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Published: January 6th 2011
Champers at Uluru
A bit of a surprise, with champagne and snacks on arrival at the sunset viewing of Uluru (Ayers Rock).Sunday 2nd January – Big Red Rock and Dust
Left Sydney to explore the red centre:
Fond farewells – How lovely to have experienced such wonderful hospitality and met such great characters as Rhubarb and Jackson! Restores your faith in human (and canine) kind…
In hot water – Straight into 40C heat for a base walk around Uluru (Ayres Rock), but caught in a huge thunderstorm and watched the splendour of water cascading down the big red rock.
Champagne sunset – Surprise champagne/juice and petit fours as we watched sunset over Uluru, which dulled the sense for the later bug-fest…
Bugs, bugs, bugs – If you want to share your dinner, shower, ablutions and bed with bugs, this is the place to do it! An abundance of wildlife and distinct absence of bath-robes, fluffy towels or slippers.
Monday 3rd January – Bigger, Red Rocks and More Dust
More of the red stuff (albeit a bit green after unseasonal amounts of rain):
Sunrise over Uluru – A 4:00 AM start for the sun rising over the big rock – shame my eyes were still closed!
Kata Tjuta trek – 7.4k trek through the sacred men’s place of
Uluru at Sunrise
The 4 AM start was worth it for the shot of the rock bathed in early morning light. Sadly no "back to bed" option on the itinerary. Kata Tjuta proved tougher than a half marathon and pretty warm as we walked the last few kilometres leading to abut 9:30.
Tim Tam Cornettos – Enough said…
Aussie Nectar – Bread, chicken wings and vegetable stew cooked over hot coals from wood we collected in the bush – it doesn’t get more rustic (or tasty) than this.
Stars and Roo Poo – A night spent under the stars, with clear views of Magellanic clouds, Milky Way and the Southern Cross and a strangely limited array of wildlife, although what looked like kangaroo dung about 3 feet from my head in the morning was a bit of a mystery.
Tuesday 4th January – Kings Canyon and Radio Alice
An early trek around Kings Canyon and a long journey out to finish the tour in Alice Springs:
Eden awaits the brave – Full-on trek up to the canyon rim and then around, taking a detour to the Garden of Eden, complete with shaded water-hole, for swimming and resting. Lots of ooohing and aaahing at a Pygmy Koala in a Eucalyptus tree…until it was unveiled as a small stuffed toy!
Sauna on Wheels – Fours hours in an
Morning Sun
With small image of Uluru to the left, the sunrise was the star as the sky glowed with orange light. allegedly air-conditioned bus over unsealed roads through the desert, which is a little like sitting atop an anti-aircraft gun. Still, a little relief every hour or so as we got to stretch our legs in the 40 degree heat.
Live @ Bo’s – Shared a fabulous meal with Lucy (fellow traveller) at a saloon-style bar in Alice, with live radio broadcast. Check out www.bossaloon.com.au, but may transmit only mornings UK time.
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Jacqui
non-member comment
Don't forget the Aerogard, and avagoodweekend
Yes, tip #32 (and catchy tag line used in Aerogard advertisements of my childhood)... it won't stop a roo from pooing on your noggin in the dead of night but the bugs aren't too fond of it. I hope you managed to find some at the airport. Now while the drop bear is something we Aussies made up to scare you Brits, the Yowie is a different matter and one I think I forgot to mention (it's been a while since the last yowie attack so not top of mind) - see http://www.yowiehunters.com/ for more details or ask your guide. If they're going to get you, the Alice is the place it will happen. I doubt Aerogard will repel yowies but in the absence of a robust stick (or a rifle) then it can't hurt to try. Jackson and Rhubarb are missing your laps and send licks. Take care and remember, witchetty grubs taste like marshmallows (same texture too) so get 'em in ya! Jacqui