As we counted down the kilometres toward Uluru (Ayers Rock) we came across another monolith that to be honest, I had never heard of!
Mt Conner is actually linked to the same underground rock formation as Uluru and sits on Curtin Springs Station. An impressive 300 metres high, this towering chunk of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone creates an incredible impression on the otherwise flat landscape and is often mistaken for Uluru when people first view it.
We had a cuppa here and it was a popular spot for many, mostly the view but partly the toilets 😜
Not too much further along Uluru itself as well as Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) both became visible and the first of many photos was taken. You can just see Russell walking up to the lookout in this one.
We had read about lengthy queues to check in at the Ayers Rock Campground and we were anxious given that we didn’t actually have a secured booking but when we arrived there was only one caravan ahead of us and we were told we could have our planned three nights but would have to move sites after the first night.
Our first site was conveniently located near one of the boardwalks and after setting up we went for a stroll to check out the view.
(I make no apologies, there are going to be lots of pics of the Rock wearing an assortment of spring colours, every day or even every hour a different hue.)
I also made enquiries about the Field of Light tour as I had promised to take Russell there as a belated birthday present and we were able to secure spots for the following night.
The critically acclaimed Field of Light Uluru by the internationally celebrated artist Bruce Munro …
…The exhibition, aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku or ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ in local Pitjantjatjara is Munro’s largest work to date. Overwhelming in size, covering more than seven football fields, it invites immersion in its fantasy garden of 50,000 spindles of light, the stems breathing and swaying through a sympathetic desert spectrum of ochre, deep violet, blue and gentle white.
We had an early night and actually didn’t do much the next day, both of us feeling the after effects from the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon I think. We did attend an excellent free talk given by a local indigenous man on native plants for food and medicine and then a cooking demonstration using some of the ingredients displayed. Russell stayed for an astronomy talk and I had a wander through the galleries and other retail outlets, many more than when I had visited in 1996!
The sky was clear when we met the bus for the Field of Light and we were driven to a great vantage point from which we had the opportunity to watch the sunset with bubbles in hand and canapes to follow.
As the sky darkened the light installation began to illuminate below us but its real magnificence was evident when we walked down the garden path and became immersed in it, the photos don’t do it justice at all.
We made an effort to be up early the next morning, the forecast was for 33C and we planned to complete the Uluru Base Walk listed as 10 kms (without side walks.) We stopped off at the Cultural Centre en route, wanting to be respectful of the traditional owners by familiarising ourselves with the dreamtime stories associated with Uluru. Unfortunately this delayed our start time by a good half an hour and all of the information was displayed on story boards as we walked anyway.
We visited all of the side points of interest and were hot but proud of ourselves for clocking up 12.8 kms and seeing some sensational scenery along the way. I have to be honest though, in the last few kms when my hip starting playing up I was viewing those that hired bikes or segways quite enviously!
I would like to think that the closure of the rock to climbers (in 2019) has led to more people getting up close and personal to its many different facets and stories rather than setting out solely to conquer its height.
A quiet afternoon to recover from our exertions and then we were packing chips, dips and wine for the short drive to the sunset viewing area where once again nature put on a display.
By now we had both agreed that we needed an extra night and after confirming that this was available we decided to dedicate the next day to Kata Tjuta.
Kata Tjuta is situated a little over 50 kms away and with another hot day forecast it was early to bed with a plan to be on the road before sunrise…