Week Commencing 05.04.10
We arrived at Uluru today, crowds the campground is packed people, vans, campers, buses etc. Pool full of children I am talking seriously full. Have set up camp and as it gets closer to sunset we head off to the campsite lookout. A bit of a fizzer lots of folks there but no sun as such. Have to wait until tomorrow and try again. We spoke to the people next door and the whole family had climbed the rock that morning. This gives us hope for Wednesday.
Wednesday, up at 5.30am get ready and off we go f or the sunrise pics and hopefully to climb the rock. We stop at the gate purchase our 3 day passes get out maps and both are very excited. As we get closer to it we begin to realise how big it is. Hugh really hugh. Finally get to where the climb happens and disappointment hits. CLOSED DUE TO WIND. When we get out of the car the winds is so strong. I looked up and decided there and then this climb is not for me. So we will go back tomorrow morning same time and hope that the weather is fine for climbing. John really wants to do this. We decided to go on Lungkata Walk which was 4kms return, sounds good says me. Off we went backpack and camera in hand. You are walking around the base of the rock. All going fine when out of nowhere rain, I mean pouring rain. Wind , rain the whole bit. I am clutching my camera tightly, so John decides to run back and get the car and I am to run through the scrub and meet him at the road. Anyway it is only minutes and he returns, look up he says look at what we are missing out on. The rock was completely different, waterfalls everywhere and mist flying off her. So out comes the camera and pics are taken of this wonderful site. The rain finally passed and we continue on our way. As we arrive at the point to turn around, John asks how I am feeling , I said great so we decide to continue on and go all the way around the rock. It was fantastic we took lots of photos and had a few stops along the way. There are lots of caves, waterholes etc. By the time we were back at the car we had actually walked some 14.5kms. Yes my legs are killing me and we are both a little tired this afternoon. We will go back this afternoon to do another little walk and watch the sun set. What a place.
Uluru Base Walk 10.4 km loop Liru Walk 4km return
Mala Walk 2km return Lungkata Walk 4km return
Lungkata Walk 4km return Kuniya Walk 1km return
Thursday 8 April – Up 5.30am and off to see if John can climb, unfortunately closed due to rain. So my turn to drive and off we went to Kata Tjuta (Olgas) to walk The Valley of the Winds. A 6.4km loop walk. It was very challenging for me. I did not see alot of the scenery as I was too busy watching every step. We had to walk over rocks and lots of them, up steep climbs, over boulders and sides of cliffs. I did it and was very proud of myself. About 3 and a bit hours in all. We started off at 8.15 and returned back to the carpark around lunchtime, dragging my feet by this stage. Poor John I feel sorry for him but he has been fantastic about taking it slowly. I enjoyed seeing all the pictures he took along the way. At the main lookout we stopped for awhile and talked with a german lady who runs tours for international students. She does an outback trip twice a year. She comes from Adelaide and told us she had a little block of paradise on Kangaroo Island. After the walk we found a rest area to have lunch, until the flys made us abandon this idea and we finished our lunch in the comfort of the air-conditioned car. We headed back to the Rock to see if anyone was climbing but no still no climb. We decided to do the Marla walk to the gorge which was great. We then drove around to the Waterhole and Waterfall for one last look. We had a relaxing afternoon until the storm clouds came in again, this time we were prepared and put the chairs away and the awning down. It turned out to be a fizzer.
Friday 9 April. Up and off to Kings Canyon, which is some 300kms from Yulara. Stopped for morning tea a pretty little rest area. On the highway we were passed by a convoy of 10 cars , they were passing us over double lines. Bloody idiots, we have seen this alot in NT. Have set up camp now and plan headed off for a 2.5km walk this afternoon. Tomorrow we attempt the Canyon Rim Walk which is 6km loop – starts off with 600 steps up. Well let’s see how I pull up after that.

Saturday 10 April – Up early and off we head to tackle the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, some 6.5kms – 600 odd steps. It was fantastic, best thing I have ever done. John and I enjoyed it so much. Highlight of our trip so far. Lots of steps to start and then you look back at the view. We climbed over rocks across bridges high over the canyon and then more steps down and then up again. To look down the canyon into the Garden of Eden, waterholes and watching young people jumping from one waterhole into another. There were at least 200 people scattered all over the rim at one time. We had met up with some New Zealand people at the rock and they travelled to Kings Canyon the same day. They caught up to us on the walk, so we completed the walk with them. When we completed the walk we decided to go to Kathleen Springs a 2.5km walk. This was very different to what we had just finished. The track let us through some old cattle yards and ended at a waterhole. We were very surprised when along came a young couple and their dog. The dog jumped into the waterhole to cool off. By the time we got back to the car we were both ready for a well deserved rest. The dingoes were around again in the evening, we saw a few of them. They howl during the night.
Sunday 11 April – Both John and I surprised ourselves this morning we were in the car and driving out of the park at 8am. Twenty minutes down the road and we come to a full stop. Not only water but mud – red mud across the road. Some French tourists had driven straight into the water and found themselves stuck in the mud. The owner of the Kings Creek Station had come to their rescue with a big bulldozer. He towed them out and then continued to clear the road for us along with the other 10 cars that we behind us. This took about an hour or so during this time we took some pics and chattered to the other drivers. The fun of the Outback. We encountered water about five times between there and Alice. So we are back in Alice until Thursday. Tomorrow planning a rest day and some chores. Nice to back in service and able to talk to the family.