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| Alice Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Olgas, and Kings Canyon |
| TV so I watched that. Brisbane Lions beat Essendon Bombers. We read for the evening and had a early night. Another early start tomorrow. Mon 30.09 - Up at 6am and caught bus to Yulara (the Resort beside Uluru). We stopped at Noel Fullertons Camel Farm at Curtin Springs. Neither of us were in the mood for a Camel Ride, so we declined their offer. We first of all saw Mount Connor, which in its own right is quite impressive. Further up the road. we got our first glimpse of Uluru. It was weird to be actually seeing it . We had both seen it so many times in pictures, but nothing prepares you for just how big and beautiful it is. It stands 348 metres above the surrounding plains. For more details go to www.northernterritory.com/3-2a.html. We booked into campsite and and Bus driver picked us up later and off to the Visitor Centre. Loads of information to take in. The guide showed us the sites of importance to the Aboriginals. The Rock is named after the Waterhole on top of it, Uluru. I prefer to use Uluru istead of Ayer's Rock as it was called that first. Then it was off to the sunset viewing area. There must have been 500 people there. We found a good spot and got some photos. I'll add them to the site when I get them developed. Its funny no matter where you are, you can't help but look up at it and say, Am I really here? We got the bus back to the campsite and were asleep early. Yet another early start tomorrow! Mon 01.10 - Up at 5am. Dark and surprisingly cold. Had to dig a jumper out of the bottom of our rucksacks. Got bus back to Uluru. We had decided not to climb it, and went for a walk around it instead. All 9.4 kms. We were joined by a German man. It was great to see it from very possible angle and not just the usual postcard view. The walk took 2 hours. We took one last look from the bus and then it was on to the Olgas (see below picture). Just 48 km west of Ayers Rock, and standing some 200 metres taller, are the 36 individual domes known to the Anangu as Kata Tjuta - the place of many heads. We went for a stroll through Olga Gorge. The dome on either side were spectacularly high. Geological Overload! |
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| Sat 29.09 - Arrived in Alice Springs at 9.30am. Walked to Pioneer YHA. Nice enough. Met two Irish fellas that were in Darwin hostel. In the afternoon we went for a walk to the top of Anzac hill for a great view (see picture). We then went to the Flying Doctors HQ. They cover an area twice as large as Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The Grand Final of the Australian Rules Football was on |
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| Back to campsite at 11am. Tent down and then it was off to Kings Canyon Resort arriving at 4.30pm. Up with the tent again. Chilled for the evening. Asleep at 9.30pm. Shattered. Tues 02.10 - Up 6am again! Picked up at 7am and of to King's Canyon. We went on The Kings Canyon walk, which is a 6 km loop walk taking about 3-4 hours. It takes you around the edge of the |
| cliff faces on either side There are 150m sheer drops and no rails to save you. There were great views and it was a bit nerve wrecking at stages. In at the back of the Canyon is the Garden of Eden. It is completely surrounded by the 150m cliffs. It is accessed by going down steps. There was a water pool in there but we gave it a miss. We were back at the campsite at 11am and the Bus left to go back to Alice Springs at 12.20pm. We arrived at 6.10pm. Back to the Pioneer YHA. Met Ronan, from Monaghan. Made dinner, had cold shower and went to bed in a dorm. Strange Japanese fella muttered away to himslef. Strange! Wed 03.10 - Woke at 8am to major thunder and lightening. First time we had seen rain sine Kalbarri, on 29 August. We were quite glad to see it, although it made us a little homesick! Caught bus to Tennant Creek at 3.05pm. |