The MacDonnell Ranges stand as an east-west barrier across the otherwise flat Red Center area. Along their 400km, these rugged mountains rise to 1531m at Mt Zeil. They are made of series of parallel ridges, with deep valleys. Surprisingly, this very arid landscape also shelters remains of the ancient rainforest species that once populated central Australia.
Mt Conner is the least-known and most easterly of central Australia's giant monoliths. It's flat-topped and horseshoe-shaped and reaches to 760 m above sea level. Its lower 150 m are covered by a talus. The distant, shimmering purple table-top mesa of Mount Conner is a marvelous sight. It is a significant sacred site for the aborigines who know it as Atila, the ice-man who brings the cold eastern winds to Uluru.
West of Mt Conner, the waves of large red sand dunes become the major land feature. And from this sea of sand suddenly emerges the majestic silhouette of Uluru.