Australia: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Quiz

Answer: Uluru

Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock is a large sandstone monolith in the southern portion of the Northern Territory. Uluru means "God's Centre" in the Aboriginal language and as such, is a deeply spiritual site to the local Anangu people.
In 1983 the Government agreed to give the land title to Uluru back to the traditional owners, and enforce the 10-point plan which included the proviso that climbing the monolith be forbidden. This last rule didn't come into effect until October 2019 although the traditional owners have long been quietly discouraging climbing.
Tourism to the area had increased significantly since it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and by the year 2000 it had almost half a million visitors each year. Climbing withstanding there is plenty to see, including the Mutitjulu Waterhole and the petroglyphs which convey Anangu cultural knowledge. Photography in some areas is also forbidden due to the cultural beliefs and rituals.

Answer: The Olgas

About thirty kilometres away from Uluru are the Olgas. These are a group of more than 30 red conglomerate rocks spread over a 28 square kilometre area. The largest of these is Mount Olga, which stands 460 metres above the plain and 1069 metres above sea level.
As with Uluru, Kata Tjuta figures prominently in the Aboriginal legends of the Dreaming: the time of creation.
The first white explorer to see Kata Tjuta named the site "The Olgas" after the 1872 Queen Olga. (Many sites claim it to be the Queen of Spain, however the only Queen Olga in 1872 that I have been able to find, was the wife of George I of Greece).

Answer: Devil's Marbles

The Devil's Marbles are giant granite boulders weathered into roughly circular shapes, many of which are poised spectacularly on top of flat rocks. They are spread across the valley which makes up the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve and are a popular tourist attraction.

The site however, is one of the most spiritually significant and sacred Aboriginal sites in the Northern Territory. This unique landform is known as Karlwe Karlwe (the Warrumungu name) or Karlu Karlu (the Kaytetye name). A long controversy began in 1953, when one of the marbles was "lost".

It had been taken to Alice Springs to form a monument to the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Throughout the years, local tribal elders maintained that the boulder was removed from the sacred site without their permission.

It was returned to the site, but not until the 1990s when a swap was arranged.

Answer: Glass House Mountains

The Glass House Mountains are a group of eleven hills rising from the coastal plain just north of Caboolture. These mountains are a series of steep sided volcanic plugs left behind from extinct volcanoes. Captain Cook saw them on his epic journey around Australia and their shape reminded him of the glass furnaces back in Yorkshire.

Although Captain Cook named them collectively as the Glass Houses, individually they retain their Aboriginal names. Mount Beerwah is the largest at 555 metres. Mount Tibrogargan is the most easily recognised, as it resembles a large ape staring out to sea.

When I was a child, my family would travel to the Sunshine Coast for our holidays, and we always knew we were close when we saw the "Monkey Mountain". Now of course, the new highway from Brisbane doesn't afford such a spectacular view, but you can still travel along the old highway.

It just takes a little longer.

Answer: The Rocks

The First Fleet landed at Botany Bay but found there was no fresh water, so the decision was made to sail further north into what is now known as Port Jackson. The area was initially called Sydney Cove after the minister responsible for the Colony. Later, the "Cove" was dropped and the settlement became known as "Sydney". The Rocks area is nestled at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and across the cove from the Opera House.

While the area has tremendous historical importance, it is now a hotspot of restaurants and cafes.

Despite the refurbishment, the heritage and character of the area has been preserved.

Answer: Mermaid Rock

This titanic 235-tonne boulder was thrown out of the ocean during a storm in 1912. Since then it has been called "Big Ben", "Flat Rock" or "Big Rock". It has been known as "Mermaid Rock" since local sculptor Lyall Randolph created two life-sized mermaid sculptures which he then sat upon the rock.

The mermaids remained there until 1974 when severe storms lashed the area. One mermaid was swept into the sea and the other was irreparably damaged. The maid's remains are now preserved at the Waverly Library.

Answer: Tasmanian Devil

The spectacular coastline of the Tasman Peninsula is the result of erosion by waves pounding the cliffs and most of the area is now a National Park. At Eaglehawk Neck you can access The Devils Kitchen, The Tasman Arch, the Tessellated Pavement and the Blow Hole. Only a short distance away is the Totem Pole, and Remarkable Cave.

While there are still some Tasmanian Devils around, they aren't a landform. Unless there's a rock carving of one somewhere that I haven't seen.

Answer: Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles are huge limestone rock formations named for the disciples of Jesus Christ. The relentless pounding of wave and wind has gouged them from the nearby cliff-face. There are not twelve "Apostles" however. One collapsed in 2005 after its base was undermined. It is also unclear whether there were ever twelve to begin with.

The Apostles were originally known as the "Sow and Piglets" with nearby Muttonbird Island the sow. I myself prefer the name of "The Twelve Apostles". Can you really imagine travelling hundreds of miles to see the "The Bay of Pigs"?

Answer: Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy is a small town roughly midway between Adelaide and Alice Springs. While the town is famous for its opal mines, it's almost as famous for its lifestyle. Most of the residents live underground in refurbished mines, or in caves drilled into the hillsides. This is mainly due to the heat, as it often reaches 30 to 40 degrees Celsius.

The hinterland around Coober Pedy has featured in several movies including "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" and "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome". Coober Pedy and opal mining will be familiar to viewers of "The Amazing Race" reality show, as they were featured on the second series.

Answer: Wave Rock

Wave Rock is a large granite ridge shaped like a breaking ocean wave. It stretches to 110 meters in length and is roughly 15 meters high. It is not a freestanding feature however, but is the edge of a larger rock called "Hyden Rock". Weathering and water erosion has undercut the base of the face, leaving an overhang at the top. It is estimated to be around 2700 million years old.