Spectacular new drone footage of Uluru has been released, offering a new perspective on the ancient monolith that dates back around 600 million years.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, which manages tourism and resorts throughout the country on behalf of the Indigenous Land Corporation, captured stunning bird's-eye shots of the landmark, which has been described as the spiritual heart of Australia.
The images were captured by the first drone to ever have been granted permission to operate under permit inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Local Anangu people consider Uluru to be of great spiritual significance - so it is something of an event for approval to be granted by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Board and the Film and Photography Consultative Committee.
In terms of geography, Uluru refers to the very tip of a huge rock that continues under the ground for what is thought to be somewhere between five and six km.
The visible part of the monolith itself is 3.6 km long and 348 m at its tallest point - and this is higher than the Centrepoint Tower in Sydney.
It is also 24 m higher than the Eiffel Tower and just 33 m lower than the Empire State Building.
Visitors are attracted to Uluru in part by the various colour changes that can be seen on the monolith, which are a result of the filtering effect of the earth's atmosphere on the rays of the sun.
Voyages chief executive officer Andrew Williams emphasised the fact that no photography can compare to personal experience.
"While there is no replacement to enjoying firsthand the majestic beauty of Uluru, this footage gives a breathtaking insight into the majestic nature of the landscape," he commented.
"We hope this video encourages travellers from both Australia and all over the globe to come and experience Uluru for themselves."
