Kata Tjuta at a glance
Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas, is a group of 36 domes spread over more than 20 square kilometres. The highest dome rises 546 m above the surrounding plain. In Pitjantjatjara the name means "many heads". It lies in the western part of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, so your park pass covers it.
The domes are important to the Anangu, the traditional owners, and especially to Anangu men. Visitors may use the marked walking tracks. The stories and knowledge connected with the domes are not shared with visitors, and this page does not invent any.
Walks and viewpoints at Kata Tjuta
Two walking tracks start in the park, plus a viewing area on the road in. Grades and times are the park's own figures.
| Walk or viewpoint | Distance | Time | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walpa Gorge | 2.6 km return | About 1 hour | 3 | Water available, no toilets, not wheelchair accessible |
| Valley of the Winds, Karu Lookout | 2.2 km return | About 1 hour | – | The shorter turn-around option |
| Valley of the Winds, Karingana Lookout | 5.4 km return | About 2 h 30 min | – | Steps and steep sections |
| Valley of the Winds, full circuit | 7.4 km | 3 to 4 hours | 4 | Steep and rocky, heat closure from 36 °C |
| Dune viewing area | – | – | – | Viewing area with a view of Kata Tjuta and, far away, Uluru; wheelchair accessible, no water or toilets |
The distances for Karu and Karingana are alternatives with a return trip, not stages that add up. Details for the long walk are on our Valley of the Winds page.
Our picks: Kata Tjuta tours
An afternoon in a small group, the Valley of the Winds hike and a cultural day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Valley of the Winds circuit hike
A guide, hotel transfers, morning tea and light refreshments on a 5.5-hour hike. The park pass is extra.
Check availability →
Kata Tjuta afternoon tour in a small group
Three hours with a guide, with pickup and return at Ayers Rock Resort. Food, drinks and the park pass are extra.
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Kata Tjuta, Walpa Gorge and Uluru base walk
A guided Walpa Gorge walk, the cultural centre and part of the Uluru base walk including the Kuniya Walk. Lunch and the park pass are extra.
Check availability →Kata Tjuta tours and day trips
Sunrise and sunset trips, walking tours and combinations with Uluru, with live prices and availability. Check whether the park pass is included.
Walpa Gorge: the easier walk
Walpa Gorge is a 2.6 km out-and-back walk of about an hour between two steep walls. It is graded 3 and not suitable for wheelchairs. Water is available at the start. There are no toilets on the track.
Stay on the marked path. Do not climb boulders or scramble down the channels. The park asks that any photograph, film, drawing or painting keeps both sides of the gorge in the frame, so that no sacred detail appears on its own. Please respect that.
Valley of the Winds: the longer walk
The 7.4 km circuit is the hardest walk here: steep, rocky and graded 4. It has its own heat closure. From 11:00 the track beyond the first lookout, Karu, is closed once the forecast or actual temperature reaches 36 °C. There is water at the start and about halfway. There are no toilets on the track.
Photo rules at Kata Tjuta
The rules differ from track to track. Read the signs at each start.
Valley of the Winds
No photos or video of the rock formations anywhere on the walk. Close-ups of plants, animals and people are fine as long as no formation is in the picture. Ask people before you photograph them.
Walpa Gorge
Photos are allowed only with both sides of the gorge in the frame. The same applies to film, drawing and painting.
Dune viewing area
Keep at least five domes in the frame. The park's detail page says the sun does not light the domes head-on at sunrise or sunset here, so do not count on a particular colour.
Sunrise and sunset →How to fit Kata Tjuta into your days
The drive from Yulara takes about 45 minutes each way, so Kata Tjuta needs a half day. Uluru is closer, at around 20 minutes. Most visitors do Kata Tjuta and Uluru on different days.
- Start early. The park opens between 05:00 and 06:30 depending on the month. In hot weather the park advises finishing walks by 11:00.
- Pick the walk for the day. On a day forecast at 36 °C or more, the long Valley of the Winds walk is cut short from 11:00. Walpa Gorge is the safer plan.
- Carry water. The park recommends at least 1 litre per person for every hour of walking.
- Leave before closing. The park is closed at night, and you have to be outside by closing time. Hours run from 05:00 to 21:00 in January and 06:30 to 19:30 in June and July.
- Without a car. Paid hop-on hop-off buses and tours go to Kata Tjuta. The free resort shuttle does not go to the national park.
Check the current track status before you go. Heat closures and repairs can change at short notice.
Kata Tjuta at sunset
The domes can glow in the evening light. The park's dune viewing area looks over Kata Tjuta, with Uluru on the horizon. It is about 35 minutes from Yulara and wheelchair accessible, but has no water or toilets.
The park closes after sunset as well, so plan the drive home before you set out. Our sunrise and sunset guide compares all the viewing areas.
Plan the rest of your visit
Kata Tjuta: frequently asked questions
Are Kata Tjuta and The Olgas the same place?
Yes. Kata Tjuta is the Anangu name, from Pitjantjatjara, and means "many heads". The Olgas is the older English name for the same group of domes.
How far is Kata Tjuta from Yulara?
About 45 minutes by car from Ayers Rock Resort, according to the park. Allow more time on the day if you plan to start a long walk.
Do I need a separate ticket for Kata Tjuta?
No. It is part of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, so the park pass covers it: AUD 38 for 3 days in 2026, free under 18.
Can I take photos of the domes?
It depends on the place. On the Valley of the Winds walk, photos and video of the rock formations are not allowed. At Walpa Gorge both sides of the gorge must be in the frame. At the dune viewing area keep at least five domes in the picture.
Which walk should I choose?
Walpa Gorge is shorter, about an hour. Valley of the Winds is longer and steeper, and closes beyond the first lookout from 11:00 when 36 °C or more is forecast.
Can I climb the domes?
No. Stay on the marked tracks. Climbing boulders or going down channels is not allowed, and Uluru itself has been closed to climbing since 26 October 2019.