I spent 2 days in Alice Springs before my 6 day tour to Adelaide started. It was hotter than Cairns and much smaller than i thought. I looked around the town, had a free digeridoo lesson and watched the sunset and a thunderstorm from Anzac hill.

26th November: My tour started at 5:30 in the morning so i was up at 4:30. We had a full bus and my tur guide was called Ringer. We had a long drive to Kings Canyon and arrived at about 12. It was absolutly stunning but we couldnt do the rim walk because it was too hot, over 43 Degrees. We climbed up to the main look out and then did the base walk in the canyon. The next stop was our campsite stopping for ice cream and a look out over Mount Connor. We drove past Uluru (Ayres Rock) just after sunset, gorgeous first glimps at it. When we arrived at camp it was dark so Ringer got straight onto the BBQ. Dnner was massive, good meat, pasta, salad, potato. After clearing up some of us stayed up chatting and singing songs thanks to Liv and her lovely voice. I slept under the stars in a swag(heavy duty sleeping bag/mat). The stars were beautiful but it was a shame the path lights at the camp had to be left on.

27th November: After only a few hours sleep we were woken up at 3:45 and on the raod at 4:45. We left so early so that we could see sunrise over Uluru. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! No clouds and a perfect blue sky against the red rock. :) We then did half of the base walk and saw it up close. We could see people climbing it but it looked soo difficult. It was only about 8 o'clock when we left ayres rock to go to Kata Tjuca (The Olgas). These are 36(i think) huge mounds of red rock. Just as awesome as Ayres rock its self, maybe even more stunning. I couldn't believe how big they were and how rich the red colour was. We did the gorge walk into the Olgas and again saw some great views but it was hot hot hot and there were too many flies! At 11 we headed back to camp to have lunch(Aussie Burgers BBQed by me!) and chill out by the pool. We went to the Cultural Centre and the Art Galleries. It was really interesting reading the aboriginal stories about the rock and the area. I bought some Aboriginal art. Ringer guided us on the other half of the base walk and told us more stories about the specific features of the rock. Then it was a short drive to the sunset lookout spot. After nibbles and champagne from plastic mugs the sun began to set and the colour changes were gorgeous. We could also see The Olgas and a rainbow. I think i preferred sunrise simply because there were fewer people. Back at camp dinner was noodles and chicken and all sorts cooked on the BBQ of course. Liv and Ringer sand and played guitar again and then we headed to bed/our swags to sleep under the stars once again.

28th November: Woke early again, 5 for a 6 o'clock leave. We had a big drive south to cover. We crossed the border into Southern Australia from the Nortern Territory and then it was just road house after road house. We arrived at Cooper Pedy at about 4:30. Wicked place, in the middle of nowehere mounds begin to rise on the horizon and then more and more pop up as you reach the town. It developed into a mining town because opals were found there. We had a little dig in discarded mounds and I found a small bit of opal but lost it again becuase it was so small. We went out for Pizza for dinner and then hit a kareoke bar, very funny evening. Got to bed at about 2:30 only to be woken up 4 hours later by Masa (Japanese guy on our tour).

29th November: We were on the road again heading for Quorn. Stopped at a roadhouse or two and a salt lake bed. Had a lot of fun taking photos for ages and therefore had a very late lunch when we reach the next town at about 4. Had a water fight in the park with Ben which i lost. Our accommodation was really nice, big rooms and a comfy sitting room! Spent the evening looking at everyones photos on the TV, really funny.

30th Novermber: Awake at 7 gone by 8. Headed for Flinders Ranges. Stopped at Warren Gorge and saw some really rare wallabies and pretty scenery. Then it was the BIG walk. 4 hours up to Dutchmans Stern and back. Absolutely stunning scenery all the way up and once we reached the top it was even better! Breathtaking. We spent a good hour at the top taking in the views and resting. Back to Quorn for lunch, Kangaroo and Emu BBQ...yummy! Back on the bus, went for a walk in the national park after lunch and saw some Kangaroos and Emus. Stopped at some caves with aboriginal paintings and lastly some old building ruins while the sun set over a hill. dinner was ready for us back at Quorn, lasagna..bit burnt. Some bright spark decided we should watch Wolf Creek (a horror film about backpackers being abducted in the outback) and this lead to about 7 of us staying up playing drinking games because we couldnt sleep/didnt want to walk outside to get back to our rooms! Lol. It was a really good night and we only went to bed when the other group staying at the hostel woke up for breakfast at 4!

1st December: Up at 7 but the promise of pancakes for breakfast helped get me out of bed! Ben had to wear Ringers pink and purple PJs all day as a punishment for being so loud the night before and waking up the policeman living next door. We stopped at a Bakery to try some Quandong pie. It was my job to open the door because i was sat next to it but i was asleep when we pulled up so Ringer decided to empty his water bottle on me...leading to another water fight that this time i won! Quandong pie ran out so i had an eccles cake that wasnt half as good as real welsh ones. Next stop was a winery with really nice ground and a nice church. We had our last BBQ together in a park and then headed for Adelaide. It took forever to get to the hostel because Ringer had no city driving skills, only capable on long straight roads with no turnings... lol. I was in a family room with 5 other people on my bus, good times. Our whole bus went out to the Woolshed for a good meal Biggest, thickest steak i have EVER had! Everyone had a go on the rodeo bull and then hit the dance floor. Headed back to the hostel and carried on the party in our family room , i fell asleep to Ringer playing the guitar and singing Hallelujah.

I had an absolutely amazing time on the tour and met some great people. There were 17 people on our bus in the end and 11 different nationalities! The weather was great not too hot and no rain and our guide was such a laugh but still a good guide. I had the best 6 days of my trip so far on that bus even if we were driving for most of it! :)