The day before we left the Alice for our trip out to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta (previously named Ayers Rock and The Olgas) was spent shopping in preparation for our stay at the Yulara Campground; we had been told everything was more expensive out there, so we stocked up on fresh salad items and fruit etc.
The trip to 'The Rock' takes about 5 hours with a van, so Saturday morning, (12th), we were up and breakfasted early for a quick getaway. With Mags being an experienced hand at tent camping, it did not take us long to pull down and pack up the annexe, the caravan had been made ready the day before. The halfway point to 'The Rock' is the Erldunda Roadhouse on the Stuart Highway, so this was where we stopped for lunch, and topped the car up with petrol, which at $1.79 per litre; was the most expensive price we had paid so for on our trip, still, we had to have it.
The campground at Yulara is the closest one to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, (there is a VERY basic campground at the Curtain Springs Station Roadhouse, but this is 78kms away), we had booked for five nights to give us plenty of time to see the park.
After setting up the van and annexe we took off to have nibblies out at Uluru. Thirty years ago, when I last was out at Uluru, the viewing sites were all over the place, tourist coach passengers and independent travellers, jostled for space to get the best view, at times the language was very heated; when someone's head appeared in the view finder of folk's cameras. Today, it is all very civilised, with separate viewing areas for Coaches and cars, we found a spot to view the Sunset, opened up the back of the Land Cruiser and sat on the tailgate, with drinks and nibblies set out, and waited for te sun to set.
The next four days, we went in and out of the park many times, we could also most travel the road blindfolded! One of our visits was to The Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which is excellent, a few hours were spent there learning about the dreaming stories and how the people lived in this area for 50-60 thousand years. I have never climbed Uluru as I respect the request of the Owners to not do so, Bucko is of the same view as me, and I think Mags took one look at the climb, which was closed, due to high winds, and was happy the decision was taken out of her hands! We drove around Uluru instead, as well as walked The Mala Track.
3 comments:
Brilliant photos Janet! These are all places I look forward to going to one day. x
Thanks Paula, must say you are on the ball, I haven't even sent out my email yet LOL. We have been out of internet and mobile range for a few days now, so took the time to prepare a few updates, about 10!!!!! Hope all is well with you and the family, and your daughter is enjoying being in Japan. big hugs Janet xx
Just A-M-A-Z-I-N-G photos Janet. The atmosphere looks brilliant. Have the strange formations of rock been sculptured by the wind?
Love
Your sister Liz
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