West McDonnell Range - The Red Center, Australia

Many amazing sights along the back road from Yulura to Alice Springs through King's Canyon.  We stop at Ormiston Gorge and hike the Ghost Gum Trail - a beautiful cool pool of water in the dry desert.  We visit the Ochre Pits valued by the Aboriginal peoples for the body color used in ceremonies.  We have lunch at Glen Helen Gorge Resort - a tiny little spot of civilization in the back country.  The Glen Helen Gorge allows the Finke River to flow through another geologist's dream of cliffs.  An a highlight was the hike to Standley's Chasm - the opening is only a few meters wide but the cliffs soar 262 feet tall. But the sheer walls glow orange when the sun is directly above. Gosses Bluff Crater is another intersting site - the location of a strike by a giant metoriod.  We followed along a famous hiking trail - Larapinta Walking Trail which traverses through the Range.

Off Road in the Red Centre - taking the back road!

We knew we wanted to experience some of the Outback of the Northern Territory - so we rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle, grabbed a permit to cross Aboriginal Lands and started off on the Mereenie Loop Road to Alice Springs.  Darrell - however - thought we were having a road race in the Baja Peninsula.  There was some major screaming (on my part) to slow down as we bounced along the dirt road, crossed rivers in the middle of no where.  We saw maybe 2 cars during the crossing.  The highlight of the road is the "Underwear Tree".  Don't ask!  We saw a dingo, some wild horses and many exotic birds.  After traversing the desert - we entered the West McDonnel Range and into Alice Springs!

Walkabout in the Red Centre- King's Canyon

The White Ghost Gum trees provide a shady path along a dry creek bed to views of the canyon rim in King's Canyon - in the remote Watarrka Park in the Red Centre.  We are going "WALKABOUT" in the Red Centre.  We have rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle and are "taking the back road" from Yulura to Alice Springs.  We spend the first night at King's Canyon Resort.

http://www.kingscanyonresort.com.au/

The Critters of the desert and scenes from Kata Tjuta

We saw wild camels near the Kata Tjuta's and also some interesting smaller creatures that crawl around.  I could continue to post photos because the colors are so amazing.  But we are moving on

Kata Tjuta - The Olgas in the Red Centre

Shadows are long in the early morning hours when we visit Kata Tjuta also know as The Olga's.  In many ways - the Olgas have more interesting features as the landscapes of the rocks has been broken down over the centuries into 36 immense ochre rock domes.  Kata Tjuta - means "many heads" to the Aboriginal people.   We hike up "The Valley of the Winds" trail into Walpa Gorge - catching the amazing changes in the color of the rock as the sun makes it way up in the sky.

Sounds of Silence Dinner and Scenes of Ayer's Rock/Uluru, Australia

The staff at Longitude 131 believes in serving champagne.  We have had Champagne sunsets every night.  But this night - a special dinner is held in the open area near the resort.  The tables are set with candlelight and torches light our way to a 5 star dinner under the stars.  Our small group of guests from the resort also enjoyed the music from the native digerridoo - a haunting sound that we will always remember. 

 The  highlight was the canopy of stars in the sky.  The air is so clear in the desert and the stars of the Southern Hemisphere were so bright.  We actually could see 5 planets with the naked eye.  Our host for the evening gave a delightful talk about the legends of the stars and showed us many of the constellations including the Southern Cross.  One of the most memorable nights of our trip!!

Native Rock Paintings, Ghost Gum Trees and more Legends of Uluru

Several pools form at the base of Uluru - providing lifegiving water to the Aboriganal people.  Rock art dating back many centuries tell the stories of the people.  The white limbs of Ghost Gum trees provide stark contrast to the deep rust red of the rock against the vivid blue sky.  Scenes from the base of Uluru that we experienced after our sunrise breakfast.

Sunrise at Uluru - so many different colors in the desert!

It was really cool to arrive at Uluru before the sunrise and enjoy a nice breakfast in the desert waiting for the sun to rise.

Video of sunrise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chNWBX-gW5c

Happy Birthday Darrell! Champagne Sunset at Longitude 131 Resort at Ayers' Rock

We celebrated Darrell's birthday with a beautiful Champagne Sunset from our home in the desert - Longitude 131 Resort.  The Resort has individual "tents" for rooms and is the only resort where there are views of Uluru.  The chef made the most beautifully decorated and most wonderful tasting cake for Darrell's birthday! It was a fun day! 

We are so happy we have chosen the Longtitude 131 degrees resort.  This 7 star resort features an all inclusive experience including meals, wine pairing and tours.  The Dune House is the central meeting and dining area.  Each tent features a full wall of windows with a fine view of Ayers Rock in an eco-sensitive setting.  The staff was amazing and the tours were excellent.

http://www.longitude131.com.au/

Mala Walk - Uluru (Ayer's Rock), Australia

Our first evening in Yulura at Uluru - we did the Mala Walk around the base of the Rock.  Our guide shared many of the legends of the creation story of the aboriginal people.  Uluru - the rock - is an important part of the myth and legend for the Pitjantjatjara - the native peoples.  The property is owned by the tribes in the region and governed by tribal members.  The tourist facilities however are operated with government oversight.The basewalk around the rock is 6 miles.  There are caves, waterfalls, rock art and amazing colors to see.  So much more than just a big rock.