Uluru sunrise, The Olgas and onwards to the Gold Coast

We were up and about at 4am this morning to catch Uluru at sunrise



They have made a new viewing platform which quickly became packed....





The Olgas are another rock formation about 30km from Uluru and pretty spectacular in their own right







and finally on the way back to the hotel we caught sight of some camels. Apparently there are over a million wandering wild and free in the outback



Overall it was a fantastic trip to see the red centre of Oz and we highly recommend it to anyone coming out this way

Next its on to Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast....

Uluru sunset

Another early start today - earlier than expected thanks to a cock up by our tour operator
We were only just getting out of bed when reception called to say that our coach from Alice over to Uluru had arrived- needless to say the other people on the bus were not best pleased to see us clambering aboard with toothbrushes still in our mouths and hair all over the shop (well carolines was - mine was as neat as ever). The driver had a right go but eventually it dawned on him that it wasn't our fault at the next hotel where someone else was late and had used the same tour operator

Anyhow the trip to Ayers Rock resort took about 4 hours and we had a couple of stops on the way

The first was at a camel farm where I got to taste camel burger - pretty good although when I stood near a live camel it wanted a piece as well !!



The next stop was a tiny roadhouse at Mt Ebeneezer


Can't imagine this gets used much.....


Mt Ebeneezer apparently gets mistaken for Uluru and you can see why but locally its known as the toothbrush....



Eventually we arrived at the resort and we checked in to the Desert Gardens Hotel where we could just see Uluru in the distance from our balcony....


We spent the afternoon at the rock learning about the history and the aboriginal values and beliefs


and we came across a Thorny Devil lizard....


before heading off to viewing platform to watch the sun set over the rock which was an incredible site to see and the photos do not do it justice

Viewing area - plenty of wine and nibbles!!


What we came to see...


Sunset from my photos


Sunset by Andrew Field

West MacDonnell Ranges

An early start today to take a tour of the West MacDonnell Ranges just east of Alice Springs



where we visited many gorges and pools - we didn't dip our toes after seeing this little critter crawling about near the water edge
its a parentie lizard and apparently it used to be a favourite food of the local aboriginal tribes but I think they go to woolies now for their food shopping







This is the riverbed at Simpsons Gap - no swimming allowed.....


Rock wallaby at Simpsons gap.... these fellas were really hard to spot


Caroline at the Ochre pits.....


Mick and Caroline at Standley Chasm


We ended at Glen Helen where we had a couple of cold beers before heading back to Alice