Beautiful Uluru

After our few days in Port Douglas, we headed to Alice Springs for a 3 day trek in the outback. We had been told it was over 40 degrees so we were all trying to prepare ourselves for the intense heat, dust and flies, even buying fly nets for our heads! (after 8 weeks away looking good is the least of our worries!) Luckily when we got there the temperature had dropped by 5 degrees and there was a slight breeze so we could at least breathe! The first night we met up with Julie's old boss Steph and her husband who were on holiday for a lovely meal, and we spent the evening listening to the many tales Julie had to tell from her time in India!

The next morning we got up at 5am to get picked up and head out to the outback, our tour guide, Spud, was brilliant from the start, such a nice change from the idiot we had up the east coast! Our first stop was at a camel farm where Katie and Debbie went for a ride! it was hilarious! Very bumpy! We then headed out to Kata Tjuta (Valley of the Winds) for a 3 hr walk. It had got really hot at this point so we were all loaded up with water, sunscreen and everyone had a hat on! The walk was stunning, lots of climbing but well worth it when we got to the top, the views were amazing. Spud was full of interesting facts which Stacey loved, so when we get home you can ask her all about the geology of the place!

We then went to Uluru (Ayres Rock) to watch the sunset....wow....we got there and there were loads of tour buses with people gathered round eating and drinking! Spud then got out the champayne and cheese and biscuits and we sat around watching the beautiful colour changes of the big rock as the sun set. A real highlight of our trip.

That night we slept in these cute canvas tents, we were safaring in style!

The next morning we got up at 4am to watch the sunrise over Uluru, it wasnt as impressive as the sunset but still worth getting up for. we then went on the base walk around Uluru (the climb was closed due to high winds, but they dont like you to climb it anyway out of respect) it was a 9.4km walk, all flat but very hot, and it took us about 3 hours, but we were rewarded with cake when we got back to the bus so all good! We then spent an hour at the cultural centre, reading about aboriginal culture and having a quick power nap! we then went for a swim at a campsite and had a well needed shower! That night we stayed in a much more remote campsite where Debbie and Stacey decided they were going to sleep outside in swag bags! The other girls thought they were mad but it was actually really comfortable and cosy, sleeping under the stars with the 1000's of insects and dingos that also lived there!!

On our final day we headed to Kings Canyon for another 3.5 hr walk! again it was a stunning walk with views to die for! More useful facts were learnt and many photos taken, to to proove we were there!
We then headed back to Alice springs, visiting a singing Dingo on the way!

It was such a great 3 days, something really special to see and experience, but we were glad to get out of the heat and dust! So the thought of 8 days of home comforts with Auntie Pauline and Uncle Neil was very inviting! Clean clothes here we come!!