Ayers Rock

We left Alice Springs for the resort near to Ayers Rock. AAT Kings took charge of us for the time we were there. We stopped at a camel farm on the way but we didn’t fancy a quick camel ride. We also had a toilet stop on the way that was better than anticipated. There was a hut with two doors and the toilet looked ok and thankfully it didn’t smell. There was no water though, only a hole that must have been really deep. The toilet seat was red hot! We reached our hotel and had only just checked in to our room and within a few minutes we were on our coach and making our way to Kata Tjuta. These are publicised as the mystical 36 domes of the Kata Tjuta. Or as Chris puts it “a pile of rocks in the desert”.  From there we were driven by coach to the base of Walp Gorge and we had the option of walking through the gorge and back. They are really strict on the coaches and only allow you to do this if you have enough water. I only managed to walk a third of the way, leaving Chris to complete it with the other ‘mad dogs and English men’. I zig-zagged my way back to the shade to glug more water. Chris made it there and back in one piece and we were told that the temperature was approx. 54 degrees in the gorge! 54 DEGREES! The air-con on the coach was DELICIOUS!

We then made our way to Ayres Rock, or Uluru as they now call it. This was the viewing area waiting for the sunset.  The tour operators provide drinks and nibbles while we waited. The sunset was spectacular and the rock seems to change colour as the sun gets lower.

Afterwards we made our way back to the hotel resort and had our supper. It was so hot, even late at night. We were told that Kings Canyon, our trip for tomorrow afternoon, had been cancelled as they’ve closed the Canyon due to bush fires.