Week 10 – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – 4 nights

Base walk Uluru

Base Walk Uluru

Kata Tjuta

Base walk - with my mum

Our night our in Yulara

Toasting the trip

Uluru sunrise

Uluru sunset

Girls liked the sunset - warmer

Together at Uluru

It was a dry pack-up of the tent after all the rain of the day before. We travelled into Uluru with my Mum on her last stage of the journey with us. The first thing we did was the base walk around the rock stopping in at the waterholes and rock art. I didn’t know that there was so much rock art around Uluru itself. During the walk it started to lightly sprinkle with rain but not enough to get us wet. We were a bit tired after the walk and we all settled down to lunch at the Cultural Centre with Mum – the view of the rock was amazing. In the afternoon we drove out to Kata Tjuta (Olga’s).

On the last night of Mum’s stay we went out to dinner in the township. We had a lovely meal together and it was a great night. The next day we went back to do one of the Gorge walks at Kata Tjuta. The place was very eerie. Then we drove Mum to the airport and she flew back to Sydney. We were very sad to see her go and I have promised to put some of these photos on the blog.

The next morning we got up for the sunrise over Uluru. It was amazing! Then we rested most of the day and began packing up for the trip out the next day. In the afternoon we got ready with bubbly and cheese for the last sunset over the rock. We got out there early and left late with one last drive around the base of Uluru.

Week 10 - Kings Canyon – 2 nights

Kings Canyon Creek

Kings Canyon escarpment

Waterfall in Kings Canyon

View from the lookout on Rim Walk

Walking across creek

Navigating the walk

Sarah wanting a photo

Lucy getting her in position

Kings Canyon

Long drive from Alice to Kings Canyon today. We passed through the beautiful George Gill Range and Mum was very impressed. The first night at Kings Canyon was very wet and we were warned in the morning that we may not be able to get out the next day due to the creek rising. We decided to gamble and stay put in the rain as the tent was nice and dry inside and Yulara was getting overflow tourists so it would be very crowded in the facilities. No buses or coach tours getting into Kings Canyon.

The next day we did the Kings Canyon creek walk. It reminded me of the Blue Mountains where I grew up – wet and cold. We made the most of it and the scenery was spectacular! The resort restaurant was the place to be for lunch. In the afternoon everyone relaxed had hot showers and then we went out for dinner. There was live entertainment with the Roadies singing very Aussie songs like home among the gum trees. The kids joined into the act and played instruments. A lovely, dry indoor evening on a rainy night.

Next morning all was well and the gamble paid off. We packed up a wet tent for the first time but it wasn’t raining and the creek was passable. Making our way to Yulara Resort in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Week 10 – Sunny and hot in Alice – Getting around the town

The museum - Jazz and Sarah on the track!

Meeting a train gard replica

Fettler's Trike - Gavin demonstrates

The Old Ghan

Wild flower at the Botanical Gardens

Enjoying Lunch at Miss Pink's

In the Gardens

The Art Gallery

Cruising Around

Skidding out!

Today we visited some of the sites around Alice Springs. We started off with the Ghan Railway museum . Gavin was very interested in the large National Transport Museum and spent most of the day there. The girls headed back into town to see Miss Pink’s Botanical garden and have lunch. We then had a spot of shopping and bought some ice creams. Getting very hot! At around 3pm we ended up at the Art Precinct and we looked at the 2010 Desert Mob collection. There were also some more Albert Namatjira paintings. The day ended with the girls riding around the caravan park in hired tricycle cars. Fun!

Week 9 – Hermansburg and Palm Valley Road

Jackie preparing the free Sunday pancakes

Cliff and Overton Kids

Hermansberg Gallery

Lucy and Lucille enjoying scones!

Hermansberg - The manse

The Mans again. I like the fence - better than a stone fence!

Road to Palm Valley

Off Palm Valley Road

The Overton’s left today after eating free pancakes at the caravan with us. They were heading to Kings Canyon but we still had things to do around Alice. We had a great time, dry and warm driving to Hermansburg in the car. This is the birthplace of Albert Namatjira and we saw some original paintings in the gallery. Great scones with tea and coffee for morning tea. Then off the Palm Valley Road, which had a bridge partially washed away.

Week 9 – West McDonald Ranges – The gap blocked by road accident!

The flood

Looking down off bridge

Todd river and girls

Simpson's Gap

Simpson's Gap in perspective

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ormiston Gorge up close

Lula at Ormiston Gorge

Sarah at Ormiston Gorge Lookout

Lucy contemplates Ormiston Gorge expanse

Big trip into the West McDonald Ranges with the Overton’s today. It rained during the night and we started our drive to the ranges early! 30 seconds down the road we realised the crossing to the caravan park was flooded. The Todd river was flowing fast!!!!!

We made our way to Simpson’s gap. Gave Staley Chasm the miss as it was going to cost us around $100 for all of us to see it but we had morning tea in the cafe.

All enjoyed Ellery Creek Big Hole then we had lunch at Serpentine Gorge. Next stop was the Ochre Pits where we saw small goannas. Finally made it to Ormiston Gorge. This was truly spectacular and we all walked up to the lookout to watch the afternoon sun light up the rocks.

When we drove back to Alice Springs the ranges turned a deep red. Everything is very green after the recent rains over the past month. All the wild flowers are out.

It was 7.30pm by the time we got back to Alice Springs and we were ready for dinner. The Overtons went into town to get pizza and we were going to pick up the adult pizzas. We were very hungry!!! Unfortunately the road through the Gap was blocked by the police due to an accident. They said it would be an hour but it wasn’t open at 10pm. We decided on McDonalds instead and met there! Got talking to the staff and they told us of another was through via Honeymoon gap. Finally got into bed at 10.30pm. We were very tired!!!!!!

Week 9 – Visiting the RFD service and School of the Air

Royal Flying Doctors Sevice - inside plane

Replica of original planes

Overtons & Cliffs - Inside watching a lesson at the School of the Air - Alice Springs

Cliff girls - RFD service

Today began with a fews showers so we decided to visit a few sites in Alice Springs and get orientated. It is a little refreshing as yesterday the kids were in the pool as it was around 29 degrees. The Overton and Cliffs travelled the Alice together!

The Royal Flying Dr Service was extremely interesting and I have a newfound respect for the whole organisation. I did not know about the history of Rev.John Flynn and he is on our $20 note.

Next stop was the School of the Air. We were introduced with a video and talk about the system. The actual lessons conducted by the teacher were using internet technology with web cams. Gone are the days of radio. Teacher and students could see each other and we watched Yr2/3 tell their news. One child was very cute saying that his Dad had finally come home from the Birdsville Races and given him a T-shirt. The races were cancelled due to rain. There was a large gap between students, some 1500km apart, all participating in the same lesson. Our kids really enjoyed the whole thing and some were a little homesick for their own school.

That night we all enjoyed a joint BBQ in camp kitchen!