Northern Territory · Attraction
Kata Tjuta - Valley of the Winds Walk
Lose yourself in the domes
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The Valley of the Winds is a 7.4-kilometre loop through the towering red domes of Kata Tjuta, about 50 kilometres west of Uluru. Rated difficult and classified as steep and rocky in places, it is the most challenging walk in the national park and rewards hikers with dramatic gorge views, desert flora and a deep sense of the landscape's spiritual weight. Allow three to four hours for the full circuit.
The track passes through two lookouts, Karu and Karingana, that frame the ancient domed formations at close range. The geology here is different from Uluru: Kata Tjuta, meaning many heads, is a conglomerate of boulders and pebbles cemented into rock over half a billion years, and the walk winds between walls that rise hundreds of metres overhead.
Anangu hold Kata Tjuta as deeply sacred men's country. Photography of the rock formations is not permitted throughout the walk, a request Parks Australia enforces and all visitors are asked to respect. A shorter option to Karu Lookout (2.2 km return, about one hour) suits those with less time or fitness.
The walk closes at the first lookout from 11 am whenever the forecast temperature reaches 36 degrees Celsius or above. There are no toilet facilities on the track, but water is available at the halfway point. The same three-day park pass that covers Uluru covers Kata Tjuta.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Kata Tjuta - Valley of the Winds Walk.
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