Red Red Rocks

From Coober Pedy, on Sunday we continue along the National A87, through miles and miles (and even more kilometers) of relative nothingness. We cross into the Northern Territory, where the speed limit goes up to 130 kph. The old Camry does not complain about the increased speed, though the gas gauge is a concern out here. Gas was about $1.55 per liter back in civilization, but is much more expensive the further Outback we get. At Erlunda, where we turn West towards Uluru - Kata Tjuta, it's over $2.30 per L. But you truly do NOT want to run out of fuel out here. There are occasional helpful signs though.

We drove onward until we reached the Ayers Rock Resort and Campground. This place has grown and developed quite a bit since the Meryl Streep movie about the dingo eating the baby incident. There are fancy condo-type buildings and a central restaurant-shopping complex. The camping area is nice, though the camp kitchens are a bit primitive, surprisingly. We set up the big tent for two nights, and made it to one of the Sunset Lookout areas just as the sun was going down.

Uluru at sunset

The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) at sunset

My favorite type of Eucalyptus, coppiced (our camp and car in background)

My Galah friends nearby

In the morning we head to the big red "monolith" now known by its aboriginal name, Uluru (formerly Ayer's Rock.) There is an 11K walking path around the base, which takes us closer and further away at times, for an ever-changing view of the surreal thing. There are areas more sacred to the "original owners" (as the local tribes are now known) that require special protections and where photography is forbidden. There are "male" and "female" sites that are not supposed to be viewed at any other place. Out of respect we did not take pics in the forbidden areas. It took us 4 hours to walk the base, accompanied much of the time by the little black nose-seeking flies.

Who is that masked woman

In front of the red rock

What does this look like to you?

Beautifully made wooden benches for a rest

Red rocks

Steep! (and fake)

It's a long way up!

Color changes with the light

After our hike we came back to camp, took showers and decided to have a nice dinner at the resort restaurant. It was lovely and relaxing and the food was good if expensive. Tuesday morning we broke camp and headed to Kata Tjuta, another rock formation about 20K away. The walking path we chose here is a bit more challenging than Uluru. We weave in and out of the rocks, climbing and descending. It was shorter but took a bit longer to complete.

Heading to the other red rocks in the morning

Try not to do this here

Watching us

Picture of the picture taker

Photographee

Tree hugger: I just love these beautiful gum trees

After our hike, we headed back along highway 4, and stopped to camp at the free campground at the Curtin Springs cattle station. We considered getting dinner at the roadhouse there, but they were very busy and no one seemed overly concerned with getting us a table. So we went back to our rough little site amongst the caravans and had instant mashed potatoes and cup a soup over our little wood burner. It was quite nice, and we slept well to the sounds of cattle mooing.