to prevent tourists from climbing a Monument
Wednesday, 12 Mar 2025
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Sigh. Shit people being shit people…
There were local aboriginal children playing in our hotel pool and the guide told us it was because so many people have climbed Uluru and pissed on the rock that it contaminated the natural pools the kids used to use. So the hotel lets them use their pool as a compromise. This was in 2009 but it doesn’t look like things have changed by the line of tourists going up.
This was pre October 2019 when it was made illegal
It’s been illegal to climb Uluṟu for a few years now. It’s not just traditional law, it’s now government law, so there’s really no excuse.
Was here last year, this does not happen anymore as it’s illegal. They also added some barriers around the easier spots you could have walked up to deter people.
We didn’t see anyone even attempting to climb up so it seems it’s getting through to people (hopefully). Would recommend checking it out if you’re in Australia, gorgeous place.
Unpopular opinion: I get that Uluru is sacred to the Anangu people, and I totally respect their traditions. That said, I think there’s room for discussion about whether traditional laws like this should apply universally, especially to natural landmarks. I’m not saying disregard their significance—education and awareness are important—but I don’t think restricting access is always the answer. There’s got to be a middle ground.
Seems about white.
Let’s be honest: “sacred” landmarks are just geological formations. It’s all made up.
Old photo is old
Also this is what the Midnight Oil song is about
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I‘ve been in 1996 to Australia and even then it was clearly communicated that Uluru is a sacred place for the Aboriginal people.
It was considered disrespectful to climb it. I haven’t even been to Alice Springs, just because of that.
So I’m on a bio-bay tour in Puerto Rico, this is maybe 20 years ago. Tourists are taken in large canoes over bioluminescent rivers at dusk. It’s very pretty and educational. Before and during, we are told not to jump in. Our natural oils combined with any residual sunblock from the day, antiperspirant, cologne, body creams, etc. all this stuff pollutes the water and could end up contaminating it to the point where the bioluminescence itself, dependent upon the unique ecology beneath the surface, ends.
What does a rich family of four do not even half way through the ride? They insist our guide stop our canoe ride, 1 of 2 on the water, and the father encourages his wife and two sons to jump in and swim around while the rest of the tour watches. I was on my first sort of fancy romantic vacation with my girlfriend at the time. I didn’t know what to do then, but I have looked back on that with anger and a sense of shame for a long time. I’m empathetic, and I like nature. I wanted to jump in just to drown this man, but ultimately no one did anything.
I’m not sure when this photo above was taken, but tourism that allows for the abuse of locals or the blatant disrespect of local customs is a shitty industry. Money can make some people so rotten.
I find all mountains sacred. That’s means anyone that goes up a mountain is apparently a shit person because they don’t respect my traditions of not going up all sacred mountains.
This is so stupid. Just because someone says something is sacred to them doesn’t mean we all have to follow their rules. And now they got the government involved. Smh
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign…
I don’t think it’s right to limit access to parts of nature due to religion.
Local here.
OP is lying to you with this post.
No one climbs this. This is an old photo. It’s illegal to climb and is monitored by park rangers.
This photo is taken from the main car park where there are always people. So you couldn’t get away with it. Also, the rail needed to climb (in this photo) was removed years ago.
OP is chasing online clout by lying to you.
“Who can own a rock? Who can own a tree? Only the great spirit.” –
-The wise old Indian from Ernest Goes to Camp
I get this… but if we truly respected everyone’s spiritual land, no one would ever be allowed in any national park.
If you were all alone, and nobody was there to shame you, would you climb it?
Old traditions die out and new ones replace them. Cue chorus to “Circle of Life”
Unpopular opinion I’m sure but it’s a natural earth formation and the tribal people don’t get to gatekeep it.
Fine, I won’t climb Ularu. I’ll climb Ayers Rock instead, they look more or less the same. /s
Isn’t that Ayer’s Rock in Australia?
I climbed it back in the early 80s, and slid most of the steep part down on my ass. (most of my jeans were in tatters by the time I finished.) At the time there was a book in the very center of the rock that everyone who climbed it could sign and leave a message in.
I do remember the guide telling us a story about a Western female tourist who had wandered into the blood caves in Uluru, which are caves where young Aboriginal men are scarred and initiated into manhood (hence the name blood caves.) In their culture women are not allowed there under pain of death, so she was actually killed by the Aboriginal men, and it was upheld under Tribal Law as I recall. No one was actually punished with jail time or anything for it, but it was a big huge uproar in Oz at the time.