The final stage of the OZbus ran from Kings Canyon to Sydney and what a fabulous stage that was.....including Kings Canyon, Uluru and Coober Pedy. Our first morning in Kings Canyon we woke up for a 6am sunrise hike, beginning with 'heart attack hill' - yep it is actually called that! It is intensely steep and I had to keep taking 5 minute breaks to breathe but eventually made it up there to see the beautiful views into and around the canyon. The 4 hour hike took us up and over the rocks, with Wombat telling us more about Aboriginal culture and the ceremonies they would have had up there. It was pretty cool, and we even got to the spot where they filmed parts of 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'. Everyone was intact and in one piece until the last 5 minute hike down and April fell, twisted her ankle, leaving her limping around the next few days...for once it wasnt me!

A few hours drive from Kings Canyon and we headed towards Uluru, more commonly known as Ayers Rock. We headed to the visitor centre to gain more of an insight about the myths and ceremonies surrounding it before an early night in swags back at the ranch. Swags are sleeping bags for your sleeping bags so you can sleep under the stars nice and roasty-toasty. Thankfully no spiders or snakes decided to come into camp that night :-) Another early morning wake up for sunrise over Uluru and boy was it worth it...when the sun rises it makes the rock change from different colours of brown, to purple and then to a deep red colour - looks magnificant. Once it had risen we commenced a 2 hour hike around the base of the rock and then the Mala Walk to learn further about why Aborignal people worship the rock so much. We then pressed on towards Kata Tjuta National Park where the Olgas are. I had a brief walk round but headed back to the bus - absolutely exhausted from the past few days.

Moving from the Northern Territory into South Australia we arrived at Coober Pedy, where 85% of the worlds Opal is mined, and where the temperature can get well over 50 degrees. With this in mind it is no wonder that the majority of the houses are in underground caves to regulate the temperature. We visited an Opal mine, learnt how it is mined and then bought some jewellry in the shop. That night we slept in underground caves like the locals! The next day was a long drive with a short stop off for wine tasting in the Seven Hill Valley. BUT that evening was my first reunion with one of my Aussie friends Margeaux. I hadnt seen her for 2 years since camp in 2007 but things hadnt changed, didnt take us long to reminisce and act like the old times. With a long day drive to Narandara, moving into New South Wales, that involved pretty much nothing we started our final days drive to Sydney via Canberra. And I shall never go back!!!! Canberra is a city built just for parliment, Melbourne and Sydney were fighting over who would be the capital so Canberra was built to stop the arguements. The only thing to see is parliment. Off again for our last drive of the OZbus *sob* *sob* we got into Sydney at 7pm. We all got ready for the big night out to say goodbye at the legendary Gaff (which has now become one of my favourite backpacker haunts). There were tears, there was laughs and there was a slight relief that i didnt have to live out of a bag anymore and could have some reality off a bus! With that said it does feel strange not having my trusty sidekicks around, always there when you need them and having the experience to talk about. One things for sure.....nobody will ever know what we have gone through!!!!!!!