The great Red Centre

You would need to have a heart of stone not to be in awe of the majesty of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is unquestionably the letterhead for Australia's Red Centre. No other single rock structure in the world has magnetised the traveller quite like Uluru. But if you have the time to harness your inner-explorer, beyond the shadow of Uluru lies a wealth of natural attractions in easy reach.
The rapidly rising rock star is Kata Tjuta, which was previously known to the world as the Olgas. Like Uluru, the Olgas have been accorded similar cultural enlightenment with the Australian Government, officially recognising its traditional Aboriginal name, Kata Tjuta. Situated 32km west of Uluru, the 36 steep-sided domes of this remarkable rock formation loom large on the horizon like a series of monster heads.
Kata Tjuta is Aboriginal for "many heads". Weathered by millions of years of natural erosion, this sequence of rounded heads appear to rise out of the desert sands, and the tallest peak is 200m higher than Uluru.
Revered by the Anangu people and steeped in cultural tradition, many of their ancient stories about Kata Tjuta are deemed too sacred to be shared with the outside world. A variety of sunrise and sunset viewing lookouts circle Kata Tjuta, and the domes silhouetted against a fiery sky is a majestic sight.
But the top drawer is undoubtedly the dedicated walking tracks through the domes.
The beginners' track is the one-hour-return Walpa Gorge Walk.
Walpa is an Anangu word for windy, and this 2.6km hike traverses a gently undulating rocky track through an ancient gorge that serves as a desert refuge for plants and animals.
It ends at a flourishing grove of spearwood trees, hemmed in by two towering rock walls.
The ever-changing light show is hypnotic, as the filtered light on the rocky domes ranges from rich red to iridescent orange and burnt yellow. Walkers with greater staying power should make a beeline for the Valley of the Winds Walk. The three-hour 7km trek requires negotiating loose rocks, so you'll need sturdy footwear.
The track is challenging and very steep in places, but provides an unspooling reel of pristine scenery, ranging from panoramic valley vistas to picnic-perfect creek-bed settings.
As with Uluru, you will have to have a heart of stone not to be struck by the palpable sense of mystique and spirituality of these domes.
Go prepared with plenty of water and a fly net to ward off those ever-present pests on warm days. Kata Tjuta is an uplifting thrill to explore, adding more texture and colour to your Red Centre getaway.