King brown snake

Heavy rainfall impacted Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park yesterday. It resulted in water over a number of roads and a closure of the park for safety.

The park has reopened to visitors and we’re pleased to advise that the Uluṟu Ring Road and the Muṯitjulu Waterhole access road have reopened.

There is still water over the road in several locations and motorists are advised to proceed with caution. Road closures for Tjukaruru Road (Docker River Road) at the Kata-Tjuṯa Road intersection remain in place. For more information and latest advice visit Road Report NT.

All walking tracks are open however we ask visitors to exercise caution, remain on marked tracks and paths at all times and take care on potentially slippery surfaces.

We thank visitors and tourism operators for their patience, understanding and continued support during this weather event.

Also known as the mulga snake or liru, the king brown snake is an important ancestral being.

It has brown skin, a wide head, a smooth snout and the largest recorded venom output of any snake in the world. It is also the second-longest snake in Australia, reaching a length of up to three metres.

Despite its name and colour, the king brown is actually a member of the black snake family. It mostly eats lizards, birds, small mammals and frogs.

The Kuniya and Liru story tells of a deadly battle between an ancestral brown snake and woma python. It is one of of the most important creation stories of Uluṟu.

The King Brown Snake is venomous, but like most snakes, it will usually only bite when disturbed. If you come across a king brown snake at Uluṟu, follow our safety information and keep your distance until it decides to move away.

Scientific name

Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara name