Archive for the ‘Australia’ Category
It’s the end of the Australian leg of our trip. We returned our rental car and checked in for our two flights of the day. First there was a 3 hour flight back to Perth where we had to change from the domestic to international terminal by bus, then it was a 5:3O hour flight to Singapore. By the time we could go to sleep it was close to midnight.
It’s a 5 hour drive from Uluru to Alice Springs. Along these roads we picked up few geocaches to arrive in Alice in time for a visit to the School of the Air. For 50 years teachers used radio to teach children living in the outback. Today the system is still working but lessons are broadcast over the internet via satellite links. Also in Alice, we visited the operations building of the Royal Flying Doctors Service. While we were there two airplanes were underway to medical emergencies in the outback. The doctors would have to land at little private airstrips at farms or Aboriginal communities to get to their patients.
After checking in in the B&B we went back to town and a park area where we could see some Euros (medium sized kangaroos) before going for dinner.
We woke up under a cloud covered sky this morning and worried a bit about the view we would see today. Fortunately the clouds began to clear around 10 when we started the Mala Walk. On this tour the ranger was assisted by an Aboriginal woman who at certain places at the base of Uluru told us (in her own language) about the history of her people. The ranger translated for us and also informed us when we were at a sacred place where photography was not allowed. Even though people are asked by the local Aboriginals not to climb Uluru, we saw lots of people lining up to go to the top, however, it seems most people seem to respect the local wishes and do not climb.
By noon we were back at the hotel so we could have lunch and walk the grounds of the resort. We used our free time to prepare for tomorrow when we are to return to Alice Springs.
At 5:15 we were picked up by a bus again for a sunset dinner with view on Uluru. There was kangaroo steak and crocodile salad. Before dessert we got another talk about the stars and got the opportunity to look at the night sky through telescopes.
Alarm clock at 5 in the morning! We were picked up by a 4WD bus for a view of the sun rising over Uluru. There were only 11 of us on the tour and the viewing location was at the end of a private road so there was nobody around but our little group. While the sun rose we were served a bush breakfast around an open fire. The bus then brought us to the base of Uluru and made several stops driving around the rock. We also visited the Aboriginal cultural center and finished the tour with another view of Uluru, the same view as seen on almost all postcards. It was still only 15°C with a strong cold wind when we got back at the hotel. We had lunch and then drove to the Olgas ourselves. We went on two different hikes and went to a viewing point in time to see the sunset on the Olgas.
It was only a 300 Km drive from Kings Canyon to Uluru so we had plenty of time to enjoy the views along the way. Just out of Kings Canyon we saw a red kangaroo close to the road. It fled when we approached but stopped to watch us from a distance. After finding a few geocaches along the way we stopped about 30 Km ahead of Yelara where a family was waiving down cars after there car broke down. The tow truck could only carry 2 extra people so we gave the other 2 a lift to the resort where we would be staying.
After check-in we reconfirmed the tours we booked ahead. Just before half passed 5 a minivan picked us up to take us to the airport where we took a scenic flight over Kata Tjuta and Uluru during sunset. It was an amazing sight to see the rocks turn bright red as the sun disappeared over the horizon.
A few kilometers from the hotel we parked our car at the starting point of a 6 Km walk in Kings Canyon. The hike started with a 100m climb up stairs and gave a great view over the surroundings. The path continued over the rim of the mountain here we had our picnic before walking down to our starting point. A few kilometers further away from the hotel we took the turn-off to Kathleen Springs. There we walked the 1.2 Km path to the waterhole passed an old cattle station seeing a lot of birds some grasshoppers and some smaller fry.
To end the day we went to the viewing platform close to the hotel to see the colors change over Kings Canyon as the sun went down. We went to the Auzzie barbie for dinner.
We got on the road after breakfast for a 370 Km drive to Kings Canyon. We took several turnoffs along the Larapinta Drive, Simpsons Gap was the first then Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and The Ochre Pits. We then filled up at Glen Helen (at $1.819/liter!) so we would not have to worry in case the pump at Kings Canyon was out of petrol. We also got our permit here to cross Aboriginal land. As we continued the road changed to gravel. This was also the reason why we had to rent a 4WD as normal 2WD vehicles are not allowed on the Mereenie Loop. The higher clearance underneath the car was needed a few times as some parts of the road are degraded. We arrived in Kings Canyon the sun just went down on the horizon.
Not a lot happened today. We returned our rental car at the domestic airport in Perth and flew 2000 Km east to Alice Springs. We heard from Hertz that the car we booked was not available as it was involved in an accident, we were than given a choice of 3 other vehicles. We choose the “smaller” one, a Toyota Kluger Highlander 4WD, 3.5L. By the time we arrived at the B&B it was already getting dark but we were still in time to see the kangaroos (or more correct, Euro’s, a smaller kind of kangaroo) and cockatoos in the back yard.
Tomorrow we’ll have an early start for a drive through the “red center” of Australia.
We left the guesthouse at 9 for Fremantle where the 10 o’clock ferry brought us to Rottnest Island. It only takes 30 minutes to get there and a little later we were ready to go on the rental bikes. We made a tour of half the island looking out for scenic views and wildlife. We saw 2 bobtails and several skinks (lizard type reptiles) and a lot of Quokka’s. The quokka is native to Rottnest and looks like a very small kangaroo. When we stopped to eat our lunch we were suddenly surrounded by 6 of them begging for food. Since it’s illegal and more important since they can get sick from human food we didn’t feed them. Several of the quokka’s had joeys (babies) sitting in their mothers pouch.
All too soon we had to return the bikes and get back on the ferry to Fremantle where we strolled the historic center until it got dark. An half an hour drive got us back to the guesthouse where we started to pack for tomorrows flight to Alice Springs.
200 Km south of Dongara are the Pinnacles. We had the choice of doing a 1.2Km walk or a 3.8 Km drive. The drive covered a lot more ground so we decided on that and as there were pullout spaces about every 50m there was ample place to stop for pictures. We ate our lunch here and continued our trip 3OO Km south to Rockingham, near Perth, just stopping for a few roadside geocaches.
During the afternoon we logged number 600.
