Red Center

 

11th day, Sydney - Ayers Rock

We leave Sydney with a flight of Qantas (€ 150) which leads us in the Red Center, where literally a different Australia. Withdraw the jeep bench Avis (€ 315 for 3 days, booking on vroomvroomvroom.au) that will lead to the discovery of this immense territory rugged and isolated, but places the breathtaking beauty inimitable.
One of the first questions when planning a trip to this endless country, is whether to include the Red Center, where the famous Uluru, commonly translated into Ayers Rock.
The doubts stem from the fact that this choice implies a strong price premium compared to the average of the normal costs, and a path almost forced to build an itinerary: two flights extra (monopoly Qantas, for the most expensive), resort, no car hire expensive In short, an economic effort to find yourself facing a mountain ... whose image is so famous that almost would think: who me lo fa fare?
My advice? DO! And do not call Uluru mountains .... The reason, however, it is hard to understand once you have seen.
The first emotion that arouses Uluru is ADRENALINA: the one placed before him is to beat your heart, let daydream, it seems to be arriving at a destination states, at a landmark, a symbol not only of Australia but the planet. A meta essential for anyone who is considered vaguely traveler.
The second feeling that comes close is the RESULT. The wishes of the Anangu, tribal Aboriginal who has always lived in these lands, is to teach the simple tourists to appreciate the place more than a simple visit, to know their traditions, their respect for nature, for a plant, for a insect, in a pool of water considered sacred, since only by water are able to survive in a place so little hospitable.
The Anangu ask tourists not to climb the sacred symbol, but does not prohibit. It is up to you to decide which is the best thing to do. Certainly the views more exciting are not offered by climbing, but the path that surrounds the base, passing through the canyon spectacular walls dizzy smoothed by wind and water holes impressive carved by time, caves painted with cave paintings that symbolize and testify the existence of Aboriginal people for millennia.
The third emotion that offers Uluru and amazement, in admiration such a monolith that rises up from nothing by the flat landscape, it seems supported not by chance but by the will of someone. Enjoy the silence and the noise of the wind by walking slowly around the base, where you are as if by magic away from the rest of the tourists, from the bustle of cars and buses. E 'here that you will find the true essence of Uluru.
The fourth and last experience Uluru gives you MAGIC is that offered by sunset unforgettable reaching down quickly on the Red Center, which almost confusing and gives the eyes and the spirit moments enchanted, raising a doubt, maybe this place is truly magical as many say .
Within minutes Uluru offers the best of himself, becoming like prodigy, giving the impression of becoming a thing alive, from a shade of color incredible, unique, indescribable, as if inside it accendesse a fluorescent lamp, and then extinguished slowly in the dark intense desert, where you turn suddenly a star than ever, with stars so bright that give the impression of being in another planet.
In previous days I liked to tell my son a story invented to increase her desire and curiosity, given that his age would certainly have to appreciate the emotions that are raised in an adult: told him that many years ago, when the Aboriginal people have become slaves of the conquerors, a day came in the face of Uluru and told them that this mountain was sacred, and that if the evening had become red, the spirit protective of the mountain would killed. That evening, once witnessed the evolution of the mountain, the conquerors are frightened fleeing and the Aborigines went free. Even today, when the mountain turns red, the spirit good watch on who has brought respect to the mountain.
After seeing Uluru, I begin to believe that this history invented encloses a small sign of truth and the spirit good to Uluru we have watched our wanderings for Australia giving strong emotions.

News Description:
Airport Ayers Rock is located about 30 km from Uluru, and is the basis most convenient base for visiting the area. The only companion that serves the airport Ela Qantas. Alternatively, you can fly to Alice Springs and runs a tour by car (a jeep is almost necessary) for 4 days that touches the various attractions of the area.
A 5 km from the airport is the only area where you can stay: There are 4 resorts different, with all services, constructed at a safe distance from Uluru. Even the cheapest is offered a price too high, the room small with private bathroom Historic Resort, costs € 124 in just overnight, and it is really small. Or are dormitories and a camping site.
Even dining is expensive: you can do so under the stars by buying the meat and cucinandosela alone in barbecue, but the price, which includes a buffet of vegetables, it is definitely excessive. Agrees to spend a little more and have dinner in a buffet typically Australian at the restaurants of the resort (about aud 48, children free).
The entrance to the park of Uluru, including a visit to the mountains Olgas, costa aud 25 (€ 15) and lasts 3 days, children free.
To Ayers Rock the gasoline expensive, more than $ 2 against the dollar and a half of Western Australia ...
Climate: June to August down the winter on the Red Center, but perhaps the best season for visiting. The night temperatures are stiff, but after dawn just a sweatshirt heavy to withstand the cold of the morning (even 2-4 degrees), which quickly rise towards the 9 to reach 18-22 degrees. The days are terse, the sky blue, and the flies bothersome are almost absent.
Finished winter temperatures rise gradually until easily 40 degrees, it becomes impossible to traverse the various paths during the day, also because of the flies that become fastidiosissime.

