We decided not to stay in the resort town of Ulara but rather have a true 'outback' experience at Curtin Springs Station, a million acre working cattle ranch located between Alice Springs and Uluru. In its early days, this station would see maybe 6 visitors a year! I can't imagine that kind of isolation - but now it sees 30 - 40 tour buses a day.
After we dropped off our bags we drove the last 85kms to Uluru. We hadn't originally planned on coming to the Red Centre but a friend of ours insisted that we couldn't come all the way to Australia and not see the desert country. After our first two days in the area we were already thrilled that we had decided to come. However, we still had our doubts about how amazing Uluru was going to be - you know how it is when a place is built up so much, you think it couldn't possibly match the hype and expectations. You can begin to see Uluru off in the distance long before you are any where near it. On the first sighting I thought how magnificent it looked, and I knew our expectations were about to be blown away.
Uluru is a cultural and natural world heritage site, and very sacred place to the local aboriginal people. The sandstone rock, stands 348m high with another two-thirds of its mass below the sand. Throughout the day with the changing angle of the sun, Uluru is transformed into many different colours from ochre-brown to burnt orange to dark red.
Dave decided that he was going to hike to the summit, while Elaine, the kids and myself decided to hike around the bottom. It was a hot day for hiking in the desert, and Ruben was a little disappointed he couldn't climb up Uluru with his Papa. Attitudes changed though once we discovered this cave and the kids had a great time scrambling up the steep sides.
Walking around the base gives you a very good sense of the size of Uluru. It dwarfs the gum trees on the ground, with its steep sides rising up into the blue sky. Millions of years of wind and rain have transformed the sandstone into crevices, holes and valleys which fascinate the eye. It was a great place spend the afternoon exploring and taking pictures.
The hike to the top is a very steep 800m track. Luckily, there is a chain to prevent you from slipping off. Dave made it up, and was rewarded with a vast view of the surrounding desert.
"...unlike the summit of Everest, I found the wind to be much warmer, there was less ice and a derth of snow. The dryness of my mouth would prove insatiable and required several beers to slake...."
An hour before dusk, the hoards of tourists head over to the "sunset viewing area" to take in the changing colours of Uluru. Eager spectators stake out their viewing platform by setting up their tripods and collapsible chairs. It was well worth the wait to see the Rock change colours as the sun sets into the horizon.
As I watched the sun slip into the martian horizon Dave and the kids tracked dingos in the red sand beside the road. Another successful outback day!love H.D.R.G.
No comments:
Post a Comment