The Olgas

In the same area as Ayers rock are the Olgas. They are another very sacred sight for the local aboriginals and a beautiful set of monoliths. They are bigger than Ayers rock in size but only part of the areas are open to walk in as the rest are protected sacred sights. On the day we went the Valley of Winds was only partly open due to the high temperatures.

Now go Above

Well after going around the only thing left to do was go above the rock. Neither of us had been a helicopter before so we thought it would be fun to see the Rock in one. It was a truly awesome ride. Like floating on air. What a great way to see the sunset and complete our day of going up and around.

Why not walk around

Walking up was not enough for us to see the rock we decided that walking around would also be the thing to do. Of course we walked around on the same day ( only in the afternoon) as we did walking up. All this meant was sorer muscles. The walk around easy very easy but it is 10km and we did it at 12:30 ( heat of the day). A very different view as you really feel up close and personal with the rock. The other thing about the walk around is the flies. At all times you feel like there are 500 flies on you. We had to where the fashionable nets just to cope.

Climbing The Rock

We had to climb the rock although when standing at the bottom and looking up it was scary. It took about an hour to climb up and my legs where shaking all the way, but once you get to the top it is worth every scary moment. The only thing was once you where at the top there was only one way down and it was just as scary but not quite as hard. Dianne is still complaing how sore she was from the walk up.

The Rock

Ayers Rock is one of the things you see on TV almost every time they show pictures of Australia, so you think you know what you are going to see. Instead you are amazed by this big rock. We had decided to see Ayers Rock in as many ways as we could. So we walked around it, rode a camel by it, walked up it.....phew!!!, and flew (by helicopter) over it at sunset. Can't think that there is much more ways of seeing Ayers Rock. It really was alot of fun and it is an amazing rock. I think climbing up it was (although they do not like you do) was the best feeling once you arrived at the top. We or at least me (Dianne) was sore for days after!!

Kings Canyon

After driving from the Devils Marbles and passing through Alice Springs ( where we had rain for the first time in quite a long time), we arrived at Kings Canyon. Where we did a three hour hike around the top of the canyon. This is a very difficult walk with a very steep beginning. The views are amazing at the top. It was a well needed hike after many days driving in the outback. It was also good preparation for what was to come.