Strewth, we're in the outback!

After the fun of the wine region and the spectacular scenery of the blue mountains we headed inland for the Northern Territories, which is basically the barren, desert like, uninhabitable centre of Oz that is known as the outback in Aussie speak (you flaming galahs!!) We flew from Sydney to Alice Springs (which was named Alice Springs after the commissioner’s wife at the time it was made into a town. Strange though as his second name wasn’t Springs) This is where we picked up the BEAST! A 4.0 litre 4 wheel drive Nissan Patrol that was an absolute monster! We spent a day relaxing by the pool of our hotel in Alice Springs before setting off on the long drive to Kings Canyon (which was not named after Elvis). This would have been quite a dull drive if we hadn't decided to drive “OFF ROAD” for 100km. I had an amazing 2 hours smashing around and generally punishing the beast (not sure everyone else had such a great time as it did get eeerr “a little” bumpy!)

Walking down in Kings Canyon was amazing and it’s hard to believe that places like this have been created through erosion. The visit into the canyon also gave us our first taste of the famous outback flies. Sweet Jesus, I have never been so annoyed by a few flies in my life. They fly around your head until they think it is the right time to either fly into your eye, up your nose, into your ear or into your mouth and they don’t stop until they have been killed doing it. To make matters worse their dying screams must alert all of their friends that they too can die in the same way! You very quickly adopt what is called the Aussie salute, which involves you swiping your hand non stop around your head.

Once the sun went down (and the flies went to bed) we had the most amazing evening. Sitting out under the stars next to a campfire we were served a 5 course meal with fantastic wine. After this amazing meal it was time to retire to the hot tub that was attached to our room and drink some more great wine. Well not quite! Ells, her sister and mom had a very relaxing time while Mike and I fetched them drinks! Oh it’s a hard life this traveling.

The next stop in our outback experience was probably the most eagerly anticipated. We drove (Boooo hissss, no off road this time!) from Kings Canyon to Ularu (or Ayers Rock, named after the chancellor of Australia at the time it was discovered. Again strange as the chancellor was not called Mr Rock!) Anyway watching the sunset and rise over Ularu was amazing and an experience that we will never forget. If this wasn’t enough we decided that we would walk all the way around it. From a distance it doesn’t look that big, however when the sun starts to rise in the sky, the bloody flies come out and it starts to heat up, the six mile walk around the base suddenly seems a very long way indeed. It was worth it though as it was crazy to see all of the different shapes of the rock as it is being eroded away by the very rare rains.

We also drove out to see Kata Tjuta, which is a bizarre collection of rounded domes, some even higher than Ularu. Completed an amazing walk through the Valley of the Winds which included climbing up sheer rock faces and ended in the most spectacular view which definitely made the walk worth every step. Watching the sun set over Kata Tjuta was just stunning, as just like at Ularu, the setting sun changes the colour of the sandstone to a deep blood red.

Having spent a fantastic time in some amazing places with fabulous accommodation, it was time to fly back to Sydney and hostel rooms that we are used to (which is hard when you have been spoilt) for the final part of the Muxworthy family holiday.