Tag: X-Mas

Christmas eve at Kata Tjuta (Olgas)

December 24 – “So this is Christmas!” We had to get up at 03:50 in order to reach a good spot to watch the sun rising behind Uluru. Wonderful!

Sun rising behind Uluru

We then visited Kata Tjuta (aka The Olgas), another impressive domed rock formation and did a hike into the Valley of the Winds.

Kata Tjuta (“Olgas”)

Next, we travelled to Kings Canyon to our campground to celebrate Christmas: helping in the “kitchen”, baking a damper (bush bread) in the bonfire, drinking some beers and listening to “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” at 35° C. What an experience!

Our guide Rohan baking a “damper” (bush bread)

Another night to sleep in swags. We were visited by dingoes and also heard them howling in the night.

Sunset in the outback
Another night under the stars in a swag

Ayers Rock and Uluru

We flew to the small town Ayers Rock and joined a group of 22 guests on a three-day trip through the Red Centre. From the plane we could already watch the landscape incl. Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock).

Red Centre of Australia is… red.

On a cultural walk, Cecilia, a lovely aboriginal woman, explained many things about their culture, paintings and certain locations around Uluru in her native language – fortunately we also had a translator.

Aboriginal paintings at Uluru – explained by a native expert

It was close to 40° C, fortunately it cooled down a little bit at sunset, supported by a glass of Champaign.

Jingle bells at Ayers Rock

Almost as good as the sunset was the moon rise (we had full moon that night). The group helped to prepare the dinner (kangaroo) – delicious – and then went to sleep, as we had to get up VERY early next morning (03:50). Steffi and me decided to use the swags and to sleep under the stars. Check.