Blogs from Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia, Oceania - page 21

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru August 25th 2008

The requirement to hum along to that classic piece of Smokie is not obligatory as you read the blog. Uluru is apparently the most visited single site in Australia and if you are wondering if it's worth the effort to get there, the answer is a big yes! We'd been up at some hour well before dawn again, leaving South Australia behind and crossing into the Territory. There clearly wasn't much distinction between the two, as we rolled on past mile after mile of scrub and desert, which was punctuated by yesterday's road kill and feasting wedge tailed eagles. The distance on the map as your fingers space out suggests that the rock is literally next door to Alice, but the distances out here are immense. After a full day of driving from Coober Pedy, we ... read more

sounds of silence

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru August 21st 2008

Uluru

SarahPenney

last night just before sunset we got picked up from our hotel to go on what was called the 'sounds of silence' dinner. there was probably 50 or 60 people went to this. we drove out to the bush, no houses nothing. after a very bumpy ride as we weren't even on a proper road we pulled over where this guy was standing, he was the host and led us up to an area where this guy (hunk) was playing the didgeridoo then waiters served us champagne and canapes. the guy told us about the hisory of the didgeridoo and some stories. the canapes were kangaroo and crocodile. loves the croc ones, bit like chicken but more chewy. then as the sun was setting we walked down the hill where there were several tables laid out ... read more

The big red rock in the desert

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru August 20th 2008

Sky over the desert

EPetter

We waved "goodbye" to the East Coast feeling very sorry to leave after all the great times we've had there and boarded a plane to Ayers Rock. We stayed at the resort which is a purpose built and overpriced "village" in the middle of the desert within striking distance of both Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). As I was still feeling pretty rotten, we didn't do much at all on the first day except for book onto buses to go to the two sites and explore the resort a bit. The Outback Pioneer provided the cheapest accomodation but wasn't worth the $30 a night as we were in an unheated dorm of 20 which was freezing at night when thetemperature outside drops to around 2 degrees! But not as freezing as the bathroom ... read more

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru August 18th 2008

Uluru at Sunset

Kelly W

After three weeks in the tropics and four weeks travelling along the stunning Queensland coastline I was quite sad when we flew out of Cairns!..... But I knew that more adventures awaited...next stop Ayers Rock! Uluru (Ayers Rock) is about a 5 hr drive from Alice Springs, and with no other settlements in the area a purpose built resort (not so originally named, Ayers Rock Resort) has been created. It was here that we stayed for the last few days. The surrounding countryside is desert plains with bright orange and red soil and, perhaps surprisingly, quite a lot of vegetation. The temperature was a warm 18 degrees celcius during the day but a rather chilly 2 degrees at night (feeling even less than this due to wind chill)! This was quite a shock after the tropics! ... read more

Attacking Ayers Rock

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru August 1st 2008

Sunrise at the Rock

Where is the Watergate Hotel

WHAT AN AWESOME DAY. Got up in the dark to catch the sunrise over the ROCK. Then went to the Cultural Centre to get upto speed on the aboriginal stories of the rock and how it came to be, mmmmmmmmmmmmm??????? Got a bit to eat then returned to the base of the rock for Simon the Rangers talk and walk along the Mala track. This was a very good idea and extremely interesting, he talked about the Mala people and bush food and the geological version of the rock and its formation. Then we headed off for the 9.5km walk around the base of the entire rock, it was a long way especially for Samuel but he made it all the way, eventually. The rock climb had been closed on and off for a few days ... read more

Making our way to the Rock

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru July 31st 2008

Hard Rock but no Cafe

Where is the Watergate Hotel

We left Glen Helen Gorge and made our way back to Alice to stock up again before heading to Ayers Rock we only travelled half way to Mount Ebenezer to stay the night, the wind was very strong and we came across many a dust storm, met some friendly locals who would have loved to buy some beer from us but we are told not to sell it to them, they are only allowed to buy 4 beers a day. The next day we left early to beat the wind and arrived in Ayers Rock Resort for lunch, caught up on some washing and explored our options.. ... read more

The Red Centre

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru July 19th 2008

Katherine Gorge

jollygreengiant

Welcome to the Red Centre! This is my third time to Central Australia, and each time I never get sick of seeing that red dust. I arrived in The Alice on Monday after a long 1,200km drive from Katherine. Katherine Gorge was good - not as good as my last visit there, maybe because it was not so “new” to me. But enjoyable none-the-less! As I am heading south, the temperatures have dropped somewhat, so a few days in a cabin were definitely on the cards. My plan for Tuesday morning was to head out to the West Macdonnell ranges. I had explored some of this territory during my last trip, but there were many places which I had failed to get to - so my plan was to catch those areas. Unfortunately, the JGG had ... read more

Aerial Shots of Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru July 19th 2008

Kata Tjuta

jollygreengiant

Some aeria shots I took this evening on my sunset helicopter over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. There were only 4 people on the chopper - including myself and the pilot. Was great!! Enjoy! ... read more

Tour of the Red Centre - The Real Australia

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru July 5th 2008

kiwi_jillaroo

I spent a total of 3 weeks in and around Alice Springs - two playing with puppies and kittens at the RSPCA, and one on tour in the Red Centre. After almost a year of travelling it would be very difficult to pick a highlight, such is the range of experiences i have had, people i have met and places i have been, but this would certainly come high on the list. Day 1: As all such tours do, the day started early at 6 am getting picked up from the hostel. I had booked a 5 day tour of all the major highlights of Central Australia, all of which lie a good few hours drive from Alice - Uluru is not just down the road! Myself and a German guy called Juergen were last to ... read more

Rainbow Valley to Uluru, Olgas, Kings Canyon, Palm Valley, Glen Helen to Alice

Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » Uluru June 28th 2008

Road Sign

LeeFamily

Left at 8.50am - earliest so far. Saw Henbury Meteorites and some Wedge-tailed eagles up close in their natural habitat (eating road kill). Saw our first Ultimate on the way to Uluru/Ayers Rock. Stopped at Curtin Springs - free! Got up at 5am and roused the kids to leave by 5.40am. Watched sunrise at Ayers Rock. Drove around, but Mala Walk/Climb for Ayers Rock closed due to wind at summit. Went to cultural centre then on to Olgas. They are massive and did the Valley of the Winds Walk. Kate and Gill only got half way, went back had lunch and played some educational games while waiting for Alex & Rod to finish. Drove to Yulara for IceCream and to kill time awaiting sunset. Took lots of photos, each one varying from the last. Got back ... read more

Brief history of Australia

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name...more history

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