Beautiful Uluru

Ayers Rock, or, as it is now designated, Uluru/Ayers Rock, is the world’s second-largest monolith.* This huge red rock is spectacular, especially at sunrise and sunset. It changes from red to orange and various shades of purple as the sun rises or sets.

Ayers Rock is in the middle of nowhere, but there are more than 1,100 rooms at five lodges.

Because of its isolation, Ayers provided a wonderful opportunity to view the stars during a June tour of Australia with Overseas Adventure Travel (800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com). We could easily see the Southern Cross and many other constellations.

There were many paths we could walk to restaurants and shops. We did this after dark and were more than aware that nine of the 10 most venomous snakes in the world live in Australia; one of them, the taipan, is the most venomous snake on Earth.

The next morning, we arose early to again view Uluru and to walk around its base, which is almost six miles in circumference.

DAN HENIGE

Ontario, OH

*The world’s largest monolith, Mount Augustus, is also in Australia. For info on Uluru accommodations and more, visit www.ayersrockresort.com. Note: when the title to Uluru was handed back to the traditional owners, the Anangu tribe, in 1985, a 99-year lease allowing tourists access to climb up the rock was made a condition of the transfer. The tribe requests that visitors not climb Uluru due to its spiritual significance; however, this request is not enforced in any way. Photography is prohibited in certain sacred areas. The climbing route may be closed at times due to high winds or other weather conditions.