The drive to the airport turned in to a short sightseeing trip over the Anzac Bridge, we got lost in the tunnel! Eventually after a short detour via the city, we headed back over the bridge and got back on track. Car handed back, luggage dropped at the storage facility, we were on the flight to Uluru. As per our recent luck the weather forecast for the next three days was due to be 40 degrees +, makes a change from rain.
Flying over the country was beautiful, especially when we saw the salt flats, really striking even from the sky. Yet again we were subjected to time differences. Uluru is an hour and a half behind Sydney. We landed at the tiny airport and a few steps later we were on the air-conditioned coach to the resort. Everything in the national park for tourists is based in a township called Yulara. A small town centre with a supermarket, post office, restaurant, shops, hotels, petrol station and a campsite. We stayed at the Desert Sands. Picked up some supplies at the supermarket to set ourselves up for the stay. First full day, we didn’t have anything planned. We spent a few hours by the pool and in the pool as it was hot. In the evening we took a 15 minute helicopter flight to see Uluru from the air. It was absolutely beautiful, really was difficult to gauge the size from the air! Once back on firm ground, we took a walk to a local viewing point around a fifteen minute walk from the hotel. We were the only mad ones to be up there! Watched the sunset and then took a walk back to one of the other hotels. The highlight of the night, some light music and a bottle shop to buy a bottle of wine. To purchase alcohol, you need to provide your room key (to prove you are staying in Yulara) and your passport. Passed on the food as it was a DIY BBQ, some of the speciality sausages were emu, buffalo and camel.
After an early night the alarm went off at 4.15am, we then questioned why we had booked such an early trip! Soon we were on the bus and off to see the sunrise with a view of Uluru and breakfast. After leaving that spot we were taken to the “training ground” for our Segway adventure. Standard issue, knee pads, elbow pads and helmets were handed out. Thanks to G we had also brought fly nets with us and for that we will be ever thankful! Everyone had a lesson on the Segway and did a circuit on the track, before setting off. Blimey it was hot hot hot and we consumed three litres of water during the tour. We had chosen to circumnavigate the entire base of Uluru, which was just under seven miles. It was fantastic and we learned some of the Tjukurpa (Dreaming) legends of ancestral beings creating the landscapes. In several places there are strict rules, where no photography is allowed, the sites are culturally sacred and gender specific sites.
After a brief rest and cool down, we then took an evening tour to watch the sunset over the national park, it was lovely to witness the beautiful colours, especially as it looked completely different with dark clouds forming around it, a tiny slither of a rainbow at the side and lightening in the distance. We spent an hour there chatting to a fellow traveller from the UK, whilst enjoying wine and nibbles.
With that our adventure was over, we had debated long and hard over this “add on” due to cost and having to take an extra couple of flights, but we are in no doubt that we 100% made the right decision and is probably a once in a lifetime visit.
