Day 28: Olgas/Kata Tjuta & Ayers Rock/Uluru - Kulgera

I wake up very early today. There is already a lot of activity at the campground. Our neighbors are getting ready to go for the sunrise at 5:45 am. We briefly considered going to Ayers Rock for the sunrise as well, but decided against it because we didn't want to wake the kids up so early. I still want to take a look, so I walk in my pajamas to the small lookout at the campground. Everything is still in the dawn light. There is a cool breeze blowing. I have to wait a bit longer. In the distance, you can already hear the helicopters observing the spectacle from the air. And then the big fireball appears on the horizon. I go back to the camper and sleep for a bit longer until the kids wake up.

Today, we want to do a short hike at Olgas/Kata Tjuta. Unfortunately, like yesterday, the Valley of Wind is closed, so we only have the hike to the Walpa Gorge. Before we start, we have breakfast at the parking lot of the Sunset Viewing Points at the Olgas. We put Samuel and Maxima in the carriers and armed with enough drinks, we start the hike. The hike takes about one hour round trip. Everywhere, it is warned that it is very exhausting due to the heat. It is much hotter than yesterday and during our hike to Walpa Gorge, it radiates from all directions (the rocks below, left, and right, the sun from above, and the kids on our bodies). Despite the extreme heat, there are still some people on this track. The kids sleep through almost the whole hike, which is okay from our point of view and not an absolute must/highlight.

On the way back, we stop briefly at Ayers Rock and Samuel says goodbye with 'Bye Egg Rock'. We drive to Ayers Rock Resort and buy postcards and a boomerang at the souvenir shop. At the supermarket, we stock up on bread and milk. Of course, ice cream is a must in this temperature. We make a quick stop at the dump point to empty our toilet and then we start our journey at 3:30 pm. We still have some distance to cover. We want to drive about 320 km almost to the border of Southern Australia.

The drive is going well. Maxima is asleep and Samuel is watching a tablet. When it suddenly gets very warm, I ask Michi what's wrong. He turned off our air conditioning because our tank is almost empty. Michi miscalculated a bit. Luckily, we make it to Mount Ebenezer. There is a gas station. Originally, we wanted to go another 60 km to Erldunda.

Around 7 pm, we arrive in Kulgera. We book a night at the roadhouse campground. There are two other vehicles at the campground besides us. Just like in Renner Springs, the place is very basic, but it's fine. Michi explores the area with the kids and I cook. We all take a shower. Michi has a big black beetle run over his feet and he gets so scared that Maxima can't stop crying.

20.11.2016

Accommodation: Caravan Park Roadhouse Kulgera (1 night 20 AUD), basic roadhouse campground

Weather: sunny, almost cloudless, 39 degrees

437 kilometers today out of a total of 3,866 kilometers