Uluru (Ayer's Rock)To the airport, bike in box for a quick flight over to see a big rock in the middle of nowhere sounded like a simple plan. Qantas had other ideas. Apparently their internet connection was down so the whole online booking system was very much offline and the hi-tech highlighter and pen check-off the boarding list was way to confusing for this small town.
So while 200 bikers with cardboard bike boxes milled around the tiny airport and the flights were progressively more delayed. I sat and checked my email and internet via 3G HSDPA on my phone..go figure.
Eventually rocked up to the resort town at Ayers Rock with a couple of minutes to spare hopped on the last shuttle out to watch the sunset and rock famously changing colour. A remarkably spectacular and amazing place!
A "traditional" tourist aussie barbecue later of crocdile, kangaroo, and emu and I was up again at 5am to watch the sunrise. My plan for getting on the tour bus was shot down by an officious guide who rudely told me if I didn't book the night before I wasn't insured and so couldn't go and no dollars or hints that we could do this unofficially seemed to change her mind either..their loss.
Camels - in the outback - no lies.
The Olga's (Kata Tjuta)Next tour operator was cheaper and more willing so I changed plans and headed out to the Olga', another super spectacular rock about 50km away. Watched sunrise over both rocks then went for an 8km walk around the Olga's Valley of the winds.
The walk was awesome as myself and a Canadian were the first people there and had no tourist crowds and the place to ourselves. We tried to do another short walk and ran out of time getting back to our nervous tour bus driver 5 minutes late.
Back to the lodge with a couple of minutes spare to meet the bus to take me back to the airport and back home to Sydney.
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