Thursday 24th

Arrived Alice springs ahead of our 2 night 3 day trip to the Red Centre for a tour of Kings's Canyon, Kata Tjuta and Uluru sunset and sunrise. The flight took approx 3 hours and the clock went back by 30 minutes. We purchased a return airport transfer (we found the desk just near the baggage claim area and for the 3 of us it was 80 aus dollars) The bus was full, our first stop was Annie's place (backpackers hostel, I think), 2 young couples got off the bus and one of he couples were reluctant to go in, I would have been too. We were about the 4th drop off (The Chiffley) and very pleased at our choice, a nice deluxe room, pool was nice too. After dropping off our bags we made our way to the rock tour office as they asked us to call once we arrived. They advised us what was required (1.5 litre x 2 bottles of water each to be carried on our backs at all times) and fly nets for our faces and a torch, he also showed us the Aussie swags we would be sleeping in - OMG (wish me luck)!! We then went looking for the supermarket for our water. The local aboriginee people were gathered on street corners and you could actually smell them before you seen them. The quicker we got back to the Chiffley the better. Our hotel balcony backs on to the Todd river which is bone dry. We chilled around the pool for a while and then went and packed our back packs as our tour starts at 5am tomorrow. You might not get any more updates until we return back to civilisation at 5.30 on Sunday. If you don't hear from us by Tuesday will you send out an SOS

Photo: the dry Todd River

The temperature here today was 30 degrees. At the red centre tomorrow it's expected to be around 35.