After a long drive from Coober Pedy we finally arrived at Uluru, and it was as spectacular as expected. We set up and settled in then spent the afternoon watching an Aboriginal dance group, who turned out to be ex-Muswellbrook South Public school students! Wonderful! We then hit the road and drove the 5 minutes out to the rock to watch the sunset. Unfortunately it was quite cloudy and Uluru was pretty dull, but at the last minute our patience was rewarded as the sun dipped just below the cloud line and set the rock alight! Magic!
The next day we set out early for a guided tour of the west side of the rock. It was extremely informative and incredibly interesting, all about the Aboriginal beliefs of how and why the rock was formed and how it met the needs of the people. It was a place for all, not just one tribe or for permanent residence. Being up close and personal with the rock was a wonderful and moving experience. After a well earned lunch we hired bikes and rode the 10km track around the base; again, an excellent and very fun experience. We enjoyed another sunset that evening, this time with no cloud, just watching the rock change colour gradually.