Uluru, Northern Territory, AustraliaA jam packed day had been scheduled for today, so let's begin!
The alarm went off at 5am and we woke up still very sleepy and headed for the bus stop.
A bus soon collected our group to enjoy the art installation called the Field of Lights (which was designed by Bruce Monro), as well as the sunrise over Uluru. It was a chilly 5'C, so we were all very warmly dressed.
It was a short drive to where we stood on a small hill overlooking a field of solar-powered LED lights that were timed to change colours every six seconds. In the background, we could just make out the looming presence of Uluru. We were allowed to wander through the field of changing lights before heading back to the rise to enjoy a warm drink and the sunrise over Uluru.
Mum wasn't impressed that they only had four satchels if Milo for a busload of tourists (including a number of children). She and many others had been looking forward to their warm Milo. Us kids had managed to get two of the packets.
The colours of sunrise on Uluru and the overall landscape mesmerised us all.
Back at camp, it was time for breakfast and a change of clothes as the forecast high was 23'C. We then jumped in the car and headed to Uluru.
A free ranger-escorted tour at Uluru about Mala (an Aboriginal origin story about the rock and its inhabitants) took us on a 2km walking tour, and the ranger enchanted us with stories and some of the history of the rock.
It was time to unfold our bikes again and ride the 10.6km circuit around Uluru. Up close, there are caves, rock formations, and even what looks like an outline of a human head. We had no idea of the details in this magnificent rock, which cannot be appreciated until you are up close.
We could have sold our bikes and made money on the second half of the ride by selling them to the many walkers who were over walking....
Back at Ayers Rock Resort, there were more free activities to enjoy. We entered the theatre to enjoy a film about astronomy and the history of the cosmos. The stars are crystal clear over Uluru with no light pollution so we gained a greater appreciation of what we were seeing outside at night.
It was then only a short walk to the Town Square where we had signed up for a didgeridoo lesson, even though we had learnt that the didgeridoo originated in the north of Australia and was thus not part of local Aboriginal culture in central Australia. Dad and Jackson volunteered to sit on stage and attempt to play the didgeridoo. Let's just say that it looks easier than it actually is!
We enjoyed dinner in the camp kitchen and exchanged stories about our day with others. The ranger had told us that tourist numbers at Uluru were down about 50%. We felt that there were more than enough people at the Rock and that we would hate being at Uluru when it is busier...
We had a perfect spot to view sunset over Uluru that was only a short walk from our campsite. A perfect ending to another perfect day!
2025-05-22