The Olgas: not just boulders

No matter how many times the Olgas are photographed, they continue to fascinate and show something new. Even without a fancy camera.

You might have seen the changing colours of the Olgas in a hologram on a collectors’ coin from the Royal Australian Mint, made in 2002 for the Year of the Outback. But nothing beats seeing them with your own eyes.

Just picture 36 gigantic rock domes, some reaching 1800 feet divided by chasms and valleys and spread out over large area.

The Olgas are said to be even more significant to today’s Aborigines than Uluru. The area’s name in their language is Kata Tjuta (“many heads”).

Public access is limited to the “Valley of the Winds” walk, a 4-mile loop best experienced in the absence of afternoon tour-buses and caravans.

And a visit to the Olgas doesn’t have to be expensive.

Try driving there. Simply pick up a car rental from the Alice Springs airport. If you drive, take a tent and the camping basics with a cooler for your tucker and drinks, you’ll save buckets of money.

And more importantly, you’ll see more of the real Outback and enjoy the mesmerising beauty of its landscape at your own pace. The caravan park is good value for a tent.

The three- day pass into the Uluru National Park is good value as well. It lets you go in to the park as often as you like.

And a word of warning for those planning to drink: alcohol is very dear – so take your own. The only supermarket, on the other hand, has a good range at a decent price.

The Olgas are 322km southwest of Alice Springs, near the town of Yulara. It lies 45km west from the park entry station.

See our Alice Springs car hire page and Ayer's Rock car rental page to get a cheap car hire deal!