On arriving in Alice I checked into my ice cold hostel, which I was glad of, as it was quite hot outside. I spent a few nights in Alice mainly catching up on this blog. I had booked myself on a bus trip called "Just The Centre" which was run by Wayward Bus who I used for my Great Ocean Road. So for the next three and half days I would be touring round the Red Centre.
Picked up in the cold and dark at 06:45 I climbed aboard and so it began. We first visited Rainbow Valley, which has great spiritual significance. It was a good place to take photos. We made for our night stop of Kings Creek Station, where we took in the sunset. We had the chose of sleeping in swags or tents. I had been told to try a swag as it was meant to be great. A swag is a canvas rectangle in which you put your sleeping bag in. It has zips down each side and a flap at the top, which you can pull over your head. It also has a piece of foam to cushion your back from the hardness of the ground. I slept in a swag for all three nights and found it to be great, our guide said " Welcome to the Startlight Hotel". He was right, the view just looking up at the sky was incredible. Sleeping in the middle of the red centre with nothing to protect you from snakes and other creepy stuff is an experience. One thing that would get on my nerves after a while would be that everything gets covered in red dust, everything!
The second day started at 05:00 yes 5 am. It was dark and cold. After showers and a cup of tea we set off of for Kings Canyon. We arrived at the Canyon and wasted no time with starting the climb. Attempting this walk anytime after 09:00 would be very foolish as it gets very hot. The flies were really bad and I was really glad to have my trendy green fly net. Everyone at some stage had at least 20 or 30 flies on their back. The walk took about three hours. In some places the drop was almost 300 feet to the bottom. The common thing to do while your here is to lie on you’re front and wiggle forward until you can see over the edge. The rock in some place is very flat and has some great markings. Along the walk we passed through the Lost City and the Garden of Eden. The garden has a pool situated in a small deep valley. The water was surprisingly cool considering where it was. We returned to the bus and headed off for the main event Uluru. We arrived in the Ayres Rock Resort and set up camp for the next two nights. We went and watched the sunset by the rock. It was spectacular, the colours of the rock and the sky are fabulous. That night we roasted marsh mellows by our camp fire and drunk a few stubbies.
The next day we got up again at 05:00 and went to Uluru for sunrise. This was also a real eye opener. It takes about 25 - 30 Min's for the sun to rise. Again the colours of the rock were gob smacking. My camera got a real work out that morning. Later we made for the rock. The group split up into two groups. Some went with our driver/guide on a 9km base walk all around the bottom of the rock while the others climbed it. Uluru is a special place for the Aboriginals. They ask people not to climb it and have a large sign at the base stating this and detailing how many people have lost there lives while climbing. How ever it is not against the law to climb and is done at your own risk. I had not made up my mind before we reached the base. But seeing it and there being a group of us who were going to climb it, I decided to do it.
What had I let myself in for. The rock has no steps or real path. One wrong step and you could be a goner. The climb starts off OK, then you have to use a chain to pull yourself up. After about one third of the way up we had a stop for a breather. I could hardly get my breath. The rest of the climb was easier and didn't require a chain. It consisted of small valleys and paths with nothing but a great drop on either side. Once I reached the top the view was great. I could see Kata Tjuta and across the red centre floor. Time for a few photos and to send some txt messages. The decent was just as difficult as the ascent. The aboriginals call the people who climb the rock mingers. This is not to be confused with the meaning we have back home.
My decision to climb Uluru has been met by a few negative views from people I know and have met since. I don't regret climbing Uluru and would recommend it to the fit and stupid.
We loaded the bus and headed back to camp for lunch before setting off for Kata Tjuta. Here we hiked the Valley of the Winds. Unfortunately the climb up Uluru had taken it's toll on my feet and I had to turn back after about 30 Min's. I returned to the bus and chilled out with files until the others returned. Later that day we went to the sunset at Kata Tjuta, which was swarming with flies. Good job the beer was cold. Again we had a camp fire and knocked back a few beers.
The last morning came and we left camp and I got dropped of at the Ayers Rock Resort YHA. This was the most expensive hostel I have ever stayed in at $37 ~ 13.00 gbp for a four share room. I spent a day and a half before flying from Ayers Rock airport to Sydney. Ayers Rock's airport only has one runway, six check in gates and one departure gate.
