Day 5 Uluru/Olgas

Another early start (4.30am) so that we could make it to the Rock for sunrise. It turned out that the sunrise viewing area fills up pretty quick with other people doing the same as us, but despite the hundreds of watchers, it was spectacular seeing the different colours on the rock and the clouds as the sun slowly rose behind us… more inspiring photo opportunities. We spent a few hours doing the 10km base walk. The aboriginies at Uluru strongly prefer it if people don't climb the rock and we all agreed that it was best to take their advice. As well as the moral implications, we heard lots of stories about all the bad luck that had happened to those who had climbed it in the past. Anyway, the base walk was pretty amazing and gave us all a new perspective on the place. We also got to see a rare Thorny Devil!

We sadly left Uluru behind and went on another epic drive towards Kings Canyon. We stopped for a dramatic walk through Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). It felt like we were on an Indiana Jones film set, walking along a gorge between two massive rocks. Less tourists around as well which was good. Carried on driving and arrived at our campsite at Kings Canyon in the evening. After some make-shift AFL/dodgeball/defend-the-tent games, we got dinner going, which was chicken and veg cooked over the fire... delicious! Then more drinks/singing and sleep in our swags again.