Uluru and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

I read in my guide book a few days ago that ‘the first sight of Uluru will astound even the most jaded, road-weary traveller’ and that is certainly true!  The looks of sheer delight on the girls faces when we first glimpsed Uluru was lovely.  And we have had a wonderful few days here. (So be warned this is another of those places where we’ve taken hundreds of photos so there are lots to show…….)

After setting up camp on the first day we headed out to the viewing area and watched the amazing rock change color as the sun set.

(Edit:  These are all the photos I have time to upload before we leave for Kings Canyon where we won’t have reception for a few days but after that we are heading down to Coober Pedy so I will add more then…..)

The next morning we walked the 10 kms around the base of the rock.  It was an easy walk and just great to see all of the different crevices and caves and angles.  It was a bit disappointing though that part of the walking track is now a long way from the base and photographs are not permitted due to these sections being indigenous sacred sites.  We also saw a couple of rock art sites but nothing as good as the amazing Kimberley rock art that we have been so lucky to see.

In the afternoon we visited the Cultural Centre and then watched the sun set again from the camping ground lookout.

Yesterday we were up at 5am and saw the incredible sunrise over Kata Tjuta and Uluru.  Mal and I both said it was probably the best sunrise we’d seen which Ella enthusuastically agreed with…..and then said it was the first sunrise she’d ever seen.

We then did the Valley of the Winds walk and after lunch the Walpa Gorge walk – both of which were great.  The wildflowers were beautiful.  In fact the ranger told me that different types are springing up everywhere.  The botanists are apparently very excited by the ‘upside-down flowers’ near the sunrise lookout which haven’t been seen for at least 10 years!

And it was another gorgeous sunset again last night.

I think the girls were a little disappointed that the climb was closed due to wind for the time we were there but as climbing is strongly discouraged by both the traditional owners and the rangers it really just saved us having to make a decision!

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