Kata Tjuta or leave? 24th October 2012

We have been desperately wanting to get out to Kata Tjuta ( formally known as the Olgas ) but it had either been too smoky to bother or the road was closed because of the fires. Having already stayed an extra day in the hope of getting out there this was D day. Having studied the web site that shows the position of all the fires and how long ago they were active we had calculated that there was a better than 50% chance that the road would open. With the alarm set very early I was out of bed just after 5am and headed out to the Rangers Station to check if the road was open. Unfortunately not but they were reassessing it and there could be a change in a couple of hours.

With our hopes still foremost in our minds we decided to wait a bit longer before packing up and leaving. As time edged on it soon would be too late to pack up and go so were biting our nails waiting. As we passed the point of no return and not possible to pack up we decided to head out to the Cultural Centre and look at a bit more there until we heard about a road opening. Finally after having a coffee we were told that the road was open. Kata Tjuta here we come.

The ride out to Kata Tjuta is about 50km but the temperature was great, the skies were clear but there was evidence of all the separate fire that had burnt up to and across the road. A lot of the fires had been started by lightning the night we arrived. On arrival we did the usual strip from bike clothes to hiking clothes. Good thing our bike boots make such good hiking boots. So finally we were heading off on foot into Kata Tjuta and on to the Valley of the Winds.

Kata Tjuta is so different to Uluru which is hard sandstone. Kata Tjuta is made up of a conglomerate of rounded boulders of all sizes that have cemented together over time. These massive mountains which are higher than Uluru are just a huge glued together rock pile. Impressive! Where did they all come from? What forces or actions tumbled them and rounded them like river stones? Why are they made up of so many different types of rock? Answers we will have to seek from Google when we get a chance. As Rock Hounds we were constantly picking up and looking at different specimens all the time trying to take in the breath taking scenery.

As we approached the lookout for the Valley of the Winds we came across a beautiful big Perentie or Monitor Lizard. Then while standing admiring the views an even larger Perentie wandered by. As a gaggle of energetic young women disappeared down the hill we finally broke the trance of the beauty of the place and headed back out to the bikes.

After a side trip to another valley walk which was also very captivating, we finally headed back to camp happy that we had stayed the two extra days to have this opportunity.

Being a Resort town all the bars and beverage places were charging ridiculous prices and as there was not cheaper takeaway alternative we just settled for a beer each. No cask wine sold at all, can only buy one bottle of wine per day and they were asking around $40 for wines that would normally sell for $12 - $15.

Now we feel fully satisfied that we had explored Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Time to move on to Kings Canyon and another adventure.

Happy Tummy Dave