Valley of the Winds at a glance
The Valley of the Winds is the main walking track at Kata Tjuta. The full circuit is 7.4 km and takes 3 to 4 hours. It is graded 4: steep, rocky and difficult in places. Two lookouts give you shorter turn-around options, so you do not have to do the whole loop.
Kata Tjuta is especially important to Anangu men. You are welcome on the marked track, and you are asked to stay on it. The stories and knowledge connected with this place are not shared with visitors.
Route options
Choose by time and heat. The figures are the park's, and the options are alternatives with a return, not stages to add together.
| Option | Distance | Time | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karu Lookout | 2.2 km return | About 1 hour | The first lookout and the shortest option. Turn back here when the track beyond is closed. |
| Karingana Lookout | 5.4 km return | About 2 h 30 min | Steps and steep sections |
| Full circuit | 7.4 km | 3 to 4 hours | Steep, rocky and difficult in places. Grade 4. |
The park's pages give the circuit as 3 to 4 hours in the text and 4 hours in the summary box, so plan on the longer figure with breaks.
Kata Tjuta walking tours and transfers
Guided walks, sunrise trips and day tours that include Kata Tjuta, with live prices and availability. Check whether the Valley of the Winds is part of the tour.
Heat closure: 36 °C from 11:00
On the Valley of the Winds walk, the track beyond the first lookout, Karu, is closed from 11:00 when the forecast or the actual temperature is 36 °C or more. The rule applies to the forecast. Do not wait for the thermometer to reach 36 °C.
The threshold is not the same on every walk in the park. At Uluru, the North-east Walk closes from 11:00 at 40 °C, and the Lungkata Walk from 14:00 at 40 °C. Do not carry one number from one walk to another.
- Start at opening time. In hot weather the park advises finishing walks by 11:00. The park opens at 05:00 to 06:30, depending on the month.
- Plan the shorter option. If you arrive late, Karu Lookout is the walk that stays open.
- Read the sign. A sign at the start shows the day's heat closure.
Water, facilities and safety
There is little support on the track, so bring what you need.
Water
Drinking water is available at the start and about halfway. The park recommends at least 1 litre per person for every hour of walking, and regular food and rest breaks. Heat exhaustion, dehydration and low sodium are listed risks.
Toilets
There are no toilets on the track. Use the facilities at the start.
Footwear and sun
The surface is rocky, with steps and steep sections. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sun protection.
Emergencies
Call 000, or 112 from a mobile. There are emergency phones at many walks, and mobile coverage should not be your only plan.
Photography on the Valley of the Winds
Photos and video of the Kata Tjuta rock formations are not allowed anywhere on the Valley of the Winds walk. This is a different rule from the one at Walpa Gorge, where you may photograph if both sides of the gorge are in the picture. Please respect the rule here, and leave your camera for other moments.
Close-ups of plants and animals, and photos of people, are possible as long as no rock formation is in the picture. Ask people for their agreement first. The rule is about the formations, and nothing on the park's pages says that women are barred from the track.
Getting there and getting back
Kata Tjuta is about 45 minutes by car from Ayers Rock Resort. The free resort shuttle does not go into the national park. Without a car you need a tour or a paid hop-on hop-off bus. The sunrise service of the bus offers either Walpa Gorge or the Valley of the Winds. The sunset service does not offer the Valley of the Winds.
If you take a bus for a long walk, check the return time and the heat rule together. The park pass is needed as well: AUD 38 for 3 days in 2026, free under 18. A bus ticket does not include it.
Valley of the Winds: frequently asked questions
How long is the Valley of the Winds walk?
The full circuit is 7.4 km and takes 3 to 4 hours. Karu Lookout is 2.2 km return, about an hour, and Karingana Lookout is 5.4 km return, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
When is the walk closed for heat?
From 11:00, beyond Karu Lookout, when the forecast or actual temperature is 36 °C or more. Other walks have other thresholds, such as 40 °C at the Uluru North-east Walk.
Are there toilets and water on the walk?
There is drinking water at the start and about halfway. There are no toilets on the track.
Can I take photos in the Valley of the Winds?
Not of the rock formations. Close-ups of plants, animals and people without formations in the picture are possible, and you should ask people first.
Is the walk suitable for children?
It is graded 4 and steep in places. The 2.2 km Karu Lookout option is the shortest. Judge it by the child's fitness and the day's heat. Children under 18 enter the park free.