Climbing the rock is now forbidden due to its spiritual significance but visitors can get a sense of its extraordinary beauty and energy by following the dirt track that circumnavigates its base. Pack plenty of water for the three-and-half-hour hike. If budget allows, take to the skies on a helicopter tour to take in Uluru's scale from above, and that of the vast national park that surrounds it. You'll also get to swoop over the wondrous soaring rock domes of nearby Kata Tjuta.

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