We left Melbourne on an early flight and landed at Ayers Rock at 11am with a one and a half hour time difference. The shuttle bus picked us up and took us to our hotel - Sails in the Desert. The views of Uluru in the plane and on the trip in from the airport were amazing. We could also see The Olgas or Kata Tjuta as it is known. Our hotel wouldn't allow us to check in until 3pm and even then messed us around with room changes and some rude staff so it was more like 4pm before we got into our room and 5pm before a suitable room was found for Peter's sister Gail and her husband, Geoff - they were upgraded to a suite which normally costs $900 per night! Guess whose room will be the party room!
While waiting for our room we walked into the Town Square and had lunch at an indigenous training cafe - $7.50 for a sandwich stacked with fillings! There is also a small supermarket where we got water and snacks and a few other small shops.
After Peter picked up the car we drove around the township, called Yulara, and checked out the various accommodation places and places to eat. Tonight we're doing the Sounds of Silence dinner where we view the rock at sunset and have a buffet dinner out in the desert.