Another early start, we were picked up at 6.15am. The sun was thinking about making an appearance as we boarded our coach for the 10 minute drive to the canyon. The previous day we had been given the option of 3 walks. 2 sounded really easy and the other much more challenging. The latter was a 3 hour hike taking us from the car park up to the top of the canyon, around the rim, back into the "garden of Eden" and eventually back down to the car park. We met our guide Jarrod and found that there were only 3 of us who had signed up.

We started the climb to the top which was a series of narrow and uneven steps and sandstone boulders. It was not easy and i had to make a conscious effort not to look down! We needed our first break about half way up. We had been told to bring at least 4 litres of water each and it wasn't long before I had finished my first litre.

Along the way our guide talked us through different flora and fauna and explained how many of them are used in ever day Aboriginal life as analgesics and other natural remedies. He also pointed out which trees are used to make weapons and, in particular pointed out a tree with an entirely white bark. He told us that Aboriginies scrape the white covering off these trees, mix it with water, allow to solidify to a paste and then use as a sunscreen. It has been proven to have an SPF of 15 and is the trees natural protection from the sun. It also repels fire.

Onwards we tramped and the terrain got very tricky in places. It was hot and humid too and hard going with heavy backpacks on. Miles our other guide pointed out some fossils. Where the canyon now stands used to be the location of a huge inland sea so the fossils were of limpet type creatures which looked out of place at the top of the canyon. There were also wave like impressions in the rock caused by the water and erosion over time.

There were a number of lookout points and the views were spectacular. I thought and I think Stephen would agree that it was even more impressive than Uluru. This could in part have been because we could climb to the top so had better views.

After about an hour and a half we descended into the garden of Eden via a series of wooden steps and bridges. It was like a mini oasis of fig trees, assorted palms, spinifex grass and deep pools. There was also a waterfall. You don't expect to see so much water in a desert. We were in the centre of the canyon now and it would have been a peaceful spot were it not for the large group of backpackers who had beaten us to it!

The hike then took us back up the way we came to the top and then up and down various other rocky pathways until we finally started our decent, very tired but feeling quite pleased with ourselves.

Then it was back to the "hotel" for a well deserved shower and then back on the coach for the 5 hour drive back to Alice Springs. All in all a very memorable trip to the desert. We will not miss the flies though!!