Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is one of the most iconic landmarks in Australia, recognized around the world for its ocher hue. The surrounding landscape is characterized by sweeping desert plains and dry, towering sandstone formations.
When you dream of visiting the Australian Outback, what comes to mind is usually gorgeous blue skies and red rocks.
But if you visit during the Australian summer (December through February) then you might just seen of the rarer sights: rain on Uluru.
Rain is so infrequent and untypical in this part of Australia that the sight of waterfalls cascading down Uluru’s red sandstone walls is considered a rare and lucky occurrence.
What luck that I had booked a three-day tour of the outback just as nature broke its six month dry spell with torrential rains and cascading waterfalls down Uluru.
When the Rains on Uluru Begin
As raindrops pattered on the windshield of the tour bus, our excitable driver and guide, Jess, decided that caution is a relative term. Instead of slowing down and continuing with vigilant diligence toward Uluru, she gunned the engine, babbling about our “great luck” at maybe-possibly-hopefully seeing waterfalls on Uluru.
What luck, right?! Jess blasts, “It’s Raining on the Rock,” by John Williamson through the speakers of the tour van and we seed toward Uluru.
It had been more than four plus hours of sing-a-longs and introductory games since we left Alice Springs, and rain on Uluru would be a special reward. There’s only so much “Oh, look there’s a camel” game that you can play.
Our luck held—we pulled up to the rock while the rain clouds dumped water down Ayers Rock, causing instant natural waterfalls to cascade down the now-grayish tinged “red rock.”
We donned our rain coats and happily escaped the bus, snapping pictures of Uluru’s unique waterfalls—something our tour guide had only seen once in the three years she had run tours!
We lucked out when driving to the sunset viewing spot near Uluru. We had three brief minutes of sun peaking from behind the clouds. And a rainbow lit up the rock!
Sun on Uluru is how most people see the Ayers Rock, but those three minutes of sunshine and a rainbow were made all the more special because of the deluge that would pour over the outback for two straight days.
A Rainy Base Walk Around Uluru
Day two of the tour traditionally involves a glorious sunrise over Uluru and then Uluru’s two hour long base walk.
With a misty drizzle firmly settled over us, our tour guide dropped us at the Uluru base walk and then sped away, to the other side. We had no choice but to navigate the two hour base walk in the rain.
At first the ground was merely a thick, pasty mud with avoidable pockets of water. Then, we fully gave up hope of keeping our boots dry as the water rose to ankle deep.
At this point, several in our group protested hotly at the waist deep stream crossings that we encountered too.
But eventually we all made it and dried off in the van.
While I definitely don’t recommend doing the base walk in the rain—it was way deeper than was actually safe—the sight of waterfalls and rain on Uluru will remain memorable for the rest of my life.
And we actually did get some good luck in the end, and had sunshine and blue skies for our hike of King’s Canyon.
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Thanks for the extra info! Loved my trip to Uluru :-)
Nice video. Thanks for trip. Urulu, Ayers Rock or The Rock is a most discernable icon of australia. Urulu gigantic sandstone rock formation located in core Australia.Ayers Rock Was the name proffered by the European voyagers. The evidence of Dreamtime is perceivable in the rock’s crevices, crags and caverns. For more details refer .
Thanks for the extra info! Loved my trip to Uluru :-)
Nice video. Thanks for trip. Urulu, Ayers Rock or The Rock is a most discernable icon of australia. Urulu gigantic sandstone rock formation located in core Australia.Ayers Rock Was the name proffered by the European voyagers. The evidence of Dreamtime is perceivable in the rock’s crevices, crags and caverns. For more details refer .
I looked up Stompin' Tom on YouTube- a couple of those songs certainly had
me tappin' my toes and cracking a smile – how fun! :-)
Wow, lucky you seeing the waterfall. I just love when you stumble upon a unique moment in time. Great photo's too. The slide show youtube video is nice too. I like the song, it reminds me of music from Stompin' Tom here in Canada.
I looked up Stompin' Tom on YouTube- a couple of those songs certainly had
me tappin' my toes and cracking a smile – how fun! :-)
Wow, lucky you seeing the waterfall. I just love when you stumble upon a unique moment in time. Great photo's too. The slide show youtube video is nice too. I like the song, it reminds me of music from Stompin' Tom here in Canada.
It won't be such an adventure without a little intervention from mother nature. :)
What a great view with the rainbow over the Rock!
I think you have given me a great idea about dry eraser marker. Gotta put that on my kids' busy travel bag for the next trip. :)
Can't wait to hear more about your adventure in the Aussie land.
I think you should DEF put the markers in the travel bag. We played hangman
on the windows and doodled for hours. Only tip though is to wipe it off
before you get out of the car – if it bakes in the heat you have to use a
bit more elbow grease to get it off! :-)
Gorgeous photo. Uluru is now on my radar. Thanks!
It was pretty spectacular – and incredibly different than any other part of
Oz I visited. Def a place to put on the bucket list! :-)
You were incredibly lucky to see a waterfall, your picture with the rainbow is very rare!
Well that makes me feel good! It was hard to believe our guide while I was
there because there was such a deluge for three days! :-)
It won’t be such an adventure without a little intervention from mother nature. :)
What a great view with the rainbow over the Rock!
I think you have given me a great idea about dry eraser marker. Gotta put that on my kids’ busy travel bag for the next trip. :)
Can’t wait to hear more about your adventure in the Aussie land.
I think you should DEF put the markers in the travel bag. We played hangman
on the windows and doodled for hours. Only tip though is to wipe it off
before you get out of the car – if it bakes in the heat you have to use a
bit more elbow grease to get it off! :-)
It was pretty spectacular – and incredibly different than any other part of
Oz I visited. Def a place to put on the bucket list! :-)
Well that makes me feel good! It was hard to believe our guide while I was
there because there was such a deluge for three days! :-)
It won't be such an adventure without a little intervention from mother nature. :)
What a great view with the rainbow over the Rock!
I think you have given me a great idea about dry eraser marker. Gotta put that on my kids' busy travel bag for the next trip. :)
Can't wait to hear more about your adventure in the Aussie land.
It won't be such an adventure without a little intervention from mother nature. :)
What a great view with the rainbow over the Rock!
I think you have given me a great idea about dry eraser marker. Gotta put that on my kids' busy travel bag for the next trip. :)
Can't wait to hear more about your adventure in the Aussie land.
Gorgeous photo. Uluru is now on my radar. Thanks!
You were incredibly lucky to see a waterfall, your picture with the rainbow is very rare!
Lucky girl! I love it.
My Goodness Shannon, I can't believe it!! Jess was right, you are extremely lucky. I have been to Uluru more than once and not seen waterfalls. Being that rain is rare and intermittent… so are rainbows!! Well done, on your beautiful photos too.
At least you got a great photo!!! Even though you had a challenging time, I'm sure the trip was a memorable one. :)
You're right! The photo made it all worth it…and the people on our tour
weren't a bunch a whiners, so that made it all the better too :-)
Lucky girl! I love it.
You're right! The photo made it all worth it…and the people on our tour
weren't a bunch a whiners, so that made it all the better too :-)
At least you got a great photo!!! Even though you had a challenging time, I'm sure the trip was a memorable one. :)
Wow – that is one amazing photograph. Sweet!
Thanks Andy! :-)
Thanks Andy! :-)
My Goodness Shannon, I can't believe it!! Jess was right, you are extremely lucky. I have been to Uluru more than once and not seen waterfalls. Being that rain is rare and intermittent… so are rainbows!! Well done, on your beautiful photos too.
Wow – that is one amazing photograph. Sweet!