Kings Canyon and Uluru, NT.

 We waited around in Alice Springs to get our second COVID-19 vaccinations, and then headed south towards to famous Red Centre. The budgies are in large numbers this year, with endless flocks twirling and looping across the road. We tried to get photos but they are too quick and the photos don't do justice to the aerial display they were performing. We did catch some video footage on the dash cam though so we'll see how that turns out.

Our first stop was Kings Canyon. We stayed at a quiet bush free camp about 100km out of the Canyon. It was nice little spot, complete with red sand dunes, lots of prickles, and another travelling family to play with. We enjoyed looking at the millions of stars in the evening, trying to spot some shooting stars.

We drove in with the van early in the morning to attempt the 6km Rim Walk. It was a hot 36 degrees day so we needed to get going early to beat the heat. We were lucky because the Ranger closed the gate to the walk 5 minutes after we went through due to extreme heat. The start of the walk is notorious for being the most difficult due to lots and lots of stairs - Saul did a great job carrying Bridie all the way up on his back. We had frequent stops to rest and made it to the top in reasonably good time. The perfect spot to stop for some photos.

We then walked around the rim of the canyon, and in the middle going up and down the stairs across the creek in the canyon itself. We were lucky to not have too many people around at the start of the walk, but on the second half after the creek stairs, we caught up to a tour group. It was time for another rest stop and snacks to let the crowds move on and get some more space. 

Bridie was in and out of the carrier during the walk depending on how steep the area was, or how tired her little legs were feeling. She did a very good job and only refused to walk just at the very end. Zara and Elsie enjoyed the challenge and had fun following the signs and counting more than 100 blue arrows for our track.

On the way out we dropped one of the painted SA Rocks that we have collected along the way, and left it for the next person to find and continue it's special journey.

Some lunch in the car and we head off towards Uluru, which is only a small 3 and half hours!! Not just around the corner like the tourist brochures make it out to be. We planned on staying at a free camp about 50kms out of Yulara (the town made up of Ayres Rock Resort) but we only made it to 10km past the Curtin Springs Roadhouse. Saul felt the caravan breaks pull suddenly, so we stopped to have a look and noticed things not looking, or smelling right!! So we turned around and drove slowly back 10km to the roadhouse. We set up camp for the night - Saul set to work trying to work out the damage and if it was fixable. It was worse than we were expecting so then we started calling mechanics and insurance companies. Thankfully the mechanic at Yulara could look at it the next day, so we organized a tow truck the next morning and set off to Yulara ourselves without the van, just waiting to hear the verdict from the mechanic.

We used the time to go to Uluru and drive around her and take in some of her beauty. We were also lucky enough to watch a cultural presentation from a lady named Sarah, and she drew us traditional pictures in the sand and explained what the symbols mean, and told us stories with the pictures. She also showed us some of the traditional tools used by the people traditionally living in the area around Uluru.

We visited the art gallery and watched some artists painting. It was great to be able to interpret the paintings now after hearing Sarah's explanation of the symbols.

We visited the sunrise lookout...in the afternoon. It looked very different under the storm clouds, and we actually had a few drops of rain while we were there. Rain at the Rock!! 😍

We then went to the mechanic, and were told it would be 2 days before they could fix the van because they needed to wait for the correct part to arrive from Alice Springs. So we rang the RACV and they organized for us to have 2 night in a motel at the Resort. This was luxury for all of us. Big beds with a million pillows, a TV and a bathroom that had everything for a spa day. So after some relaxing time in front of the TV and some great cubby making games with the pillows, we had long hot baths complete with shampoo, conditioner and a blow dry at the end. The kids also enjoyed the bathrobes.

We got up early the next morning ready to ride and walk the 10km around the rock. It was a bit cool today after a cool change and thunderstorm the night before, and the cold wind first thing in the morning made it tough, but we pushed through and then it was a pleasant ride after the wind died down. Saul walked, while Kylie and the kids rode the bikes. The bike crew overtook Saul a few times but he would catch up regularly due to our many stops, and we eventually finished almost at the same time.

Riding around Uluru makes you realize it is so much more than just a rock. There are little gorges and caves and so many different patterns and angles. Every time you look, she tells you another story.

We then went back to the motel for some rest and lunch. The resort has so many fun things to do, but the main thing the kids wanted to do was go on the free "hop on- hop off" bus that drives around the resort. So Kylie took them for a ride on the bus and went for a walk to the resort lookout.

While we were gone, Saul had a phone call saying the caravan was fixed and we could pick it up later that afternoon. So we went to the town square, did some shopping and listened to a Didgeridoo workshop. The teacher of the workshop was very knowledgeable, and stuck to tradition and only let the boys have a go at playing the instruments. The girls were still allowed to listen and learn. Saul and the other grown adult struggled to make a good sound, but there was a young boy about 7 or 8 years old, and he was a natural and played some good sounds.

We visited the sunset lookout the same evening that we did the walk. We drove the car and van out there after we picked up the van. We had a BBQ while we watched the many changing colours of the rock as the sun went down. Stunning. We were lucky we got there early, because there were so many people there for the sunset.

We were lucky to see all this with minimal other people and only small crowds. It was great for us, but not so great for the town. COVID times have hit the tourism industry hard here in Yulara with 2 of the motels closing down in the resort. We stayed at one of the bigger motels and there were a lot of vacant rooms, and this is towards the end of school holidays in the central states.