When we were driving out to it from Ayers Rock Campground we could see it for at least 20 minutes, getting larger every minute. When we got closer it looked like ants climbing over it, of course they were people.

We are all discouraged from climbing as it is very important to aboriginal culture, but it is also a very big tourist attraction for Australia with an growing number of aussie and international tourists visiting every year. If Ayers Rock was to be closed to climbing not as many people would visit it therefore less income for the area.

Many choose not climb for many reasons also the local authorities do stop people from climbing when the wind is strong and makes the climb dangerous. Even if you can’t or choose not to climb it is an amazing experience to see it and walk around it. If you take a guided tour and you will get a better understanding of Uluru Ayers Rock – Uluru and appreciate the whole experience it even more.

The climb takes about 1 ½ hours and 1 hour to climb down, the climb has three parts, climbing up the chain, then following a dotted line (like in the middle of a road) then we on top and had to go up and down over the hills that the weather has created to get to the centre. What was at the top was the most amazing view that included the Olgas in the distance. Walking around the base which it about 8km, takes about 2 hours.

What is your Uluru Ayers Rock Climbing experience – climbed – not climbed – walked around – admired – everything?

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Driving north up the Stuart Highway from Port Augusta the first town we stayed at was Coober Pedy. Which is a ‘must see’ town for being so unique and for its beautiful opals that are sold all over the world.

http://www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/adventure-family-holiday.html

To change route drag the lines – kilometres  and time taken will be immediately changed so you can find the best route to suit you.

Please ignore time taken as it is very misleading and not at all realistic on most trips except for very short trips. Please refer to Your Guide To Travelling Australia Ebook for suggestions of travelling times.

Driving Around Australia – Visiting Main Cities

Perth WA to Adelaide SA to Melbourne VIC to  Sydney NSW

Alice Springs NT to Sydney NSW

Darwin NT to Broome WA to Perth WA

Devonport, Launceston, Hobart, return to Devonport TAS

Darwin NT to Cairns QLD

Canberra ACT to Brisbane QLD

Melbourne VIC to Canberra ACT

Adelaide SA to Melbourne VIC

Melbourne YIC to Sydney NSW

Brisbane QLD to Sydney NSW

Darwin NT To Brisbane QLD

Port Augusta SA to Darwin NT (including Uluru)

Torquay VIC to Portsea VIC

Great Ocean Road VIC

Port Augusta SA to Warnambool VIC

Eucla WA  to Port Augusta SA

Alice Springs is surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges, this photo shows us driving between the MacDonnell Ranges at the entrance to Alice Springs. There is plenty to do and discover like the aboriginal art, culture and history, Alice Springs Desert Park, Flying Doctors, School of The Air. Alice Springs is famous for the boat race on the Todd River and the annual Camel races.

Uluru – Ayers Rock and the Olgas are spectacular, driving towards Uluru is absolutely just mesmerising, the view from the top is incredible and so is the walk around the base.

The Olgas are quite different as it is a cluster of domes that you can walk amongst.

Kings Canyon is a massive chasm that is in Watarrka National Park. You can walk around the top edge and also through the valley that has permanent waterholes and lush vegetation. This very spectacular 270 metre deep chasm is worth visiting.

Palm Valley is in Finke Gorge National Park and accessible from the Mereenie Loop (4WD vehicles only) and about 2 hours drive from Alice Springs. This photo was take 5 minutes walk from the campground, you need to drive to the valley and then you can have a beautiful walk for several hours exploring Palm Valley.

Ormiston Gorge is about 135 kilometres west of Alice Springs on the Larapinta trail. Another spectacular place to visit, this photos shows where you walk in and then you can walk around the corner, sit on the rocks and be amazed.

Chambers Pillar is about 160 kilometres south of Alice Springs, this photo was taken from the campground, a very unusual sight. The pillar is about 50 metres high and originally was surrounded by soft stone which has been washed away over hundereds of years.

Everywhere in the Red Centre is spectacular with so much to see, you could easily spend a couple of months touring the Outback in Northern Territory.

We camped at Ayers Rock Resort. Kings Canyon Resort and Finke Gorge National Park, another option is Curtin Springs Cattle Station & Wayside Inn 85km east of Uluru which is owned by the Severin family since 1956. If you are interested in camping, Ayers Rock Resrt caters for every type of accommodation and arranges tours.

When visiting Central Australia, Uluru-Ayers Rock is always going to be main place to visit, so like everyone else we wanted to see it. We stayed at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground in tents. Which was very good, plenty of room and good amenities. We stayed 2 nights and visited Uluru which was about 15 minutes drive from the campground, camping is not permitted close to Uluru like it used to be.

We drove out the the ‘rock’ which was sort of mesmirising as you could this huge rock for at least 10 minutes getting bigger as we got closer to it.

We climbed the rock, about 1 ½ hours up and about 1 hour to get down and then we walked around the base, about 8 kilometres and about 2 hours. We were excited and exhausted when we had finished. The view from the top was amazing and it was unbelievable that we were actually at the ‘rock’ that we had seen many times on TV and in photos.

While camping and travelling an added extra bonus is we get to meet many other people from Australia and overseas. When we camped at the Ayers Rock Resort we met a great family from Sydney. We camped beside them, the kids starting playing cricket between out tents and from then on we have kept in contact ever since and have been on many camping trips with them including going to ‘The Kimberley’.

We then travelled with this family for 10 days as we were going the same way to Kings Canyon, Palm Valley and Alice Springs. Kings Canyon is in Watarrka National Park. we camped at Kings Canyon Resort, which had plenty of room and good amenities. We stayed for 2 nights.

Kings Canyon is definitely worth seeing, this photo shows the start of Kings Canyon. You can choose to go up steep steps at the start and then the rest is a slow descent downhill or have a slow climb all the way around and finish going down the steep steps.

Either way allow about 2 hours to take in the amazing views.

Next we travelled to Palm Valley which is further along the Mereenie Loop on our way to Alice Springs. Palm Valley is in Finke National Park which is 46,000 hectares.

The campground was very good with basic amenities, like most National Parks. When we had set up camp we we for a short walk. This photo shows the view very close to camp.

The next day we went on the main walk down the creek bed which is usually fairly dry unless they have decent rain in the area. This photo shows the palm trees and dry creek bed, as usual plenty to see and explore.

After leaving Palm Valley we continued our camping adventure to Alice Springs, we spent 3 nights at Alice Springs and did day trips to Glen Helen Gorge, Hermannsburg, Ormiston Gorge (photo below), then headed north to the Top End.

We could have easily toured Central Australia for several more weeks, Uluru – Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Palm Valley are just a few of the stunning destinations available for camping.