Climbing Uluru

climbers , warning sign

the local aṉangu not climb uluru because of great spiritual significance. request visitors not climb rock, partly due path crossing sacred traditional dreamtime track, , due sense of responsibility safety of visitors. visitors guide says climb not prohibited, prefer that, guest on aṉangu land, choose respect our law , culture not climbing.

according 2010 publication, on one-third of visitors park climb uluru; high percentage of these children. chain handhold added in 1964 , extended in 1976 makes hour-long climb easier, still steep, 800 m (0.5 mi) hike top, can quite windy. recommended individuals drink plenty of water while climbing, , unfit, suffer vertigo or medical conditions restricting exercise, not attempt it. climbing uluru closed public when high winds present @ top. there have been @ least 35 deaths relating recreational climbing since such incidents began being recorded. one-sixth of visitors made climb between 2011 2015.

on 11 december 1983, prime minister of australia, bob hawke, promised hand land title aṉangu traditional custodians , caretakers , agreed community s 10-point plan included forbidding climbing of uluru. government, however, set access climb uluru , 99-year lease, instead of agreed upon 50-year lease, conditions before title officially given aṉangu on 26 october 1985.

the aboriginal traditional owners of uluṟu–kata tjuṯa national park (nguraritja) , federal government s national parks share decision-making on management of uluṟu–kata tjuṯa national park. under joint uluṟu–kata tjuṯa national park management plan 2010–20, issued director of national parks under environment protection , biodiversity conservation act 1999, clause 6.3.3 provides director , uluṟu–kata tjuṯa board of management work towards closure of climb and, additionally, provides close upon of 3 conditions being met: there adequate new visitor experiences , less 20 per cent of visitors make climb or critical factors in decisions visit cultural , natural experiences . despite cogent evidence second condition met july 2013, climb remained open.

several controversial incidents on top of uluru in 2010, including striptease, golfing , nudity, led renewed calls banning climb.

on 1 november 2017, uluṟu–kata tjuṯa national park board voted unanimously prohibit climbing uluru, ban take effect in october 2019.