Nov 20, 2012 - Day Trip to Uluru

Via Emu Run Tours 6am until midnight plus...$215 each! A first for us, first really expensive day tour with 43 others...Indian, Taiwan, Aussie, Canadian but all from the upper levels of travel. The bus picked them up from $120+/night hotels, we and 2 others were the only ones from YHA hostel @ $27pp/night, ha! I think the reason I seem to relate a lot w.r.t. $$ is because it speaks of the class or level of people it refers to - now ourselves included! It also relates often to expectations and desires of the people i.e. at the sunset viewing...

Oct 27, 2011 - Uluru and the Meteor Craters

Thursday, October 27 - Yulura, Outback, Northern Territory (2) This is the day to see the sun rise illuminating Uluru. Sunrise was to be at 5:57 AM – which meant we would need to get up at 4 AM, dress and make our way to the park by 5 (when the park opened), and then walk to a clear viewing spot to see the rock without too many trees in the way. The sky started to lighten up by the time we got there, but there were clouds on the horizon that kept the direct sun from illuminating the rock. The view was quite nice, but not the spectacular...

Oct 26, 2011 - Uluru

Wednesday, October 26 - Yulura, Outback, Northern Territory We spent the morning getting acquainted with this resort. It is huge and has facilities scattered over a pretty good area. After checking out the resort visitor center, we drove out to the National Park. We had our first views of Uluru yesterday on the drive out from Alice, but now and then on the way to the park, we got better glimpses as we got closer and closer to it. We decided to visit the Cultural Heritage Center before we began a walk around it. The center explains the...

Jul 21, 2011 - The Olgas and The Rock

Headed off to the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) this morning. Yet another magnificent natural formation of rocks. 36 rocks in total, the largest Mt. Olga is taller than Ayers Rock (Uluru) but these formations differ in that they are conglomerate rocks rather than one huge massive rock. Stopped at the Sand Dune Lookout for a great view of the Olgas. Did a walk into one of the chasms with views of sheer vertical cliffs on either side. Many little rockpools and a small stream running through the chasm. I must admit all the walkways which have been...

Jul 20, 2011 - The Red Centre

Awoke around 7 this morning after a brilliant night’s sleep. Time to take a daylight look at where we had stayed the night. Kings Creek Station is an operating cattle and camel farm but has developed a fantastic complex of tourist camping and accommodation with all amenities. You can do overnight quadbike safaris, take camel rides, horse rides etc. out around the station. After a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs we presented at 9am for our booked quadbike ride. Maureen opted out of her camel ride and decided to relax for the hour. I was...

Jul 17, 2011 - Kulgera to Uluru

We arrived at the Ayers rock Campground at around 1pm on Friday - for the first time we have a site which has a concrete slab. The cost per night for a powered site for two adults is $41. The caravan park is arranged around a lookout from which you can see the rock, so in a way the park has its own viewing platform. Saturday – Jim and I left early for The Rock. The Rock and The Olgas are situated in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The fee to enter the park is $25.00 per adult and is valid for 3 days. It really is a magnificent sight...

Jul 2, 2011 - Day 9 Chill out day at Ayers Rock Resort Camping Ground.

Today we have had a relaxing day chilling out and having fun exploring the resort at Yalara. The weather has been fabulous with warm and sunny days in the low to mid 20’s . Today started warm but the clouds rolled in, in the afternoon , still warm though about 25 degrees and warm enough for Emily and Spencer to check out and have a dip in the swimming pool. We caught up on all our washing and then caught the free shuttle bus to the Camel Farm where Emily and Spencer had a Camel ride. The kids were very excited especially as they could see...

Feb 5, 2011 - Australia - Uluru

Hi all, Hope you're all well back home in Blighty. This is our last-but-one entry for Australia, before we head off to Asia for the last part of our trip. Can't believe it's all going so quickly! Last time we wrote, we were about to embark on our outback adventure driving the 1,595km from Adelaide to Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock). I say adventure, but we weren't going off the beaten track and instead sticking to a very straight, very long road North. As far as we were concerned, the 'getting there' was as much part of the experience...

Dec 11, 2010 - Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park

Hello again! Today was our second day at Ayers Rock. We woke up early to catch the eight o’clock Mala ranger walk. The walk was around part of the base of Uluru. We learned a lot about the culture of the Aboriginal people who live there. The rock was sometimes open for climbing, but it was very steep and at least 35 people have died, also the Aboriginals do not approve people hiking upon their sacred rock. We saw ancient places where women would cook and men would hunt. We also visited a water hole where men would lure in animals to kill...

Oct 31, 2009 - Alluring Uluru

Saturday October 31, 2009 – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Alluring Uluru In the list of amazing things we are seeing and doing, here’s one that ranks pretty much at the bottom. Getting up early. Day after day after day. I don’t mean, say, 6:00 a.m. or something reasonable like that. Take today. Well, really, take last night. After a fun nap of about 16 minutes we rose at 3:45 a.m. to set out for Uluru in order to arrive at the Sunrise Viewing Area with our other 83,000 friends in order to watch daylight break. Happy Birthday Aunty Gail!...

Oct 30, 2009 - Rock & Roll Olgas

Friday October 30, 2009 – Uluru Rock & Roll Olgas 6:53pm. Here we are. Just us and about 17,000 other tourists at the “Sunset Viewing Area” a few thermometers away from Uluru taking about 17,000 photos each of (as Debbie aptly pointed out) a big rock. I will, of course, post them all. I, for one, thought that maybe it might move and I wanted to catch that moment on digital electron forever. It didn’t so I didn’t. Now I have to spend ½ an hour deleting the endless repetition shots. That said, it’s awesome. But I’m getting way, way, WAY ahead...

Aug 19, 2009 - Uluru, Olgas (Days 38-39)

Arriving at Uluru (Ayers Rock) - Kata Tjuta (Olgas) National Park we set up camp at the Delightful Yulara Campgrounds, about 20km from the Rock. In the "Australia's best Caravan park shower sweepstakes" this contestant is incredibly strong considering its in the middle of the desert. The have a great sunset viewing lookout only 200m from the Caravan. On Thursday we attempted the climb, as the forecast ws for about 31c and light winds. They close the climb very frequently due to heat extremes and high winds. We had a perfect day and have...