Finke Gorge National Park

Palm Valley

We fueled up and bought the $5 permit which you require to travel on the Mereenie Loop road because it passes through Aboriginal land. The dirt road was a lot better than what we had thought it would be as it had been recently graded. It was about 200km to the turn off to Finke Gorge N.P. and Palm Valley. We got phone reception just near the turn off so we made a few calls. The road into Palm Valley leads along a rocky track and sections of the Finke River bed. The camp ground was great and we set up on a shady, grassed site on the river bank. Caitlin & Cooper had fun exploring and playing bocce with the paddy melons. We saw a large sand goanna. Late afternoon we drove the rugged track into palm valley and did the Arankaia walk (2km loop) which meanders along the oasis of the unique and rare Red Cabbage Palms and ancient cycads before returning via the sandstone plateau. Rick was keen to do the longer walk but it was really hot and we weren't really carrying enough water so I sided with the kids to stick with the shorter walk. Back at the campground we cooked some sausages and mash for dinner and listened to the dingos howling. After the kids were asleep we sat around the campfire with a few of the other campers we had meet.

Watarraka National Park

We didn't sleep too well due to noise from some sort of generator or truck - not really sure except that it was really loud. We started walking around 8.30am. It was a beautiful day and around 26 degrees. The 6km walk begins with a steep climb to the top of the canyon and follows the rim around. The views of the sheer red rock faces and weathered domes were quite spectacular. The kids started off strong but were keen for lots of snack breaks! We completed it in the regulation 3 1/2 hours and wouldn't wanted to have been much longer as it was heating up. Back at the campsite we had a relaxing afternoon by the pool. We went to the bistro for dinner (cheaper than buying groceries at the general store) and the kids had fun with "The Roadies" - who had all the kids up on stage playing musical instruments.

Watarraka National Park

Mount Connor

Kings Creek

We packed up and headed for Watarraka - just over 300km. On the way we stopped to take a snap of Mount Conner, a large table top mountain that looms 350m out of the desert. We checked in a Kings Canyon Resort and found a nice grassy site to set up the tent. It was quite hot so after lunch the kids had a swim in the pool. At about 4pm we drove to Kings Canyon and did the 2km Kings Creek walk which meanders along the creek, ending at a platform with views of the sheer cliff walls. We cooked a stir-fry for dinner. Tomorrow we were keen to do the rim walk and start early before it heats up.

Caitlin's Birthday

Valley of the Winds

Happy Birthday Caitlin. After Caitlin opened a couple of presents we had a cooked breakfast and headed to Kata Tjuta (Olgas). Kata Tjuta means many heads in the local language. We did the start of the Valley of the Winds walk to Karu lookout (2.2kms return). The birthday girl wasn't keen to walk too far! We went to the Dune viewing area and the sunset viewing area. On the way out we saw a few camels cruising around. Back at the campground we had some lunch. The kids were happy just to hang out. In the afternoon we had some party food - some chips and scotch finger biscuits was about the extent of it. We went to the Geckos Cafe for dinner and ordered some mud cake for dessert and sang Happy Birthday. Caitlin received lots of messages and calls throughout the day from family and friends which made her feel very special.

Uluru

Rick and I didn't sleep very well - it was only 2 degrees overnight and sharing the one sleeping bag on a deflated matress was very cold and uncomfortable. We headed to the Mala car park at the base of Uluru to do the 10am guided ranger talk. The ranger talked about Anangu people and explained Tjukurpa which is the foundation of their culture including rules for behavior and the relationships between people, plants, animals and the physical features of the land. We walked along the base of the rock to various sites - rock art, food preparation area and cooking shelter. We had a look at at Kantju Gorge where there is a semi-permanent water hole. The ranger explained the debate over closing the climb and said it was in the lease agreement for it to be closed by 2019 if not before. We decided to continue on and do the 9km base walk. Cailtin did really well but I think Cooper was still feeling a little less than 100% so was getting piggy backs from Rick as much as he could. Before heading back to Yulara we drove out to the new sunrise viewing area (opened in 2009) for a different perspective. Back at Yulara we went for a stroll around the resort shopping centre and had an ice-cream.

Uluru

Cooper seemed a bit brighter and was keen to go. We packed the car with everything we needed and this time made sure the tent poles were in. We left the van in storage and headed south. It was quite a big drive - just short of 500km but a little bit easier without the van and traveling at 130km. We didn't really stop except for fuel and to get a closer look at this very large blue tongue lizard Rick spotted on the side of the road. He wasn't really happy to see us and was flicking his tongue at us quite aggressively. We saw our first glimpse of Uluru with about 50km to go. We drove to Yulara which is where all the accommodation is based and booked into the campground. After setting up we had a late lunch and drove into the park to get up close to the rock! We stopped at the sunset viewing area and then continued on to the cultural centre. In 1985, after many years of negotiations, the title deed to Uluru-Kata Tjuta land trust was handed back to the traditional land owners the Anangu people. In turn the the land was leased back to the federal government for 99 years and is now jointly managed. The cultural centre is built in the shape of Kuniya, the woma python woman and Liru the poisonous snake man, which are the main ancestoral characters in the stories about the creation of Uluru. At 6pm we went to the sunset viewing area and took some photos of the changing colours. We went back and cooked a BBQ for dinner.

Alice Springs

Cooper came into our bed in the middle of the night complaining he was feeling unwell then proceeded to vomit all over our sheets. We waited to see how he was in the morning but he threw up a few more times and went back to bed which is very unlike him. So needless to say we pulled the pin on traveling down to Uluru and hung around the caravan park. I took Caitlin to the Art exhibition at the Araluen Cultural Precinct and we then we went for a stroll around the shops. Cooper was a little better in the evening but not eating much.