.: Cath’s Blog:.

Today was a very exciting day for me as we were going to Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon). We got up early and met by the car at 7am to start the 300km drive to Kings Canyon.

When we got there, we got prepared and looked at the maps of the trails. There were two to choose from. The first was a short (one hour) hike called the Kings Creek Walk and the second was a long (four hour) hike called the Canyon Walk…this was the one I was interested in.

It started out with quite a strenuous uphill hike which was a bit of a killer…but we were able to take our time which was nice.

Once we got to the top of the Canyon the walk was pretty easy. The 350 million-year-old canyon shelters a permanent rock pool, aptly named the Garden of Eden and lots of the visitors were going for a swim in there.

OUR PRISCILLA POSE

Watch my video for Steph & Jo

When the walk ended, we just drove back to the Lodge…we were truly exhausted…but it was worth it.

Today I was feeling pretty poorly (bad stomach cramps) so I wasn’t really all that excited about visiting Katja Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). Kata Tjuta means “many heads”, which refers to the 36 domes.

I did however plod along and we went straight to the Walpa Gorge Walk. The walk took us about one hour and then we drove round to the Valley of the Winds Walk. I decided to find myself a nice shaded seat and sleep for an hour while the other two walked through to the 1st lookout (Karu).

We decided not to stay for the sunset, but we did get some really great photos. The Olgas was impressive…not as impressive as Uluru…but what is?

We were up this morning very early again…and for the first time in a long time totally freezing. It was only 5 degrees outside and it was a chore to even put one leg out of bed.

The three of us loaded up the car and headed on our way to Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort). I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t excited about seeing Uluru…and we were all pretty hyped up about going to the Red Center.

Our first stop was at the petrol station and I ran inside to ask for information going to Ayers Rock…if I should take the Stuart Hwy to the Lasseter Hwy etc? The woman replied “I don’t know…I’ve never been there”? Now picture Muriel’s Wedding where she meets her future husband and she says “Are you black?” and he says “What?”…well that’s how I replied to her. I couldn’t believe this woman had never been there, never mind worked in a petrol station in the center of Alice Springs…BIZARRE! And she looked in her late forties.

Anyway, we took the Stuart Hwy all the way to the Lasseter Hwy and I was surprised that the roads were so quiet. After Curtain Springs we saw (what we thought) was Uluru. This monolith was absolutely huge and was domination the horizon. The three of us got extremely excited and started taking lots of pictures etc. It was, we later found out Mount Conner. Conner, at 700 million years old, is 150 million years older than Uluru and Kata Tjuta and, amazingly, just 13 ft lower than Uluru. We embarrassingly came across Uluru about half an hour later driving to Yulara and all were very confused.

We arrived at Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) at about noon time and we checked into our dorms at the Pioneer Outback Lodge. I have to say I was very impressed by the facilities…hotel style check in, full serviced eating and bar area outside with lots of barbecue’s. I had the choice of a 4 bed dorm for $37 or a 20 bed dorm for $30…guess which one I picked? The room was spacious and I was the first one in the room, so I got a nice bottom bunk.

The three of us had lunch and we got our gear together to head up to Uluru. We were only a few miles away from the entrance to Uluru and in no time we were at the entrance waiting to pay the fee. The fee was $25 and it gave us a pass for 3 days to go into Uluru or Katja Tjuta.

Uluru’s National Park was World Heritage listed for it’s natural significance only in 1987, and for it’s cultural significance in 1994. It was first sighted by a European in 1872 when explorer Ernest Giles noted a prominent hill in the distance. The following year, William Gosse discovered that the “hill” was in fact “one immense rock rising abruptly from the plain”.

Uluru means “meeting place”, and many Aboriginal Dreaming tracks or “songlines” intersect here. Uluru is the world’s largest monolith. It stands 1,142 ft tall and it’s circumference at the base is almost 9kms.

When we arrived at Uluru we parked up and walked over to Climb. I actually was going to do the climb but there is signs everywhere from the Aborigines asking people not to climb because it’s a sacred place and it’s dangerous. I decided not to climb…honestly, it looked dangerous.

So, the three of us decided to do the base walk around the rock. There were lots of areas where people were asked not to take pictures…fair enough. When we finished the base walk we drove around the rock again (this time videoing it) and then we went to take pictures of the sunset.

Watch a video of me at Uluru

Watch a video of Tanja at Uluru

Watch a video of Christine at Uluru

Watch second video of Tanja at Uluru

Watch special video for Sam, Jake & George

This place is really magical and honestly I think this has been the best day of my life.

I also picked up rocks from Uluru for everyone and have since found out that taking rocks gives you a lifetime worth of bad luck…I am therefore taking them back…sorry!