We travelled from the Alice to the Rock by bus. It was a 5 plus hour trip, but it was another way to explore the Outback. Before I colander too much, I thought about the days when it was just a dirt path and it took two days to make the trip, with extra petrol cans strapped to the top of the vehicle.
We started early and the scenery was similar to what you see across New Mexico and Southern Arizona--scrub bushes, red sand, and distant rock formations
. However, the roadside stops were quite unique.
The first stop was a rest break and an opportunity for a brief camel ride. After previous experiences on camels you would think that I would know better, but if decided to try it again. This one was very easy, the double saddles were ok, stirrups were provided, and it was only a ten minute ride around a paddock. More gan half the group took a ride and it was almost as much fun to watch them as it was to do the ride. Camels may seem strange in the outback, but they were imported in the late 1800s as an efficient means cod transporting goods across the desert, and they served their purpose well. However, after the coming of the railroad and improved roads they became obsolete and were just turned loose in the desert. Today there are over 50,000 feral camels roaming the outback.
After another hour in the bus we stopped to see one of the giant salt plains. Eons ago, what is now desert was a large sea, and the salt plains are reminders of that time
. It would seem that the salt could be harvested and sold commercially, but the lack of population and the costs of transportation. Make it economically infeasible.
Back on the bus to continue our journey, and there was to be a prize awarded for the first person to see Ulrulu. About 178 kilometers from our destination someone spotted a long red ridge and thought they had seen The Rock, at least half of the group agreed, but considering the distance I know that it was impossible. After some discussion our leader explained that it was often mistaken for Ulrulu, but in fact was not.
Our final bus stop was for lunch at one of the large cattle stations. We had a brief visit with Peter the 83 year old owned, before sitting down for lunch and a discussion with his daughter-in-law, about life on a cattle station. I don't remember the exact size but it was huge, but because of the poor pastures I they only run about 5,000 head of cattle
. The land is so arid that they only count on a good year with adequate rainfall in one out of ten years. This Station makes do in the bad years by operating a cafe, tourist cabins, and gas station as well as raising cattle. They are string people who lead a hard life, and it isn't surprising that their third-generations children are living in cities and have no desire to carry on the family tradition.
About an hour after leaving the cattle station we finally arrived at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Although we caught a glimpse of Uluru as we drove past, our first stops were to see Kata Tjuta, an amazing rock formation about 50 kilometers from The Rock. In the local language, Kata Tjuta means many heads, and looking authentic formations it is easy to understand the name. We stopped at three different locations to view the formations which were very impressive.
Finally it was time to head to Uluru to see the sunset. This is a lovely ritual. Each group has a table with small snacks and bottles of champagne, and you sip the bubbly and watch as the sun changes the colors of the rock. The reds intensify and ultimately seem to glow, before the sun finally sinks below the horizon. I took about 40 photos of the subtle changes, and it was hard to pick just one to post here.
Over the Desert and To the Rock
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
Other Entries
-
1Welcome to Hobart
Oct 1311 days priorHobart, Australiaphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 2 -
2Parks, Port Arthur, and MONA
Oct 1410 days priorHobart, Australiaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 2 -
3Devils and Wombats and Kangaroos
Oct 159 days priorCradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, Australiaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 2 -
4Cradle Mountain to Launceston
Oct 168 days priorLaunceston, Australiaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 0 -
5The Cascade Gorge, Platapus, Echidna, and Wine
Oct 177 days priorLaunceston, Australiaphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 2 -
6Melbourne
Oct 186 days priorMelbourne, Australiaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 3 -
7Adelaide--Wildlife and Wine
Oct 204 days priorAdelaide, Australiaphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 0 -
8Into the Outback
Oct 222 days priorAlice Springs, Australiaphoto_camera16videocam 0comment 0 -
9Over the Desert and To the Rock
Oct 24Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australiaphoto_camera12videocam 0comment 0 -
10Around the Rock and Back Again
Oct 251 day laterYulara, Australiaphoto_camera17videocam 0comment 0 -
11Reefs and Rainforests
Oct 262 days laterPort Douglas, Australiaphoto_camera13videocam 0comment 0 -
12So Much to See and So Little Time
Oct 295 days laterSydney, Australiaphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 1
2025-02-07