At the sociable time of 04:00 (I wasn't asleep anyway, so was grateful for this) we got up, breakfasted and retraced our steps to Kings Canyon. This time, because it was before 09:00, we knew we'd be able to do the rim walk whatever the weather.
The walk began with maybe a couple of hundred red rocky steps (a breeze after our 2000-step marathon last week) up to the rim of the almost crater-like canyon. There are actually two main canyon, one frequented by aboriginal men, and one by the women.
Continuing onwards we went down into a canyon and found a large waterhole, where the large water reflected the red rock sides, now lit up by the sun. A quick snack later and we were climbing the steps up the other side to a stunning plateau area. This plateau was rather 'bobbly' in texture, with the weather having eroded initial cracks in the rock formation structure.
We spent a couple of hours wandering the plateau, looking at fossilised jellyfish and sand ripples. At all times we made sure to keep away from the edge of the 'cliffs' as the rock is extremely week, evidence by the large sections of the rock face that had sheared off.
Leaving the Canyon after our 3 hour, 4 mile walk, we returned to the campsite. I was surprised to find that it was only 08:30, especially as we were then fed a second breakfast of leftover thai green curry! This eaten, we clambered back into the bus, swags in tow, and made the 4 hour journey to Yulara.
Yulara is the nearest town to Uluru, or Ayers Rock, which is apparently the busiest national park in Australia. By the time we arrived we'd seen a fair wild Australian animals, both from the bus and from the trails. These included Dingos, dragon lizards and a huge wedge-tailed eagle (wingspan up to 2.75 m!).
Once at the rock, we were dropped off at its base and warned of the dangers of climbing (35 had died trying) and let loose on a 6-mile walk that almost circumnavigated the entire rock. Temperature: 38 degrees. Sun: strong. Shade: none. Rock: an incredibly impressive 350 m high (taller than the Eiffel Tower!).
Hiking around the base definitely demonstrates the sheer scale of the rock. It was a dusty red, with a mottled, scaly type surface. Huge chunks had fallen off giving it some lip-shaped scars. En route we stopped at a waterhole, which I guess at some times is fed by a waterfall off the rock. The peacefulness of this spot was slightly marred by a mild dust storm that threw itself up at this moment. However, the cloud of dust passed quickly with some strong winds, and we were soon back to admiring the rock on the home leg of the journey.
At the Mala car park we refreshed ourselves whilst waiting for the others, then made our way onto the bus and back to the campsite. Here I took a dip in the pool and then watched the sun set on the horizon, before a delicious dinner of BBQed meat and salad. After that, my swag awaited...
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