Discover the fascinating flora and fauna that bring Uluru to life!

When picturing the land of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you may be picturing just a red desert. While that idea isn’t completely wrong, there is actually a lot of flora and fauna that make up the national park.

Discover the fascinating flora and fauna found in Uluru!

The flora of Uluru

When visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you can find over 400 different plant species, contributing to a diverse range of flora.

• Striped mintbush

As its name suggests, mintbush emits a sweet minty aroma. This plant can typically be spotted on the Walpa Gorge walk and grows around two metres high. Traditionally, mintbush has been used to help with the relief of cold and flu symptoms.

• Sturt’s desert rose

Sturt’s desert rose was named after explorer Charles Sturt. This flower is easily recognised by its vibrant pink colour and can be found growing on rocky slopes. The plant even appears on the Northern Territory flag.

• Desert oak

The desert oak tree has evolved to have cork-like bark, which helps to protect it from wildfire. You will recognise the younger trees by their Christmas tree look, while older trees have sprawling canopies. Traditionally, desert oak seeds have been roasted and eaten by the Anangu people.

• Honey grevillea

Growing up to two metres tall, the Honey grevillea can be recognised as a long shrub with narrow leaves. It is a great source of food for nectar-eating birds in the spring and winter. Traditionally, the flowers of this plant would be soaked to create a sweet cordial-like beverage.

The fauna of Uluru

The variety of flora and the vast desert provide excellent habitats for heaps of critters.

• Birds

Uluru is home to an incredible number of birds, with there being over 200 species in the national park. If you’re into birdwatching, you’ll definitely want to check out the birds in Uluru. Some of the incredible bird species include cockatoos, the brown falcon, red-backed kingfisher and zebra finch.

• Thorny devil

Thorny devils may look a bit spooky with their spikes, but they are harmless and quite timid. These critters can get up to 20 centimetres in length and have been designed to scare off predators. Keep an eye on the ground as they like to sun bask near rocky outcrops.

• Red kangaroo

Uluru is another place to spot the famous kangaroos of Australia. These red kangaroos are the largest marsupial in the country and have reddish brown fur. While exploring the Red Centre, you may be able to spot these creatures in the shade.

• Desert dingo

Dingos are another famous Australian animal. They look similar to a dog and a wolf, though they are their own breed. Desert dingos are mostly shy, but they will try to steal your food if you haven’t stowed it away properly. The most common ti me to see them is at dusk or dawn as they go hunting for food.

• Bilby

A bilby sort of looks like a rabbit mixed with a mouse. It’s an adorable marsupial that has called Australia home for around 15 million years. These critters are nocturnal, so they will be sleeping during the day but you may see one scurrying around at night!