Is it Kata Tjuta or Mount Olga?
Kata Tjuta, or Kata Tjuta, translates from the Aboriginal language of the local Anangu tribe as ‘Many Heads‘, thanks to the 36 rounded rocks that resemble ancestral heads to the local Aboriginal people. Kata Tjuta is located in central Australia in the middle of the desert in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, about 35 kilometres from its more famous neighbour, Mount Uluru. These gorgeous and coloured rocks, like Uluru, go deep into the earth (supposedly about 6 km) and are the remains of ancient formations from about 500 million years ago!
Mt. Olga was named by British explorer and pioneer Ernest Geels, who explored Australia’s central desert in 1871.
Gils initially saw the outline of the mountain from afar while on top of Kings Canyon (which he also discovered and named) but was unable to reach it on that expedition, postponing it until the following year.
Strange as it may seem, Kata Tiuta Mountain owes its ‘European’ name to a Russian person – Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanova, daughter of Russian Emperor Nicholas I and sister of Emperor Alexander II. The pioneer Ernest Geels named the site in honour of our compatriot and member of the imperial family, thanks to her husband, Charles I, King of Württemberg. He was the patron and sponsor of Baron Von Müller, who in turn was a friend and weaver of Ernest Geels, and at whose insistence Geels named the mountain in honour of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna on the 25th anniversary of their marriage.
Olga Nikolaevna herself had never been to Australia and had never seen this mountain named in her honour but was aware of this geographical discovery.
The mountain was called ‘Olga’ for a long time, but later, due to the many high ‘heads’ or domes of this rock formation, it came to be called’ The Olgas’.
Nowadays, its original Aboriginal name, ‘Kata Tiuta’, is more commonly used than ‘Mount Olga’, although both names are officially applicable.
The highest point of Mount Olga (Kata Tiuta) is 546 metres above the ground, making it about 200 metres higher than the famous Mount Uluru nearby. Mount Olga rises to an elevation of 1,066 metres above sea level, but the mountain is also higher. Also, Kata Tiuta covers an area of almost 22 kilometres in circumference (as opposed to Mount Uluru’s 10 kilometres). However, due to its unusual formation and the arrangement of its domes, it is possible to go inside and walk through it amongst the domes (to be more precise, to walk through the canyons between its domes), contemplating the magnificent views and unusual shapes of the rocks, as well as enjoying the fantastic effects of echoes amongst the rocks!
You can visit all year round, although it can boil between December and February (Australian summer), with temperatures sometimes reaching 40 degrees centigrade. Taking plenty of water and a sun hat with you on a trip to Kata Tjuta is always advisable!
Kata Tjuta offers a variety of hiking trails
The 2.6km (1.3km one-way) Wind Gorge Trail is the easiest route and the most popular with hikers. The trail runs between two huge cliffs along a fairly narrow one-way path to a viewing platform. Here, you can sometimes see kangaroos or wallabies living amongst the small vegetation at the bottom of the canyon.
For those with time, energy and desire, there is an even more picturesque and longer trail – the ‘Valley of the Winds’, winding among the domes at the bottom of the canyon. The route consists of several parts, which can be walked wholly or partially (7 km). Walking it in the morning or afternoon when it is not too hot but too late to avoid being here in the dark is best. You will have to ascend and descend the trail many times, but the route is accessible to visitors of all ages and fitness levels. This hike can take up to 3 hours at a relaxed pace, although it usually takes less time. For safety, to get the most out of this route, and to see all the most exciting places along the way, it is recommended that you go on these trails with a professional guide in Kata Tjuta.
On the road from Uluru to Kata Tjuta, there is also a lookout point overlooking Mount Olga from afar, but the most beautiful views are on the road and from several other less visible and lesser-known points.
For the local Anangu Aborigines, who speak the Pitjanjanjar language, Mount Uluru (more specifically, Kata Tiuta) has a unique religious and folkloric significance. It is a sacred place for the Aboriginal people, where night ceremonies have been held for the past millennia. Mount Kata Tiuta is even more sacred to the local Aboriginal people than Mount Uluru, near which they lived. The Aboriginal people believed that Kata Tiuta was a place where the spirits of their ancestors lived, so the Aboriginal people did not live there but only visited the site for ceremonial purposes.
Therefore, now Kata Tiuta is also included in the territory of Uluru Kata Tiuta National Park, guarded by local rangers. Climbing Mount Olga is strictly forbidden (however, it would be much more difficult than Uluru!). By the way, the mountain’s discoverer Ernest Gils managed to climb Kata Tiuta when there were no such bans!
How do you get to Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga?
You can only get here by car or tourist bus from Yulara, which is next to the Uluru National Park – Kata Tiuta.
For a drive or tour to Kata Tjuta, you can fly to Ayers Rock from many Australian cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Cairns, and Darwin.
For more information on how to get to Uluru National Park – Kata Tjuta, see Uluru’s page.
By the way, Kata Tiuta also offers a stunning sunset, often even more colourful than the sunset in Uluru. Sunset on Uluru and Kata Tjuta can be combined with an exclusive and personalised mini-banquet with a glass of wine or champagne, cheese, and fruit, and you can taste it in a particular place with the best views of the sunset and landscape.
Also, you can see the most fantastic sunrise inside Mount Olga, when the sun slowly begins to illuminate the rocks and change their colours. These exclusive options are available free of charge or for a minimal extra charge by booking a personalised guided tour to Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
If you would like to visit Mount Olga, named after the Russian princess, hike the best trails, learn even more interesting facts about Kata Tjuta and Uluru, and see other unique places in Australia’s Red Centre, book one guided tour to Ayers Rock and the Red Centre!
I will help you with plans and itineraries, prepare and conduct a tour for you, accompany you, tell and show you, monitor safety, and, at the same time, take photos or videos of all your adventures! I will also organise a personal and exclusive sunset meeting at Mount Olga with a mini buffet and Australian wine or champagne. It’s an experience not to be forgotten!
Alice Springs is a city with a golden past
Alice Springs is the most famous town in the red centre of Australia. All Uluru tours from Alice Springs organised to the sacred Mount Uluru (Ayers Rock) start here. Travelling to Alice Springs from the south will cross the state boundary between South Australia and the Northern Territory. Although you are travelling straight north, there is a one-hour time shift between these states.
