Ayers Rock/ Uluru and The Olgas/Kata Tjuta – Sunday 5 September

The weather was fine.  I jumped out of bed and decided to pull some clothes on and walk up the nearby lookout/sandhill in the camping area and watch the sunrise.  It was rather cold, and I could have stayed in bed half an hour longer.  However it was an enjoyable event, and time to chat to a few other people.  It was possible to see Ayers Rock and also the Olgas from this point.  The resort/township of Yalara is about 20 ks north of the Rock and around 40 k east of the Olgas.

After breakfast we set off for the Rock, showing our entry cards at the entry point.  These had cost $25 each for a 3 day pass the evening before.  The cultural centre was the first place to visit, a very elaborate place with illustrations and stories from the Aboriginal dreamtime relating to Uluru (Ayers Rock).  We then went to the car park at the foot of the point where people start the climb.  We’d both done this already in 1987, and were not feeling that it was necessary to try again, but it was interesting to watch and remember that we had done it before. 

Water running off Rock after rain

The situation is that the walk is still open, except on windy or wet days, or if the cultural owners deem it closed for mourning.  However we are requested in the information not to climb the rock, but rather walk around it or part thereof instead. It is a challenge and lots of people are still climbing up the chain and across to the centre.  Coming down is equally difficult.  We enjoyed a couple of short walks at the base, and also driving right around the rock, taking lots of photographs.

We returned to the caravan for lunch, and then set off again for the Olgas, where we did 2 walks, both moderate in classification.  The first was in a sort of gorge, between 2 of the formations, the second to the first lookout of the Valley of the Winds walk.  The rock here is different formation, conglomerate, yet in the distance looks the same and has the same red colour.  It was getting late by the finish of these walks, so we then saw the early stage of the sunset watch, and also stopped at another vantage point on the way back to ‘home’.  We stopped and had dinner at a restaurant in the shopping centre, before retiring tired again.

The Olgas at Sunset

 Monday 6 September

Today we have travelled to Kings Canyon, and are now enjoying a night at King’s Creek Station, about 30 ks from the Canyon.  We arrived at lunch time and after setting the van in place, were able to drive out to do the valley walk which is lovely, and takes about an hour.  The best walk is ‘the rim’ walk, but I think I’ve had enough walking challenges in the past 2 months.  It takes about 3 ½ hours, and is a steep climb and then exposed and near the edge of cliffs.  We stopped at Kathleen Springs, and found that to be a pleasant hour walking in a valley on a bitumen track between the escarpments to a lovely waterhole.

Within Kings Canyon

Now at 9.30 p.m., Roger is outside looking at the stars, and learning from a Dutch gentleman who is taking photographs of the stars with a special camera and computer program.  There is not much lighting here, so it’s a great place to look.