Walpa Gorge or Valley of the Winds? Best Kata Tjuta walk

The best Kata Tjuta walk in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre depends on timing and fitness. The Valley of the Winds Walk is longer and tougher, while the Walpa Gorge Walk is better at sunset.

Kata Tjuta is often regarded as second best by the many visitors who travel all the way to Australia’s Red Centre with only one attraction in mind: Uluru.

The big red rock is undoubtedly magnificent, and there are plenty of things to do at Uluru, including camel rides and Red Centre helicopter flights. But there’s an equally impressive sight a 58km drive to the west.

If you don’t have your own car, you may wish to book a half day Kata Tjuta sunrise tour or sunset tour.

Kata Tjuta, formerly known as the Olgas, offers something rather different to Uluru. It is a series of rounded rock domes, clustered together, and rising out of the surrounding plain. The highest of these domes, Mt Olga, is 198m higher than Uluru. There’s the same red colour, and same awe-striking shifting of hues at sunrise and sunset.

Best Kata Tjuta walks: Walpa Gorge Walk

Kata Tjuta’s strengths lie in the walks, however. There are 36 red domes covering more than 20 square kilometres, and the walking trails lace through these domes.

The two main walks are the Walpa Gorge Walk and the Valley of the Winds Walk. The first of these is the easier undertaking. The Walpa Gorge Walk is 2.6km long and should take around an hour. Pink daisies grow in the gorge during the late winter months, and wallabies tend to hop around here. Otherwise the steeply-rising gorge walls are the stars here.

The Walpa Gorge Walk is a good bet for those on a limited timeframe. Go later in the day, and you can watch the sunset from one of the benches along the walk.

Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta

The Valley of the Winds Walk is actually two walks. One goes to the Karu lookout – budget around an hour to cover the 2.2km return journey. The views from the lookout are pretty incredible, but expect moderately difficult going and some loose rocks.

The trail usually called the Valley of the Winds Walk, however, goes to the Karingana lookout. This Kata-Tjuta walk heads down into the valley and along the creek beds. There are some challenging, Grade 4 sections, plenty of steps and some steep schleps. It’s 5.4km return and should take around 2.5 hours. However, it’s quicker and easier to tackle the two lookouts as a 7.4km circuit over four hours.

8 great Uluru experiences to book before you arrive

• 1. Understand Uluru’s caves, bulges, gullies and spiritual stories on a guided base walk.
• 2. Be awe-struck by the changing colours on a SUNRISE tour.
• 3. Eat great food on a dune top, and enjoy an expert-guided stargazing session during a once-in-a-lifetime desert dune-top dinner.
• 4. See an entirely different kind of dramatic outback scenery on Kings Canyon day trip.
• 5. Do a lap of Uluru by Segway.
• 6. See the big picture on an outback helicopter flight.
• 7. See Australia’s most spectacular light show – the Field of Light at sunrise.
• 8. Admire the colour-shifting giant rock domes on a Kata-tjuta sunset trip.

Best time to do the Valley of the Winds Walk

Unlike the Walpa Gorge Walk, the Valley of the Winds Walk to the Karingana lookout is best tackled early. That’s partly due to the heat. When it gets particularly hot – above 36˚C – the walk is closed beyond the Karu lookout for safety reasons. Go early, or in the Northern Territory winter, and that problem shouldn’t be encountered

So which is the best Kata-Tjuta walk? Well it depends on how much time you’ve got, when you arrive and your fitness level. If you’re prepared for hard work and have half a day to spare, the Valley of the Winds walk is the best Kata-Tjuta walk. For a quick, less strenuous taster, opt for the Walpa Gorge Walk.

Which Uluru accommodation should I book?

Let’s not sugar-coat it: Accommodation at Uluru is expensive. Specialist Australian accommodation website Wotif lists Uluru accommodation for from $300. Check the top deals page to search through the options.

However, if you stay for three nights rather than two, hefty discounts tend to kick in.

The Uluru accommodation options are designed with different target markets in mind. Book which one fits you best.

• For the lowest prices: Ayers Rock Campground.
• For best quality: Sails in the Desert.
• For families and self-caterers: Emu Walk Apartments.
• For mid-range solidity: Desert Gardens.

More Northern Territory travel

Why are the Cahills Crossing tide times important?

What’s the Cairns to Darwin driving time?

Car hire, Ayers Rock Resort: How much does it cost?

Kings Canyon helicopter flights: What can you see?

Swim with crocodiles, Darwin: What is the Cage of Death?