Karu Lookout

Karu is the first lookout on the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuṯa. The out-and-back from the trail start is 2.2 km and takes about an hour, ending on a rise with a view into a valley edged by the heads of the domes. It’s a good turnaround if you want the first viewpoint without taking on the longer circuit; Karingaṉa is a separate, farther lookout.

This is a culturally sensitive Aṉangu men’s area. Parks Australia asks visitors not to photograph or film Kata Tjuṯa or its rock formations anywhere on the walk. Close-up photos of flora, fauna and people are permitted, so keep the camera to those details.

The Karu spur is moderately difficult, with loose rocks underfoot. Sturdy footwear is useful here. Drinking water is available at the start of the track, so fill up before you head out; Parks Australia lists no toilets along the walk.

Kata Tjuṯa is conglomerate, made from pebbles and boulders, mostly granite and basalt, cemented by sand and mud. Around 550 million years ago, rain carried rock from the former Petermann Ranges into broad fans on the plains. A later sea covered the area and buried the fans; pressure hardened the rocky sediment, then tectonic movement tilted it and erosion stripped away softer rock. That long process left the uneven domes around the valley.

When the forecast or actual temperature reaches 36°C or higher, Parks Australia closes the Valley of the Winds walk at Karu from 11 am. Check current conditions before you set out; on a hot forecast, plan for the morning.