Red Center 02.06. - 11.06.2017

With another couple from Germany and a Dutchman, Svenja, Niklas, and Sander, we didn't leave as planned at 10 o'clock in the morning (this time it wasn't our fault 👆 it was the Dutchman's), but only around 1 o'clock. Since we were punctual at 10 o'clock ⌚️ at the meeting point, we were able to talk to Svenja and Niklas and get to know each other a bit in advance. When we finally started, we had to get provisions first. Shopping together didn't turn out to be that difficult at all. We bought plenty of pasta, sauces, snacks, fruits, and some vegetables :). Then we finally started... we didn't get very far that day because it always gets dark a bit early and really no backpackers like to drive in the dark -> Wildlife 🐨🐄🐴🐃🐂+🚗=🔥❌. Of course, we drove to a rest area where we didn't have to pay, and guess what we had to eat?! Pasta with sauce 😅. To save gas cartridges, we cooked the vegetables together with the pasta 🍝 😂, that was really new to us... and of course, the pasta was cooked in cold water for the same reason! Poor backpackers 😓😂.

The next morning, we set off at 7 o'clock and made a good progress. We only drove through that day, we only had short stops for lunch and to refuel. We spent the first night in the Outback behind Mount Isa on a free campsite next to a lake. With a campfire 🔥 and hours of conversations, + pasta 🍝, the second day ended 😊.

Already at 6 o'clock in the morning 😓 we started again. We were woken up by a very loud Muuuuuuh a couple of meters away from our car 🐄. That day, all we did was drive drive drive... nothing in sight except the Outback and the car in front of us with Svenja, Niklas, and Sander. The three of them got to know each other just like we did on the day of departure and they actually managed to fit 3 tents, 3 backpacks, and the equipment into a Toyota Corolla (very small and very old) 😅. It wasn't always comfortable, but they mastered it 👍.

We had a campfire every evening, sometimes we made marshmallows or baked potatoes in foil, but the most important thing was the fire for warmth! It is unimaginably cold in the Outback in the evenings, especially for Australia. Below 0 degrees was the norm. So, to sleep, we wore long pants, big sweaters, thick socks, and all the blankets we had 😂. The other three slept in tents 😱. They were freezing! Oh yes! That's why we stayed up late to warm ourselves by the fire and got up early in the morning because the others couldn't really sleep properly 😴😓. It was so beautiful to see the sunrise 🌅 every morning.

On the 3rd day, the first highlights were 'Devil Marbles', literally translated as devil marbles because the stones are round and take on different shades of red at sunrise. It was beautiful! Watching the play of colors together and letting it sink in! It's very difficult to describe with words, we hope the pictures can reflect something. Even Tim 😏. When the dingoes started howling, it became even more authentic and we knew we had arrived in the true Outback. I'm telling you, goosebump moment 😍.

Next stop Alice Springs, the city in the midst of the desert 🌵 and undisputed capital in the Red Heart 💕 of the continent. As beautiful and unique as the city is, it is just as dangerous! You have to be very careful with your car 🚗 and yourself. The problem with the Aborigines is very big here. Theft and even worse things are the order of the day. We found it somewhat risky, as we had a slightly strange experience ourselves. That's why we left after a half-day stay. In Alice, we bought supplies and drove to a park for lunch. Finally, we had internet again! We could check the news. In the Australia Facebook group that we are all in, we came across a post... a backpacker couple had their car stolen and crashed in the same park two days earlier. The thieves were caught, but the sad thing was that the Aborigines could not be legally prosecuted.... phew, that takes some digesting.. since we didn't want to leave the cars unattended for long, we just climbed a mountain to enjoy a nice view. Then we went to the public 🚿 shower because the free campsites ⛺️ didn't have any. $5 per shower, it was worth it for both of us, the others skipped it and filled up water for their shower bag 😨. They are really tough! Cold water and then in the cold temperatures at night 😱.

Okay, about our short experience with the Aboriginal People... the others went to the little 'shopping mile' to look around. The plan was for us to join them after showering. But it didn't happen. After a hot shower, Tim and I walked to the car to load our things. There was another car next to ours. There were locals in the car, without even thinking, we opened the car... suddenly a man came very close to us and said something in the Aboriginal language, he really made me feel uncomfortable and kept looking into the car since we had the doors open. We tried to make him understand that we didn't understand anything. He then went to the mentioned car and spoke to the others. We found that strange and stayed there for a while... after a certain time, the car drove away... just to be on the safe side, we stayed there and wrote to the others that we were waiting for them by the cars. After about 10-15 minutes, the car came back 😳. They parked somewhere else and didn't do anything. After another 10 minutes, they left again.... of course, it could all be a coincidence, but we had enough for now 🙈. When the others arrived, we moved on, it was a bit risky to stay there overnight, as you read in every travel guide that free camping around Alice is not recommended.

Early in the morning, as always 😅, we headed to Kings Canyon 😍. It is Australia's largest and deepest gorge. Red cliffs up to 300 meters high provide a magnificent view. The long and also very tiring walk (6km) leads along various rock formations. Other routes are shorter, but we mastered the 6 km walk and it was beautiful! Partly very windy and then again pounding hot 😂. See pictures, sometimes with sweaters, then again with T-shirts.

The following day, the most famous and most photographed landmark in Australia, Uluru or also called Ayers Rock, was on the program. The rock is one of Australia's greatest natural and cultural treasures. It is a sacred place for the Aboriginal People and climbing it is also prohibited. But walking around Uluru (10.6km) is a truly authentic experience with the caves, rock paintings, and sacred sites. It was a beautiful walk but also very exhausting in the heat, not to mention the 1000 flies in the Outback that you can't get rid of at all 😱. Of course, we had to bring a lot of water for the path, but fortunately there are water dispensers along the way. There were special viewing areas for sunrise and sunset. The view of the rock was incredibly beautiful there and we could observe the dramatic change of colors of the rocks in the light of the setting sun and admire the beautiful sunrise the next morning (it was very very cold)! But it was definitely worth the cold!

Just like Uluru, the Kata Tjutas (Olgas) are among the greatest natural and cultural treasures. Kata Tjuta means 'many heads' and that's what the indigenous people call it. During our circular walk through the 'Valley of the Winds' (7km), we experienced the impressive proportions of Kata Tjuta. We enjoyed the last short walk near the Olgas to a gorge once again, although we were already quite exhausted, but it was our last 'outing' together because it was time to say goodbye. The last group photos, the last drive to a gas station ⛽️ to fill up and then go in different directions. After 3500 km of driving, 30 km of walks, and a few packages of pasta, the trip was over. Svenja, Niklas, and Sander headed south and Tim and I headed north. Next stop Alice Springs to get all the supplies and to stay overnight at a regular caravan park with toilet and shower, after more than a week of rest areas, it was time to bring in some normalcy 😂. Since the caravan parks are guarded, we dared to spend one night in Alice. It was really nice to have network and internet again and to be able to get in touch with home 💕.

The Outback with its red earth, a bright blue sky, and profound Aboriginal culture, numerous lonely tracks through desert landscapes is one of the highlights of our trip! So many unforgettable moments!