But first we take one last walk at Uluru. There was an additional section of the base walk called the Kuniya Walk, as we had only just started out yesterday when we came across this detour, we were not sure if we would have the time, in hindsight we would have done it easy. It was a really nice way to spend the morning, once in the gorge is was so quiet. I would have loved to been able to spend some more time here, and certainly glad we came back for visit.
On the walk back to the car we stop for some photos. There are some sections of the base walk that due to cultural reasons they ask you to refrain from taking photos. We were taking some photos with the kids, when some loud mouth woman (with an American accent) loudly announces to no one in particular “this is a spiritual site, people should not be taking photos” and then for good measure repeats the statement. I could have copped this, but if she took closer attention to the “no photo” sign she would have noticed it had an arrow on it and it was for the section of track we had already passed. We and some others were all doing the right thing.
The day is a little clearer today so we take the last chance to get some photos of the rock from the sunset viewing area again.
We return to the van in time to pack up and get on the road by 10am.
A quick 300 km journey up the road. We need to backtrack about 130km along the Lasseter and then about 170 up the Luritja Highway. It doesn’t get much easier for the navigator. “turn left in 130km, done”
I’m surprised how little traffic there is on the road, and I think the whole 130k’s of the Lasseter only 3 cars overtake us.
After a little while on the Luritja, the road starts to get some hills in it. So again the country side is changing.
We stop at a road side rest stop for lunch and share the bench with a youngish couple who are travelling with a 8mth old baby, let’s just say I’m glad it’s them and not me. We also see a couple of pairs of Major Mitchell Cockatoos. The colour was really unusual, very light pink.
About 40ks or so out from Kings Canyon Resort the cliff ridges start to show themselves.
With Uluru, I kind of had a pretty good idea what to expect, sure it was a bit larger and all, but it was what I was thinking it would be. I have to say with Kings Canyon, I’ve got no expectation, other than figuring it’s a canyon I have no idea.
It appears Kings Canyon Resort has a price matching policy with Yulara as the fuel is the same price here. As it was only 58ltrs, I guess I’ve got my wish of not being the most expensive tank of fuel.
We go to the sunset viewing platform and pay substantially too much for a beer, cider and two soft drinks, but hey
Tomorrow we’ll start the Rim walk, 6km, but about 4hrs. We’ll need to be there at 6am to start so we can be finished before the real heat sets in. It’s claimed there are 500 steps up to the canyon rim at the start that has us all worried.