Finally Made It to Uluru

 It was a cool and overcast day with a maximum of 18 degrees- it had been 25 and sunny the previous day. We caught a bus out to Uluru at 9am  which took us around most of the way around Uluru so we got to se it up close.. We had chosen to get dropped off at  along the side of Uluru which was 2.5km return out to Kantju Gorge. It was raining lightly on and off and was cool so did need our wet weather gear and warm clothes. We started off with a ranger guided walk but the group was large and there was a bit of standing around which mum finds hard so we headed off on our own which was lovely as we got to enjoy the peace and quiet and tranquillity of the place without too many people around. It was probably one of the highlights of the trip, We were struck by the silence of the place and also the amount of vegetation. The colours of the place where also amazing. It was a wonderful experience to be here. Originally my plan was to walk around Uluru- around 13km but I had torn my meniscus back in late April so cannot walk very far. Then I was going to do a bike ride around the base, but I hurt my back about 5 days before going away so and my back was still quite fragile so did this walk with mum, It actually worked out for the best otherwise mum wouldn't have been able to get so close up to Uluru.

After returning to the start of the walk we then had a 2.5 km walk down to the Cultural Centre to catch the bus back to Yulura. We had a bit of a rest before heading off. It was a flat easy walk with Uluru behind us. Mum was glad though to finally make it to the Cultural Centre, so she has walked 5km today- not bad!

Walking, walking, walking- there were a few "are we there yet" and " how much further?"

The view of Uluru behind us

A handy cut off branch for a resting point along the way

Finally at our destination - The Cultural Centre. Time for a good rest, an ice-cream and a chance to check out the information before we headed to the bus stop for the ride back to Yulara. By this time it was rather cool with the wind picking up.

Back in the room it was time for a well deserved rest- she didn't read the book for long! I was so glad we did the walk that morning, as on our way back in the bus we got a phone call from AAT Kings to say that due to the rain the night before and the current conditions our Sunset BBQ Dinner and Star Talk had been cancelled. We would still be doing the sunset viewing portion but would be refunded for the rest of the tour as it couldn't go ahead. We were quite glad as mum was tired from the mornings adventure and it was rather cool, it would have been a late night as well.

Given that our dinner was cancelled we headed across to Sails in the Desert- the 5 star resort and had a late lunch/early dinner in the bar and grill there. It was lovely sitting there and looking out to the gardens there, we enjoyed a lovely meal and then had a chance to head back to our room for a bit more of a rest before heading out for the Uluru Sunset Tour at 5:30pm. The bus took us into the National Park and to a Sunset Viewing Area about 2 km for Uluru. They had drinks and nibbles, mum sat and chatted to a few people and enjoyed the view, I went for a short walk up to another viewing area where I could get some good views of Uluru. we were back at the hotel around 7pm and rather glad we were back then rather than after 10pm as it was quite chilly by then.

 

The gardens at Sails in Desert Hotel

Around the Resort and Field of Lights

Monday we had a leisurely morning, headed down to the town square and had breakfast in the training café, sitting outside in the sun, such a contrast to Canberra! We just enjoyed the atmosphere of the place. We caught the resort bus out to the Camel Farm and saw people heading out for a camel ride, then checked out the baby camel! Back at the resort we headed to a bush tucker talk and saw an astronomy presentation.

 At 6pm we headed out on our tour to the Field of Lights. We first headed to a sunset viewing point where we could see Uluru and watch the sunset. As the sunset and the sky darkened the solar lights of the Field of Lights came on. We then headed down to the Field of Lights and were able to walk through the exhibition. From the website is the following explanation:  "Spanning over the area of seven football fields, Uluru Field of Light is the largest installation that artist Bruce Munro has ever created. Carrying the name Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku (which means looking at lots of beautiful lights), it consists of over 50,000 lights that bring life and colour to the desert."

Camels at the Camel Farm

Mum and I enjoying the sun

Bush Tucker talk at the Resort

The view of Uluru as the sun starts to set

Once it was dark these little Spinifex Hopping Mice were hoping all around us!

My phone camera wasn't very good at capturing Uluru at night or the Field of Lights, I did get one okay shot.

The following photos are from the website about the Field of Lights

The next day we had a half day small group tour out to Kata Tjuta- previously known as the Olgas. It was a 45 minute drive out to Kata Tjuta, we got good views of Uluru as we entered the National Park and before turning off to Kata Tjuta.  It is quite amazing these domed shaped rocks jutting out in remote Australia. There was a 2km walk up to Walpa Gorge. It was very rocky, mum made it up about half way and sat on a bench while I continued up. After we headed back down the tour took us to a lookout point where you could get good photos from the distance.

Later after returning to the hotel we did a garden walk around the resort and learnt about the various plants and their uses. Then enjoyed dinner in the hotel restaurant and had some yummy desserts!

Some of the lovely Sturt Desert Peas we saw

The Ghost Gums were so white

These both tasted really yummy!