Uluru – Kata Tjuta - King’s Canyon

This week was amazing. Having never been to the red centre I wasn't sure what to expect. What we discovered was an amazing Indigenous history of some truly awesome geological formations. The sheer size of Uluru was incredible. No we didn't climb it but instead listened to a fantastic ranger give an hour –long talk about the Aboriginal history surrounding different places around the rock. We did 2 short walks which was good preparation for our next day.

 The boy in the boy hunting cave!

Kata Tjuta (The Olga's) was more amazing – it is not like Uluru as it is formed from conglomerate rock. It was breathtaking and we all enjoyed it – even Miss T who managed the 6 km walk whilst chattering (most of the time!) It was also Miss E's 12th birthday which was a hoot – we sang Happy birthday to her in the Valley of the Winds! We did another 2.5 km walk at Walpara Gorge in the afternoon but most of us had run out of steam by then and was not as well-received, particularly by Master J who managed to roll down a rock path collecting multiple grazes. (And yes he had been warned to not run! Maybe he’ll listen the rest of the trip!) That evening we celebrated Miss E's birthday with chocolate ripple cake and her favourite dinner. I still can’t believe she is now 12!!!

 Valley of the Winds

The next day we packed up and drove to Kings Canyon – 240 km NW. We stayed at a fantastic Bush Station camp which had camels (ask the kids what camels sound like – it’s now a family joke!) and also wild dingoes howling at night. We also camped next to a family from….Bayswater North!

We got up early the next morning to attempt the King’s Canyon Rim walk – 6-7km. It was absolutely incredible – the first km is pretty much vertical steps (just like the 1000 steps melb friends – except hot & dry!) Then the next 5 km is walking around the amazing edge of the canon. We had a “Dad at the front, Mum behind and all kids in between” policy near the edges but they did brilliantly. They got a free geology lesson from the Rotary Club of Brighton gentleman that we trekked beside and also saw fossilised jellyfish and water ripples embedded into the rock. We found 2 baby bearded dragons and a larger one that Kieren nearly stepped on it was so well camouflaged!

 nearly on top of the sheer cliff you can see 2 photos below! thank goodness i didn't know what was underneath!

 The Garden of Eden at the bottom of the Canyon.

 1930 that white section fell. That still wasn't very reassuring considering that's where we were standing (2 photos up!)

All our shoes & socks are stained red from this dirt. But these little legs carried her nearly 15km in 2 days - sensational effort by our littlest. :)

We had hoped to do our first off-roading section to the West McDonnell Ranges but the road was too corrugated after recent flooding so it was the long way around for us…and back to the Grey Nomad campsites!