Ayers Rock

Northern Territory, Australia’s Outback

Heard, read and watched many stories about Australian Northern territory. Kangaroo jack in the middle of the Nation and Red center.

Major Attractions:

• Drive in Outback
• Uluru (Walk around Uluru rock, Field of light art, walk the domes of Kata Tjuta, Camel rides, Segway)
• Alice Springs
• Aboriginal cultural (people and art)
• Nature and Wild life (kangaroos )

Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a massive sandstone monolith in the heart of the Northern Territory’s arid “Red Centre”. The nearest large town is Alice Springs, 450km away. Uluru is sacred to indigenous Australians and is thought to have started forming around 550 million years ago. It’s within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which also includes the 36 red-rock domes of the Kata Tjuta (colloquially “The Olgas”) formation.

People there are Anangu people. They have traditional Aboriginal name and the English name. This is a big natural land mark in Australia. Perimeter of 9.4KM and most of the rock is lying underneath. Uluru is famous for it’s changing colors during dawn and sun set.

Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or the Olgas, lies 25 km (16 mi) west of Uluru.

Day 1 : Uluru

Fly to either Alice Springs or Ayers rock (Uluru), we flew in to Ayers rock and from there drove to Alice springs and fly out from Alice springs. These are small flights and 2 hrs 55 mins flight from Cairns to Ayers rock. We didn’t get any of our bags to Ayers rock. To compensate and balance the flight, they took off some bags. Our flight was through Qantas air lines. We all got same packet (same size night dress for kids and adults..:)) for surviving the night. Airlines told us they will prioritize to get our bags next day same flight and will deliver to hotel.

There are many options if people want to do camping and stay in hostels etc., We wanted specific things which limited our options to stay in Ayers rock. We went with Desert Gardens Hotel. There is close by shopping market as well. While walking there we saw many places where there are kitchen options as well. Desert gardens hotel doesn’t have kitchen and we had to go out to eat. But we had good time eating out as we tried Kangaroo Burger and Emu Pizza first time.

We reached before our check in time in hotel, so we went directly to Kata Tjuta National Park.

• Kata Tjuta national park
• Lunch
• Hotel Check in
• Sunset at Uluru Rock

 

Kata Tjuta National Park

• Dune Viewing
• Walpa Gorge Walk
• Valley of the Winds Walk

First stop at Dune Viewing. We experienced first hike with bunch of flies. As we go closer, these dunes are huge and red. It was steaming hot and sweaty. After our dune viewing stop, we started to Walpa Gorge Walk. Grade 3, Moderate hike for 1 hr with 2.6 km round trip.

 

Valley of the Winds Walk :

1st look out : Karu Lookout – Grade 3 , Moderate, 2.2KM return for 1 hr.

2nd look out : Karingana Lookout – Grade 4, Difficult , 5.4 km return for 2.5 hrs.

Full Circuit : Grade 4, Difficult -, 7.4 km , 4 hrs.

 

 

Sunset at Uluru

 

 

 

Dinner @ Gecko’s Cafe

 

 

Day 2 : Uluru

• Sunrise at Uluru Rock
• Hike around the Uluru rock
• Uluru rock climb (People believe this as sacred and not recommend to climb)

 

 

We went back to hotel for a nice breakfast after the sunrise view. Advantage of having a rental car in hand..:) We joined the Ranger guided Mala walk for some time. After some time we went on our own for around the Uluru rock hike. The Uluru base walk is about 10 km of track that takes you around the whole circumference of the rock.  Nice path and easy walk. There are some places where they suggest not to take pictures and those areas are marked.

Keep plenty of water to hydrate and head covering to protect from flies.

When we went in 2019 July, Uluru rock climb was allowed and there were many people walking on it. We heard that Uluru climb will be closed soon and there are some discussions going on.

 

Lunch time , Not many options as we were crossed the lunch time and except cafe, formal restaurants were closed for lunch. But these sand witches were tasty.

We went back again later in the night to Uluru for some photo shoots. Heard there is field of lights show which is highly recommended.

Day 3: Outback drive from Uluru to Alice Springs

Once in a life time experience driving in the outback. It is empty and we expected 0 cars, but we had few cars following and driving along most of the time. We saw few Kangaroos dead along the side of the road, possibly hit by vehicles. Miles and miles of empty land. Ayers Rock Resort to Alice Springs is about 450km, approximately 4.5 hours drive on well paved roads.

Kings Canyon is about 300km from Ayers rock about 3.5 hours drive and heard there is some unpaved roads. This drive needs 4 wheel drive. You need to inform rental car company if you are going here. Ideally rental car companies don’t want the vehicles to be driven on the unpaved roads. We didn’t want to take risk and drive through that in a day. It felt you need more time to go there and go on hike.

 

Alice Spring

Surprised to see so many Indian restaurants and fast foods places in Alice springs. It is a remote town in Northern territory and yet so many Indian restaurants. We stayed in DoubleTree hotel and first thing we noticed is Restaurant Hanuman, Thai and Indian food. Seems like this is one of the top restaurant in Alice springs. We saw many Aboriginal people in the town living normal life. we walked around for fast food pick up after the lunch hour. Art that is displayed in hotel was amazing and hand painted art by Anangu people.

 

Dinner at top restaurant in Alice springs Hanuman. Food and ambience was very good. We went all in with varieties.

Day 4 : Flight to Melbourne

Travel from Alice springs to Melbourne after a nice breakfast at hotel.

 

Few tips:

1. Book your flights early as very limited flights to either Ayers rock or Alice springs. Qantas, Virgin Australia, Tigerair and Jetstar operate at least one flight from major cities like Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne and more.. every day.

2. It is worth taking rental car as you will get rental car for less than one airport to hotel taxi. It’s worth driving and you will be independent to drive any time to Uluru rock for sunrise or sunset etc.,

3. There are bus loads of tourists for sun rise and sunset at Uluru rock. so be prepared.

4. Flies, flies, flies, flies…. every where and annoying and irritating. Buy a face shield, it is worth it and you will be able to enjoy the rest.

5. Carry plenty of water on hikes. There are limited spots where you can fill water.

6. Fill gas before starting a drive from either direction from Ayers rock or Alice springs. There are limited gas stations.

7. Photography, The Aṉangu also request that visitors do not photograph certain sections of Uluru, for reasons related to traditional Tjukurpa beliefs. These areas are the sites of gender-linked rituals and are forbidden ground for Aṉangu of the opposite sex to those participating in the rituals in question.

8. Uluru stands 348 meters above sea level at its tallest point (24m higher than the Eiffel Tower), yet it resembles a “land iceberg” as the vast majority of its mass is actually underground – almost 2.5km worth!

9. Toilets at Uluru & Kata tjuta National park. There is no rest rooms at the hikes in Kata Tjuta. Uluru Cultural Centre and the sunset viewing areas at Kata Tjuta has toilet facilities. Also, The Mala Carpark, Uluru, has toilet facilities. Uluru around the rock has no rest rooms, before starting 10km hike if needed use Mala car park toilets.

10. We booked our hotel through ayersrockresort.com.au and rental car by email through travel@voyages.com.au.

Travel Date: July 28 – July 31st, 2019