03/03/2023 from Uluru to Kings Canyon

03/03/2023 from Uluru to Kings Canyon

The alarm is set and we are not the first ones to roll off the court. Some want to go to the Uluru at sunrise, others want to do the Uluru Walk, and us, we want to go to Kata Tjutas. We stop at the red sand dunes for the first time, get an overview, like in 2001 and 2018, but today we are all alone.

The hiking trail can be closed when it reaches 36 degrees Celsius, we are early enough, yesterday we agreed to decide spontaneously whether we walk the 7.4 km or turn back from the lookout. We are on tour, it's already 1 km to the first lookout and the hiking kilometers count from there.

Alright, let's go, first steep downhill, we can't see much because the sun blinds us, the rocks of the Olgas are too dark to take a good photo.

We go steep uphill and along the edge of the mountain, at some point we are not allowed to take photos, record videos or talk.

We comply. At the second lookout we can decide to go further or go back, and we continue, not all hikers do that today. It goes steeply downhill and then very moderately on a well-maintained trail. We have now arrived at the back of the Olgas and soon there is a water tank, it is difficult to have enough water with us, dehydration is warned against.

We are well-equipped with water and the tips of the old Russian doctor. A stone in the mouth or a chewing gum prevent thirst.

Soon we'll be back, we have been quick today. It has been a great hike, which we have done for the first time today by the way. We go back to the Ayers Rock Resort and onto the road to the Stuart Highway, at Curtin Springs we stop for a coffee, but they don't really have it, so we settle for a pie and a cola, that stuff is addictive.

Next stop is Kings Creek, a privately run company, the coffee is excellent, the diesel price is 0.35 AUD more expensive than 30 km further in Kings Canyon, but who can know that. Kings Canyon awaits us with a campground and laundry, pool and bistro. The store is busy, all the people who have found shelter at the campground seem to eat here and it tastes good. (Barramundi is a great fish) Really. But now I have to check on the laundry.