Uluru - Ayers Rock, Northern Territory

April 23 - 25, 2003

Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is known to the Anangu Aboriginal people, is one of Australia's most prominent natural landmarks (it is featured on the cover the the current edition of the Lonely Planet.)  About a 5 hour drive west of Alice Springs, it is a beautiful and sacred area.  The rock and surrounding area comprise a national park, which is actually owned by the Anangu people.  In addition to the spectacular scenery, Uluru offers the visitor a chance to delve into the Anangu's culture.
 
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Going for a ride on Joe Camel along the road from Alice Springs to Uluru. Another, less famous rock at Kata Tjuta (Olgas), where we stopped for a quick look around. Closeup of Uluru just after sunrise.
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The photos show Uluru cast in the light of the setting sun.  Notice, as the sun goes down, how the color of the rock seems to change.
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At Uluru National Park. My fellow travelers as we gather firewood for our campsite.  Although those fly nets look pretty silly, they are worth wearing, unless you like swatting the hordes of flies that inundate the Outback.  We traveled with Adventure Tours, which I highly recommend. Nothing like a campfire after a long day of trekking. Cleanup duty as we break camp.
On the way back to Alice Springs, we made a stop at Kings Canyon, made famous by the movie "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," which used it as a filming site.
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The Garden of Eden. The rugged scenery of Kings Canyon.
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Three determined ladies from Sydney who left their hubbies home for the weekend and joined us on the tour. A Kings Canyon resident, the crested pigeon. Matt, our tour guide, making a point.  Matt is an exceptional guide.  He knows the Outback like the back of his hand. If you can book a tour he leads, go for it! No, I am not contemplating suicide, just checking out the edge of the canyon and testing for acrophobia.
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Looking into Kings Canyon from the rim. The barren landscape of the Outback viewed from the top of Kings Canyon.... nothing for miles. Matt demonstrating the traffic patterns (or lack thereof) along a lonely stretch of road on the drive back to Alice Springs. A lonely Outback post.