Valley of the Winds

Valley of the Winds

Valley of the Winds
4.5
About
The Valley of the Winds walk lets visitors immerse themselves among Kata Tjuta's domes. Featuring unparalleled views on the spectacular desert landscape, the walk takes approximately 3-4 hours and can be steep and rocky in some areas.
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  • McF352
    Sydney, Australia51 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highlight of our trip!
    This walk is a must-do! There are a lot of warnings about difficulty but we did it after watching the sunrise in April and heat was not a problem. In fact we set off in puffer jackets as it was still cold. There are some steep parts that are a bit of a scramble but I’d say most people could easily manage. The views are exceptional as you pass around and between the domes and then out the back into the open plain. We only saw about 3 other people so the seclusion is worth it too.
    Hi McF352, thanks so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us! Valley of The Winds is a great hike early in the day in Summer! The team at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park works hard to make it an enjoyable destination for visitors and we’re thrilled you had such a great time. Thanks, Parks Australia
    Written 16 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 April 2024
  • KyKyYo
    Wellington Point, Australia236 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Favourite walk
    Perhaps Uluṟu has more cultural significance and notoriety but the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuṯa (the Olga’s) is the quiet achiever. Our group of 3, after completing the Uluṟu base walk the day prior, all agreed this was the more beautiful walk. For different reasons. It’s a lot more difficult than Uluṟu’s flat walk with more scaling but the view and scenery along the way is gorgeous. I recommend starting early, 6:30-7am to beat the crowds and also because the last half of the walk is quite unshaded, so early morning sun will be a lot nicer for you
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 June 2024
  • leuschf
    Brisbane, Australia112 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best walk in the area, without a doubt
    Beautiful walk, really interesting and varied scenery - by far our favourite walk in the entire region. The walk itself was fun and a little challenging at times - we were there with our 10yo and she managed to do the whole 7.4km circuit, including the two lookouts, but it took us about 2.5h of solid walking and she was pretty tired at the end. But so worth it!
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 15 September 2024
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4.5
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Susan H
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
I loved this hike. Taking in the underrated and less famous Kata Tjuṯa the Valey of the Winds was a great hike.

The indication is 3-4hrs for the approx 7.4km and there are parts that are graded 4 and steep. The suggestion is you should have a certain level of fitness to undertake this.

I would definitely say that you need to bear in mind the impact heat will have on your fitness ability.

As with all things though fitness level & degree of difficulty are all subjective & relative to your experience.

There definitely are steep parts and my tracker brought the hike in at just under 7km. The heat does add a layer as I mentioned but that’s why I did the sunrise hike and followed the Hop On/Off drivers suggestion to take the right fork and get the steeper stuff done in the coolest part of the day. I did it in Australia’s summer so peak heat and it was indeed already 38 degrees by 8am.

There is a point near the first lookout where the track is closed once the temperature gets above 36 degrees so if you’re not beyond it by then you can’t carry on.

They indicate you should consume 1 litre of water for every hour you hike. I personally did not manage this but kept hydrated throughout. There are two points where you can refill your water on the route.

I carried sunscreen, hat, fly net, extra layer in case I was getting burned.

I wore shorts, trail shoes, tank top, headband & sunglasses. I was lucky that the flies weren’t too bad so didn’t need the pesky fly net. I had a backpack but just a day pack and kept it as light as I could within the safety indications as I didn’t want extra weight to add to the heat.

Hope you enjoy this hike as much as I did!
Written 9 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

justalittlebitocd
Melbourne, Australia651 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
We drove to kata tjuta (approx 40 min drive from the resort) and made sure to stop at all viewing points for photo op’s.
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​​you will enter the national park so make sure you prepay / Download you park pass.
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​​We decided to tackle valley of the winds
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​​It was raining so it was pretty slippery in places but it meant we didn’t have to contend with the hot sun and the heat (or the flies)
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​​This is a difficult hike. We are overweight and beginner hikers and we completed it in 3 hours and we stopped for a snack at lookout 2. Basically you will come across very few people after the first lookout
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​​After the bridge we turned right and we’re confronted with one tricky bit . A very flat surface you kinda need to rock climb / boulder. It is def The hardest bit of the hike. We managed by skirting the loose rocks on the side versus the flat upright slippery surface.
​​I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to do this part coming down if I had of turned left at the bridge
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​​Doing the full circuit in my opinion would be easier than walking to the second lookout and returning and remember to turn right after the bridge
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​​Note , there are no toilets and out standard park rules there there are no bins along the way
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CJDevolo
Bendigo, Australia97 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We did the four hour trip with SEIT tours and really enjoyed it. The view from the second look out is amazing as is the composition of the conglomerate rock that the domes are made of. Our guide was very informative and allowed plenty of time to stop and take in the views. The walk is achievable for people of varying levels of fitness as long as you are prepared to take your time and take the right gear. We went well prepared with hats, sunscreen, water and food and although the weather stayed mild we are glad we went prepared. You could really get caught out on a hot day as the second half of the loop is very exposed with little shade. Oh, and one of the funny looking fly nets would be a good investment as the weather warms up. We didn't take any photos of the domes as requested by the traditional owners. There are already plenty on the Internet and none of them do justice to seeing them up close and personal.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia4,048 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021
We spend three days in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and saw some brilliant scenery, including a totally awesome sunset at Uluru. But probably our favourite site was the Valley of the Winds walk in the Kata Tjuta (aka 'The Olgas' aka 'Many Heads') section of the National Park. We did the full-circuit, said to be only 7.4 km, but took us close to 4 hours. It is tough walk but some amazing views make it very rewarding. Some good bird life to spot too including flocks of budgies and zebra finches. All the advice given by National Parks is rock solid, so follow it: start early, wear a hat and sunscreen, and carry plenty of water and a few snacks. I would add another, bring along a fly net. Facilities here are limited - a toilet block and that is about it. If you still have the energy I would suggest you also try the nearby Walpa Gorge walk, which is also very rewarding. The red glowing cliffs towering above you as you enter the gorge are just extraordinary.
Written 29 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Belinda E
Brisbane, Australia575 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
We were really looking forward to the Valley of the Winds walk and it didn't disappoint. We do walk quite a bit but (after reading the reviews) we were surprised how easy it was. If you have a decent level of fitness and are reasonably agile you'll be just fine. If you are somewhat clumsy (like me) you may just have to do one small bit by sliding down on your bottom though!!

