Day 12 - Ayers Rock to Alice Springs
If you want to see the sunrise over Uluru, you must get up early. Really early. Sunrise is at 6:30 and we set the alarm to 5:00. Only that we messed up Queensland and N.T. time and it went off at 4:30. Ugh.Drove to the “Sunrise over Uluru” spot. Again shot lots of pictures. Sunrise is more exciting than sunset, so if you only have a few days like we do, do not bother with sunset, it should be better viewing this at the Olgas.
Kristin wanted to do the base hike (10 km) but I objected. We settled on a ranger-guided tour around part of the Rock. Ah, and we did not climb it. Everywhere around are big signs that the Rock is a sacred site and the aboriginies object to tourists climbing the rock. So I decided to be culturally aware and respect the feelings of the natives (that and the prospect of climing a ~ 350 m steep rock slope in 34 degree celsius dry heat…).
Around midday we waved farewell to the Rock and started the drive through the outback to Alice Springs. Still no kangaroos and emus. We saw a few wild cows, though. And of course, the famous australian Road Trains (that is a regular truck pulling two more trailers. Say 35-45m of truck to overtake. And they are allowed to go 130 kph, which they do.
In Alice we went to the famous Overlanders Steak house. Tried and failed the 700g rump steak. Kristin was more sensible in having the six meat (kangaroo, emu, beef, crocodile, camel and barramundi) platter.
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