ABSTRACT
Despite the wishes of the Aṉangu people to respect the spiritual significance of the site, tourists have always travelled to Uluṟu (once known as Ayers Rock) with the intention to climb the “Rock”. After the traditional owners of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park in Central Australia had urged visitors for many years not to climb Uluṟu for cultural reasons, the practice was finally permanently banned on October 26, 2019. This decision triggered an unprecedented “last chance” rush to the site by tourists who wanted to climb the Rock before the activity was banned. Framed by reference to overtourism and last chance tourism, this chapter provides important context to better understand the contested nature of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and specifically also Uluṟu itself.
