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Published: July 11th 2012
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Day 4 – Tuesday July 3
rd – Coober Pedy to Uluru
A peek outside the tent at 7.15 am saw the sky an amazing mix of orange shades as the sun was rising. The stars slowly faded and the sun appeared over the horizon. 2 degrees overnight. Brrrrr.
With 750 kms to drive today we were keen to get going quite early. After filling up with diesel in town we hit the Stuart Highway at 8.45am. It’s an easy drive – nice and straight and a mostly smooth road. Occasional 4wds, camper trailers and road trains to negotiate. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets continues. Who opened the chamber??
Our first unsealed driving experience the day before had taken its toll on the trailer. At the Mount Ebenzer Roadhouse (now closed down if you are thinking of popping in for a cold one or using the dunny) we realized that the electric trailer brakes had stopped working. A quick check under the trailer revealed loose wires and broken tape around the axle. Hmmmmm. This would need to be fixed. However, it wasn’t going to stop us getting to our destination that night and we continued
carefully on our way.
At 3pm we think we have our first glimpse of Uluru. But no! It was only Mount Connor, rising out of the plains. One hour later we sighted the real famous red rock and a very long day in the car was almost over. The only camping option at Uluru is at the Ayers Rock Resort and it seemed like all the camper trailers and campervans that had been on the road over the past few days had all arrived at the Ayers Rock Campground at 4pm. After queuing half way round the reception, we were offered unpowered camping in the overflow area (at the bargain price of $15 per night). Time was tight for us to get to Uluru in time for the famous sunset viewing – and we still had to secure a spot to pitch the tent. The overflow camping area was exactly that – overflowing! It was quite frantic trying to baggsy a spot between the fifty or so camper trailers and 4WDs that were already there.
In true Western style we flipped open the tent and pegged it down in record time and headed off to the sunset viewing
area. Every minute counted (sunset at 6:08pm) and we impatiently waited in the queue for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Park permit to be able to enter the park. Gone are the days when you can enjoy the spectacular show of nature of sunset at Ayers Rock in tranquility with just a few other travellers. There must have been a good fifty cars at the viewing area and a few hundred people. Luckily the Rock is big enough for everyone to get a good view of how it changes colour – from orange to dark red to grey. As the sun went down behind us and we were still admiring Uluru (all wrapped up in coats, hats, gloves and blankets as the temperature had dropped quite dramatically by then) we were treated to another spectacle – all of a sudden the full moon rose out from behind Uluru. Absolute magic.
Back at the campsite we rustled up a cracking dinner of pot noodle and cup-a-soups. Early to bed with hot water bottles, ready for the sunrise trip to Uluru next morning.
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