12th day, Ayers Rock - Kings Canyon

The luck accompanies us in this journey, and so instead of a budget room booked at the Outback Resort we were given a standard (a big difference in price) free. Quick breakfast in the room and on .... The discovery of another wonder of the Red Center ...
Olgas the mountains, or rather, the Kata Tjuta National Park
E 'early morning, the air rather than sparkling, but worse than I thought ... and then the cold do not feel it was too bewitched by the color Outback, its spaces and the silences that reign supreme.
We are approaching the Olgas quickly, with our 4 x 4 .... As you approach that change shape and color, becoming more dramatic and mysterious. A detour on the right indicates a panoramic Viewing Dune, which is reached by a short walk of 5 minutes, raised through a path between the scrub of the bush. We sand and vegetation insignificant, but for an Aboriginal sacred to be respected. We are on a slightly elevated platform in front of the Olgas, who see them with a unique and undeniable beauty. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the endless African savannah, with dry vegetation and almost yellowish and the endless views.
Kata Tjuta means "many heads", the term actually makes the idea of these strange rock formations.
We continue by car to the end of the road, or rather, until the end of the road indicated on the maps, because here where the asphalt ends starts a endless dirt road that leads up to Western Australia ... but this stuff is more prepared to be adventurous!
Leave your car in the parking lot and proceed on foot until the start of the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7km circuit that wedged between the rocky domes. The cartel is 3 hours of walking .... 3 hours and will be unforgettable scenarios of lunar rocks made of fire-red color, which contrast with unmatched by a sky blue. Climb up to breathtaking mountain passes where the view is the intensity kidnapped beauty of the place, made even more fascinating by the solitude in which it was immersed.
Three hours out of the world, or maybe .... Three hours inside the world's most fascinating and unachievable there.
It 'time to start again, definitely let Uluru to travel a road that is lost in the middle of the desert in the red heart of Australia. The road is solitary and does not cross km oltre200 not even a town. Just a few cars and campers, so rare meetings that when you cross a sign of greeting with his hand. I forgot ... and a camel that has crossed the road slowly ....
Just over two hours and arrive at Kings Canyon Resort (€ 133, just overnight, asiarooms), in location, immersed in the boundless void of the Red Center. A short trail that starts at the resort leads to a viewing platform that allows you to admire a picturesque sunset over the mountains that dominate the red background. Return for the dinner buffet at the restaurant of the resort's Carmichael (€ 30).

13th, Kings Canyon - Alice Springs

Difficult to identify the locations that I like best in Australia among the many wonderful views, but if I were to choose one, probably would say .... Kings Canyon.
If the path of Kata Tjuta is spectacular, that the Kings Canyon is simply indescribable. There are 7 kilometers to live intensely, to be done in about 3 hours (including several stops to photograph).
Ready way, the first leg broke his legs and takes away the breath, a steep ascent up to the edge of the canyon ... better still get it at first, with the cool and with all your might. Once you reach the top, there will be no more climbs, but the path continues in false floor with a few ups and downs, until the downhill finish. The course is a progression of scenarios spectacular that dominate first the vast plain around, and then go in the very canyon, between precipices, then the walls of the slope breathtaking cliffs and domes red smoothed by the wind, to finish in a green oasis, denominatala Valley dell'Eden that miraculously stands in this environment very hostile.
The course takes place mostly near the edge of the canyon on both sides, and a minimum of attention because the whole place is not protections. We can so bring the chasms to the last centimeter.
I can assure you one thing ... do not suffer from vertigo, but when you approach the limit, the head starts to spin and your heart beating strong!
Joints in the opposite side, go up a steep staircase of wood carved in the rocks, the colors and reflections are unlikely, almost fake. The route is lost at the end of thousands of rock formations ancient, as if it were a city of stone, before falling back to the parking.
An unforgettable day and photos incredible.
During the planning for the trip to Australia several times, I was puzzled by the timing, in June, in full winter in Australia. But after having lived the experience of the Red Center, its pathways trekking exciting, and also many places in Western Australia, I have to say that maybe this season is ideal for many of the places visited, I do not imagine even take these paths during the season summer, between a hot hallucinating and flies fastidiosissime. In these days of late June, the morning until 9 is pretty cold, but around noon the temperature approaches and exceeds 1 20 degrees, perfect. Even during the most hot day, a few sparuta fly begins to annoy ... are few and small, but very insistent. We had brought jackets un po 'pesantine and we have reported, without even using them.
After completing the trek in Kings Canyon, we start to Alice Springs and have rented a jeep we will venture into the Mereenie Loop Road (buy permission to Kings Canyon, about $ 2) a road completely excavated through some spectacular Red Center. We spent about 3 hours to overcome the stroke dirt, we crossed 4 cars .... The road is fairly busy, especially since, given the length, it is necessary to keep a speed of 80 kmh, but the holes and rocks constantly attention driving and not allow distractions. To arrive in Alice Springs there are two possibilities: the first is to cross the town of Hermannsburg, but the road is pretty monotonous. The council is to take the crossroads before this town, and take a north to Glen Helen. Now much of this route has been paved, but mostly through the breathtaking landscapes of the West MacDonnell, fierce mountain range where you can visit some gorges spectacular with brief detours from the main road, as Standley and Simpson's Gap. In the end, it takes almost 5 hours to complete the entire distance.
In Alice Springs we Accommodation at the Heavitree Gap Outback (€ 55 online), which has a special not just towards the sunset, a group of small and rare black wallaby descend from the mountain and get to the cottage to find something feed directly through the hands of individuals. The reception is provided with food suited to their diet.

14th day, Alice Springs - Darwin

In the morning visit to dedicate the center of Alice Springs. The mall is very nice, you can stroll in a quiet pedestrian street full of shops and galleries displaying works of Aboriginal art and products specific to the Red Center (very expensive) ... the strange thing is that there is no Aboriginal for sale their works are all white ...!
The time has expired, we abandon the splendid Red Center, in just three days we have seen so many natural beauties that you seem to have been here much longer.
Return the car at the Avis counter, where there are unfairly charged $ 200 for delivery in another city, which at the time the reservation was listed as included.
After several discussions, nothing more to be done to resolve the thing to return (and I settled only now, after two months !!!).
Ci attende il volo per Darwin (Qantas, € 145), che in solo un’ora e mezza ci porterà in un territorio completamente diverso, sia dal punto di vista paesaggistico che climatico.