Ayers Rock in The Dark.

Ayers Rock

I’m not sure whose idea it was to climb Ayers Rock (Urulu) in the dark. But that’s what we did. We climbed it in the dark to watch the sunrise from the top.

We got up at the ungodly hour of 4.30am. Travelling from the Outback Pioneer Hotel the outline of the rock became visible. As we drove closer it’s gigantic shape loomed out of the darkness at us. I never imagined it to be so big.

The first 20 minutes of the climb were really tough. It was so steep. A metal chain handrail helped me to pull myself up. I made it to Chicken’s Rock! Where the chain ended there were white lines to mark the way along the undulations.

As I came near the top the sky was a beautiful orange colour as the dawn was beginning to break. Once I saw that sky I knew I had to get all the way up before the sun came up.

I was the third to the top that morning, with plenty of time to spare before the sunrise. It took me 35 minutes. Watching the sky brighten over the vast nothingness of Australia all around us was a sight to behold. The sun broke up from the horizon and the whole rock turned red. What a beautiful sight it was to watch. I’m so glad I got to see the sunrise from the top of Ayers Rock.