Uluru and around the Red Centre.

Sunday morning came, we dragged ourselves out of bed and boarded a coach with 19 other bleary-eyed backpackers, for a 3 day tour of the sites around that part of the country. We were due to see Kings Canyon, the Olgas, as well as sunset and sunrise at Uluru (better known as Ayers Rock). We'd be camping out under stars, in swags, just like the proper bushmen. We were really looking forward to this trip, we waited long enough to do something like this anyway.

Our guide was BeeJay, who really knew his stuff on the out-back fauna and flora. We'd only really just got going when he suddenly slammed the brakes on, jumped out of the bus and ran back down the road. How I don't know, but he'd spotted a Thorny Devil basking in the sun. We all followed after him, to get a look at this strange lizard. In fact we got to see some good wildlife during the tour. Kangaroos bouncing through the bush, Bearded Dragons and Perenties wandering across the road, etc... Luckily nothing too dangerous or poisionous.

The first day was Kings Canyon, which involved a walk through the searing heat of the Aussie outback. The place was impressive, and being at the top made Sam go a little weak at the knees. Well when I crawled to have a look over the edge of the 100m drop, it did anyway.

That night was spent on station near to Curtain Springs. The station is a million acres, and contains Mt Conner as one of its features. There we were cooking for ourselves, with only our swags to sleep in. This was the proper outback experience. Dingos howling in the night, and so dark you couldn't see at thing. We were hundreds of miles from anywhere, and you could tell. It was great!

Next morning BeeJay had us up before dawn, and packing up camp. Today was the Olgas (Kata Tjuta), a series of 36 gigantic domes, rising up out of the bush. This was amazing, as you walked through and over this other-worldly rock formation. The brilliant blue sky contrasting against the orangy-red of the rock. Stunning, would be an understatement.

After the Olgas we headed for Uluru, and the cultural centre there. The centre was nothing to write home about, somewhat dissapointing. A couple of token Abo's, and a load of crap over-priced canvases, preported to be art. Charging $4000 for a painting that a blind-folded 4 year old could do better, is a con in anyone's book.

That night we were staying at the Ayers Rock Resort. After a shower we went to the viewing area to watch sunset over the 'rock'. When we got there we were the only people. As sunset started, coach after coach arrived too. Suddenly there in the middle of nowhere. Hundreds and Thousands of miles from anywhere, thousands of people turned up to see the sunset. Within minutes of the sunset happening, they had gone! It was crazy!!

We stuck it out, from beginning to end. Mainly because we had no choice, we were still cooking dinner out of the back of the trailer. Outback cooking, what fun. To say you cooked out of a trailer, in the open air, in a car park, near to Ayers Rock. That's something, that is.

Next day was the last day. Once again up before dawn, as we were off to do sunrise at the 'rock'. That done, we went and actually walked around the 'rock'. All 8Km of it. We were a little tired by now, we'd pretty much done it. And we were pretty much done in.

On the way back to Annie's Place we stopped off for a camel ride, and got to be up-close-and-personal with some wildlife / dinner. Now that was fun. Anyway, back to Annie's. We had dinner (I had Kangaroo Curry) that night with the tour group, and then out to BoJangles in Alice town centre. We danced, and some of us even boogied. As usual Sam and I lasted until the end, along with BeeJay and Phil (German) who were both on the pull.