It is 7.5km to do the whole circuit. Strangely, it's probably easier to do the whole Valley of the Winds circuit than the shorter walk to the second lookout. This is because the steepest parts of the trail are in that section and passing them once is probably easier than going up and back over that one part.

After a short initial walk you come to the first lookout which really isn't all that good. If you've come this far you really need to at least make it to the second lookout! Shortly after the first lookout you come to a fork in the trail with a sign to the second lookout off the right.

After reading reviews we decided to go left instead and walk anti clockwise. Just about everyone goes off to the right (and you do need to go this way if you are doing the shorter walk) but if you are intending to do the whole walk I would definitely recommend going left. It is a slightly harder climb but we thought it was worth it as the view was considerably better for a much longer part of the track (you have Kata Tjuta in your view for much longer).

We didn't rush at all. We visited during COVID and there were few tourists. At one point we sat down in the Valley and enjoyed a truly amazing 25 minutes of solitude with our kids. Even with our half hour break we still completed the walk in well under 3 hours.

Take plenty of water and be aware of the time of day you set off. Early morning is definitely the best bet in the hotter months.

We did the base walk of Uluru and the Kings Canyon Rim Walk during our visit to NT and this one placed firmly in the middle. We rated Kings Canyon the # 1 but the Valley of the Winds was also amazing. This one is definitely not to be missed. The base walk of Uluru is the one I'd skip if I was short on time. You can easily see Uluru just by visiting sections of the trail.

If your fitness doesn't allow you to get around the Valley of the Winds there is the shorter Walpa Gorge walk leaving from here too. We did Walpa Gorge straight after Valley of the Winds and enjoyed both (although Valley of the Winds was by far the stand out). Highly recommend!!!!
Written 1 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jalaky
Sunshine Coast, Australia466 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
We completed the Valley of the winds walk straight after viewing sunrise from the viewing platform. We took some breakfast out with us...The walk to the 1st lookout wasn't overly impressive with lots of rocks and a slow gradient....however, the walk from the 1st lookout to the 2nd was spectacular. It requires a moderate degree of fitness....I'm not overly fit but I make up for it in determination. The views of the rock walls, the changing light and the scale of the cliffs is incredible.
Written 30 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

travelbugDelhi
New Delhi, India788 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
We started the 7.4 km hike pre dawn around 5.45 am in early October. Ours was the 3rd car in the parking lot that early.The hike is not particularly tough but steep in parts, you've to watch your step as one can easily trip & stumble on the loose rocks & gravel.We did the entire loop in 2.5 hrs. As the darkness began to fade watching the first light of dawn & the rising sun falling on these huge rocks slowly & experiencing how when the the sun starts getting brighter the domes starts to glow softly catching the light to slowly transform into deeper warmer reds, some even a burnished orange making the ground underneath, loose stones & all a bright red carpet. In contrast the dry scrubs & trees are green & gold. The red dust gets on everything hands, shoes & clothes.It was very Quiet & we could really feel the wind whipping through the valley...it was lovely & peaceful.The first two lookouts are outstanding, after that the trail is mostly flat but exposed without much shade till u reach the water station. From there on the trail continues onto the the car park at one point rejoining the track traversed in the morning to the start of the hike. Fly nets were a life saver & a good investment.
We loved the hike & it was really the best thing to do in Uluru.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jonique Life
Australia1,864 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021 • Couples
The circuit walk is amazing! It is so different to Uluru and people should be talking about this place more.

The cost to get into the national park is $35 per person for 3 days so add this to your agenda. The full circuit is just over 7 km or you could just stop at the first lookout which is only approx. 1 km one way, the full hike it not so hard but there is some stairs and steep sections. The lookouts throughout the hike are magical, loved it!

“Jonique Life”
Follow our journey around Australia on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube as we highlight wonderful experiences and magical places you can add to your ever growing bucket list.
Written 7 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Boyd J
Maleny, Australia1,780 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
It's a reasonably demanding (in places) 7.5 kilometre up and down walk through the domes and Mars-like landscape in places. The walk is closed at 11.00 a.m. if the maximum temperature is predicted to hit 36 degrees and by the time we returned at midday the temperature had reached that and the walk was closed to all but those finishing their hike. Unlike the base walk of Uluru, there are two water tanks along the way. It was worth the exertion – starkly beautiful and there is the feeling of being so far away from everything. Splendid isolation!
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathryn C
Dunstable, UK437 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
A stunning walk through the canyon with red rock rising on all sides. Head to the second lookout and continue on down the steep steps to avoid the crowds heading back the way they came and to see the many 'heads' of Kata Tjuta before rejoining the main trail back to the first lookout. Simply the best!
Written 19 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Valley of the Winds (2025) - All You MUST Know Before You Go (with Reviews)

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