The Rock - Uluru

Wow this place has changed in 10 years. The township of Yulara is a bustling tourist community with shops, restaurants, bars, banks and everything you need at your door step. You can move around town with a free courtesy bus. So many school kids – and we went to boring Canberra in our final school years.

Time to get up, it’s 5.30am! Why Dad? We are off to see the rock (Uluru) at sunrise. But I can’t see – can I take my binoculars Dad?

As we waited with the crowds, the kids asked how does the rock change colour? Good question – just wait and see. The American tourists loved the kids and seem to think Matt is cute. Well they didn’t see him later when we did the base walk – a different story as he would not move and all the tourists heard him a mile away! Let’s give him a spear to catch a kangaroo like the aboriginals hunted – now that worked!

Hayley & Amy enjoyed the walk and were fascinated at how the aboriginals lived at the Rock and shared the stories with their children so many hundreds of years ago.

No climbing the rock today – over 36 degrees & it’s shut. After our base walk and the culture centre experience, it’s time to hit the pool.

Coober Pedy - the site seeing begins

What can we say about Coober Pedy? A good place to visit & a great place to leave!
Not sure why you would live here, but it was interesting all the same. We had pretty much a private tour of the town by an old opal miner named Rudi. He had lived at Coober Pedy for over 50 years and had some great stories to tell. Everyone new him and it seemed he had outlived most of his mining mates. He wasn't going anywhere.

In the big tour bus (which the kids loved) we visited the underground churches, homes & Umoona mine. The temperature remains a comfortable 24 degrees all year round (underground) whilst outside it can reach 52 degrees. Rudi says good beer drinking weather, but I thing that would be everyday with this heat. We have also never seen so many flies - so funny watching Matt tell them off.

We also went noodling, but no luck with the opals, so the girls purchased an opal tree each. You have to watch out for the shafts & spoils everywhere. Well not where we were. The kids loved it and really wanted to find something.

Anyone for golf? Not quite the same as Rich River or Tocumwal. Who decided to put a golf course in the middle of the desert? - don't bring your new clubs. I can see why no one was playing. It must be like playing your whole game in a bunker, but atleast you can aim for a green (not black bitumin).

Any yes they do call the putting surface greens!

Off to the Northern Territory. 3 states in 4 days.

Our holiday has officially started!

We can finally say we are on the road, but not without a few set backs.

Michelle decided to have one too many drinks on friday night as a farewell with some friends. We never saw her at all on Saturday for the final packing of the car & caravan. A great way to get out of it Michelle!

On Saturday night before we left Amy had a severe ear ache & was in tears trying to sleep. Could not find a Doctor open so Darren & Amy (Michelle still not well - a long hangover) headed off to Angliss Hospital at 10pm. Poor thing has Glue ear. She is much better now 2 days into the trip.

Our first night was at a National Park at Hattah (60km south of Mildura). Beautiful place with the peace & quiet, the lake, the birds and the bright stars at night. See photo.

Now don't rely too much on GPS units, unless you like the scenic route. On day 2 we planned to travel to Quorn in the Flinders Ranges but ended up at Port Augusta. Without looking at a map, we put in the Quorn entry & it ended up taking us a long way on the main highway (almost to Adelaide). I wonder if it has a setting for the shortest route? Oh well, we are finally on the right track. Off to Coober Pedy in the morning.