Wednesday 20th March 2019 - Uluru

We were up very early this morning, 4.45 as we were being picked up at 5.30 for our first activity of the day. We were going out with a group to walk around the base of Uluru, about 12km. We had to meet them at the front of the hotel, and did so along with many other guests also booked on a variety of early sunrise tours. Beacuase of the heat many tours go this early so that they can be back well before midday and so miss the worst of the heat. It was still warm however, 26 degrees, and of course, pitch black.

Our tour guide drove us out to the National Park where she parked up for the start of our walk. By this time the sky was lightening so we were able to see the path. It soon became light but for the first 45 minutes we were asked not to take photos of the rock as that part of it had sites that were classed as sensitive and the indigenous people did not want photos taken.

We were walking in an anti-clockwise direction and the rock just loomed up on our left hand side. As it got lighter it changed colour from a dark reddish brown to a much brighter red, depending on the sunlight on it. We were not here specifically for the sunrise though, but to walk and to learn something of the Aboriginal stories that are linked to Uluru. We were told a variety of these as we walked around, looking at cave systems where they would have lived, cave art, waterholes and the shapes on Uluru that lead to their stories.

The land here was given back to the indigenous people in 1985 but then leased back to the government for 99 years. We had to keep to specific walkways but the Aborigines are allowed to walk where they like. Currently you are still allowed to climb the rock as long as conditions allow. They didn’t today as the forecast was for over 36 degrees and it was also windy. From the end of the summer season in October this year, climbing will be banned and the chain that has been there for some years to assist those going up and down will be removed. You can see the erosion from the constant footfall. Other reasons for not allowing climbs to take place are rain and risk of thunderstorms. I had no desire to climb it! One of the many problems caused by walkers/climbers has been waste, both human and litter. There are no facilities whatsoever on the top of Uluru and consequently litter and human waste has been left there which washes down into the watercourses when it rains, polluting them. This is one of the reasons there are fewer wildlife in the area.

As we followed the base around there were so many different views, and as we look at our photos now, we know none of them do justice to what we have seen. There were also a lot of tourists at the more accessible sites. We had seen very few in the first hour!

We stopped for breakfast which had been provided for us, after a couple of hours, even a flask of hot water so that we could make a tea or coffee! By the time we moved on it was beginning to warm up, and if in the sun you could really feel it.

We were back at the minibus by 10.30 and then driven to a site away from Uluru so that we could take photos of all of it and not just the bit in front of us. By this time it was 36 degrees and forecast to be 40! Yes it’s hot, but it does help that it’s a dry heat. You just don’t want to be in the sun, that is scorching! The biggest problem was the flies so we were glad once again to have our fly nets! Mind you, eating breakfast was something of a challenge!

Back to the hotel for a coffee (we made tea with our hot water!), and then to our room to have a bit of a siesta as we are out again later.

At 6.00pm we were on a tour bus again, this time to watch the sunset on the rock and to enjoy a barbecue under the stars. I have to say that since we arrived I have become more and more impressed with Uluru. When we first saw it I felt a little underwhelmed but having walked around it and now standing at a distance with all of the landscape around it I am seeing what an awesome thing it is.

Look at the moon rising!

Then onto the barbecue, which of course included kangaroo meat! We’ve eaten it a few times now and once you get over the fact that it’s a cute little kangaroo it’s fine! Think cute lambs and roast lamb or lamb chops and you eat those too! (well maybe not everybody!) I have to say I preferred it not cooked on the barbecue. Not as moist and tender!

It was lovely sitting outside in the warmth of the evening. Predicted temperature for 11pm was 28. No need for a jumper then! And we had the full moon too, giving us extra light and atmosphere. We had wondered whether or not to do this, fearing that it might be touristy and over the top. Yes, of course it was touristy and we knew it would be, but actually it was all done really well and we were so glad we signed up!