The return trip

There wasn't anything eventful on the return trip to Sydney. The scariest thing we did was a night drive from Coober Pedy to Broken Hill. All you see is black and whatever the lights manage to illuminate. I had a close call almost running over what appears to be a dingo.

I did manage to take a wonderful shot of the Breakaways. The previous shot was in the mid-morning sun. This one was right on sunset! It truly is amazing how the light changes a whole landscape.

The Breakaways at sunset

Compare the shot to the mid-morning take

Uluru Base Walk (Day 4)

This was our final day at Uluru. All of us were tired from all the walking, fatter because of all the eating and closer because of all the road trip conversations. Our last day was spent on the base walk. This walk is about approximately 10.4 km and is a loop circuit around the base of Uluru. You get right up and personal with the rock and it sure does make you feel small, tiny and insignificant.

Around the base there are a few areas that are sacred to the first Australians and you are not allowed to take photos. The walk has two areas where the Mala people did rock paintings. I was glad that we did the walk, it was a good end to an excellent trip.

Map of the base walk with locations I photographed below

Photo location 1, Mala rock painting

Photo location 3, rock art. The swirls represent water

Photo location 2, Mutitjulu waterhole. The most reliable source of water at Uluru

Photo location 3, rock art

Uluru at Sunrise (Day 2)

There is a lot to be said about Uluru. For a start the land is owned by the Anangu people and was only recently handed back to them in 1985! The first Australians have lived in this country for over 30,000 years and have built up a culture that should be preserved as our nation advances.

We started the day early to see Uluru during sun rise. Video is a time lapse over 40 minutes at Uluru. A video speaks a thousand words, so please enjoy.