Uluru, Kata Djuta and Kings Canyon.

If you go to Australia's centre, spend a few days and visit the big three: Uluru, Kata Djuta and Kings Canyon. I am not going to say much here other than breathe the air and just go there.

Mt Conner

Mt Conner is about 100km on the way to Uluru. We drove past it as there was no time in our schedule to visit it, not only that we could only go by private tour as it is inside the Curtin Springs tenement. Covered in cloud, it would have been a disappointment on this day anyway.

Kata Djuta

We chose to visit Kata Djuta first to treat it like an appetizer for our visit to Uluru. I enjoyed our visit here, more than an appetizer it was a meal of its own. Wondering around the rock massifs had an eerie feeling. I reckon I could hear the spirits of the elders who presided here thousands of years ago.

Uluru

Out of respect to the aboriginal people, I did not climb Uluru. I have climbed many peaks, so one less is not going to be a disappointment.

I've been to a lot of places that are overpromoted and when when you get there: ho hum. Not so with Uluru. It is more than just a big slab of rock, more than the world's largest single rock monolith, it's Uluru.

With the approaching drive you realise the enormity of Uluru. The bald steep walls commands attention. We listened.

I took a walk around its perimeter and got lost in my thoughts.

Being a UNESCO site, and accessible one there are plenty of tourists. Not many however deign to go beyond the car park. Private times were available for contemplation.

Nature is pretty good at making and tending for its garden. Maybe there is a bit of assistance from man, mainly to keep the weeds and litter we introduce out. This area is well tended by its custodians.

There is life abound in central Australia, plenty of birds and reptiles and the odd kangaroo.

The aboriginal peoples had their graffiti, fortunately they did. For many millennial periods we have human history through these paintings. It must of been special to do it here. Let's hope the modern artists don't use it as a canvas too.

Our visit to Uluru and Kata Djutu was brief and fulfilling. Perhaps it would have been nice to dwell a while longer to take in some cultural experiences and sleep under the stars etc. We had already done that on the Larapinta leg of our trip so it wasn't missed greatly.

Kings Canyon

If you enjoy walking like we do, a visit to Kings Canyon is essential. The rim walk is a very special experience.

It's not a short side trip to Kings Canyon by any means, but given the distance to Uluru from Alice Springs (close to 500km), Kings Canyon is 325 km from Uluru then its 328km back to Alice Springs you are adding 150km. This whole trip coverd around 1200km of road, so it is worth considering a bus if you don't like driving long distances.

You don't get up on a cliff top walk without some clambering. We're glad it's not too hot.

I don't know whether a dip is frowned upon, but I'm guessing on a hot day temptation will prevail.

I wondered about what the Aboriginal name is for Kings Canyon. From parks "The local Aboriginal people, the Luritja and Arrente people, call the area of land with which Kings Canyon is a part of "Watarrka". This is where Watarrka National Park gets its name."

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