Desert oak

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park has reopened to visitors, however, several road closures remain in place due to water over the road in a number of locations. Visitors and tourism operators may re-enter the park, but are advised to proceed with caution and drive slowly through any water on the road.

National park staff, in coordination with local agencies, are actively monitoring conditions and implementing road closures to ensure visitor safety.

The following roads remain closed until further notice:

Uluṟu Ring Road between the Mala Carpark and Muṯitjulu Turn Off
Access road to Muṯitjulu Waterhole.

Muṯitjulu residents, staff and workers can continue to enter community with access via the southern road only.

Conditions will be reassessed at 9 am ACST on 17 March with an update provided shortly after.

The desert oak is a slow-growing tree found in deep sands. Many of the adult trees in the park are likely to be more than 1000 years old!

Young desert oaks look like Christmas trees, while mature trees form large, spreading canopies. The adult trees have a furrowed cork-like bark that protects them from fire.

Culture

Aṉangu extract desert oak seeds from the woody cone for roasting and eating. In the warmer months, the cones exude a sweet, white fluid that is good for drinking.

Children sometimes make necklaces from desert oak leaves. The dense, resinous timber makes excellent firesticks because it does not easily go out once alight.

Culture

Scientific name

Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara name