There’s been plenty of discussion about Australia on STA Travelbuzz recently, but it looks like adventure seekers wishing to traverse world-famous antipodean monuments may have to get their skates on. Because the days of climbing Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is now known, could be about to come to an end.

According to The Daily Mail,

“The Australian government wants to ban tourists from clambering up the 1,141ft sandstone monolith to protect it from environmental damage and out of respect to its Aboriginal owners, who consider the rock sacred.”

The announcement that climbing the cultural icon could be banned within the next 18 months has sparked heated debate amongst tourism groups, politicians and the aborigines – who suggested tourists would still be able to walk around the rock and gain information from the stories about it.

“They believe many parts of the rock, including its waterholes, cliff faces and caves, were shaped by giant creatures who lived in a mythical period they refer to as their Dreamtime.”

Is this acceptable, or a step too far? Let us know what you think.