Alice Springs

We flew to Alice Springs from Cairns as the 2hour flight seemed more appealing than the 3 day drive through the desert.

It was nice and warm when we arrived. We checked into the hostel, sorted our stuff for our trip the next day and then went out to get some dinner. We went back inside immediately to get our jackets cos it was sooooooooo cold. At this point we worried that the campaing safari might have been a bad choice!

We had to get up at 5.30am the next day (shock, horror!) as the bus picked us up at 6am. There were 17 of us on the tour plus our guide Keith. Most of us were Europeans apart from 3 lovely Canadian girls.

We drove for about 5 hours to reach the Ayres Rock Resort (just outside the Ayres Rock National Park). We got there just before lunch so ate there, chicken burgers, not good. Emma was obviously worried that the food was going to be a bit crap but we'd seen a shop at the resort so if things turned bad, there was always Pringles and Mars Bars.

The guide checked that the rock was open to climb and then we went off to climb it or walk around it.

It really is big!! Apparently 2 thirds of it is underground! Biggest rock in the world! Emma and I had already decided that we wouldn't climb it as the Aboriginal people regard it as sacred and so ask you not to climb it. Also, it looked very steep and very high and the rcokis quite smooth and slippery so not sure I would have been able to climb it anyway, too high and no safety harness!!!! So we did the 9km base walk which was really quite tiring as it was soooo hot. God knows how people do it in the summer when the temp can be around 45 degrees.... There were also loads of flies but luckily I had purchased a fly net to go over my head so I was happy, the others were very jealous!!! Then we met back up with everyone and watched sunset with the other 1000 tourists and had champagne, very nice!!

That night we cooked our food (pasta, salad and steak, much better, Emma was happy) and then sat around the campfire chatting and drinking goon (wine box, $15 for 4 litres, awesome!). It was really cold at night, as soon as the sun goes down the temp really drops. We slept in swags though, to experience the outdoors experience. Swags are big canvas sleeping bags with a mattress in that you put your normal sleeping bag into and then get in and sleep. It was surprisingly warm but I think the few glasses of wine that we had helped us sleep!!!

Up at 5.15am the next day to watch sunrise, another cold morning until the sun came out to warm things up. We then went off to walk the Olgas, a set of domed rocks that are also very sacred so you can only walk around a few. We did a nice walk through and took some pictures, then we went to the Cultural Centre to learn about about Aboriginal history.

In the afternoon we drove over to Kings Canyon, another fairly long drive as you have to go the long way around as there is a big Salt Lake between Uluru and Kings Canyon. We spent the night at Kings Canyon resort and this time Em and I stayed in the little tents that they have there as the swags were a bit dirty and a bit thin and there were big thick matresses in the tents. One night of outdoor sleeping was quite enough for us!

Another early morning, 5.30am, a quick breakfast and then off to do the big walk thru Kings Canyon. It was really amazing, lovely views all around and very high, just a really spectacular place, and I'd not heard about it before I went so glad it was on the tour.

Then it was another 5 hour drive back to Alice Springs. A great trip, tiring but well worth it. We all met up in the evening for dinner and drinks and didn't get to bed until 2am, not sure how we managed that!!

Next stop Sydney, again.