Here we habe to change boots because the river is to shallow.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Katherine Gorge
Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park
Wow - our Outback vehicle! Compfy and cool inside!
After an Airport Stop to pick up additional guests we headed to a permanent campsite for lunch. The the afternoon was spent exploring Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas). We went for a walk to admire the beauty of the 36 magical domes (of which we ca saw 6 ;) and learn about unique fauna, flora explained by our guide.
Later we went on to Ayer’s Rock. At sunset we hoped to see the spectacular colour changes of Uluru. Unfortunately the sun was hidden behind clouds so there wasn’t much of a sunset. Our group contained of two French girls, 2 Danish couples, a Canadian girl, an Italian couple (he speakes german, she speakes English and both Italian ;) and 2 german couples with an additional geramn tourguide.
Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; 450 km (280 mi) by road. Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Site.
And the stone does changes it's color! From dull brown to gleaming red.
Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high (863 m/2,831 ft above sea level) with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km (5.8 mi) in circumference.
Uluru is an inselberg, literally "island mountain", an isolated remnant left after the slow erosion of an original mountain range. Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although this is a somewhat ambiguous term because of its multiple meanings, and thus a word generally avoided by geologists. The remarkable feature of Uluru is its homogeneity and lack of jointing and parting at bedding surfaces, leading to the lack of development of scree slopes and soil. These characteristics led to its survival, while the surrounding rocks were eroded. Uluru is dominantly composed of coarse-grained arkose, a type of sandstone characterized by an abundance of feldspar, and some conglomerate.[4][6] Average composition is 50% feldspar, 25–35% quartz and up to 25% rock fragments; most feldspar is K-feldspar with only minor plagioclase as subrounded grains and highly altered inclusions within K-feldspar.
Remindes me of icecream but my follows could not share that impression of mine they said. :)
Between Uluru and Kings Canyon
Someone leaft their teeth behinde... ^^*
Do not ask me what they are doing! *^^*;
Departing from Kings Creek Station you can go on a Helicopter ride for 15min. 25min. etc. Quite cloudy so I declined.
Our save haven for the night. Even so the guide mentioned that he spotted quite some scorpion around here - but surring summer of course far to cold for them now.
Yo enjoy the Outback in tentstyle!
Hmmm chickecurry, rice and homemade bread - on the last evening our guide spoils us with his cooking. yum!
On the third day another early rise but it was worth it! We visited breathtaking Kings Canyon for a three hours hike.
Starting at the base at 7 am we hiked around the canyon rim viewing sites like the “Lost City” and the “Garden of Eden”, as well as striking North and South Walls.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Kings Canyon (Northern Territory)
The 6 km (loop) and 3-4 hour Kings Canyon Rim Walk traces the top of the canyon. A steep climb at the beginning of the walk, which locals call "Heartbreak Hill" (or "Heart Attack Hill", due to its steepness), takes visitors up to the top, with spectacular views of the gorge below and of the surrounding landscape.
See the person in the top left side of the photo? Gives you an impression of the size.
The stairs nearly killed me - they should call them the devil's staircase if they do not already do that anyway!
The last half of the walk passes through a large maze of weathered sandstone domes, reminiscent of the Bungle Bungle.
Wow - not more you can think about it!
Back in Alice Springs our 1500km journey which took us around the Red Canter of Australia came sadly to an end.
LEAVING ADELAIDE BEHIND
Red Seater Service - that's me!
The symbol of the Gahn is a camel and its handler in recognition of the pioneering Afghan cameleers.
Hm, here they must have taken the picture for Microsoft XP.
Ganola - Looks just like Fehmarn. Granny + Grandy I love you!
Wow - we go around a bend so I can see the train front.
ON THE WAY TO ALICE
A Saltlake - even though it is hard to see with the sun reflected by the salt cristals.
"Two weeks away it feels like the whole world should've changed
But I'm home now
And things still look the same
I think I'll leave it till tomorrow to unpack
Try to forget for one more night
That I'm back in my flat on the road
Where the cars never stop going through the night
To a life where I can't watch sunset
I don't have time
I don't have time"
"I've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want toI know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again"
A river - of course - can't see that? In winter it is!