surrounds, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The urbanization level is very low and the territorial occupation rate is minimum. With exception of the roads, even the pedestrian walkways are earth paved. Everything is kept in a sort of rustic way. The intention was probably to make small interventions and keeping the region closer to its original occupants’ life style, the Anangu people.

Unfortunately, this time I wasn’t able to visit any of the Anangu‘s original architecture. Maybe it is something which will make me return another time, to have this closer connection with the local culture. We were also not allowed to take pictures, for the holiness of the place, of the very beautiful Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park ‘Cultural Centre’ which is very worth a visit.

Ayers Rock/Uluru, city’s general overview

I have no doubt that going to a journey into the “heart” of Australia is an experience that every visitor, not to mention locals, should have one day. I guess I sort of found the connection to the earth I have been looking for since I first landed in this ‘Down Under’ side of the globe. Gratitude is my feeling!

*All the images in this post belongs to the writer´s personal gallery and correspond to intellectual property, otherwise as noted.