Monday 27th - Wednesday 29th December - Uluru

This morning were were up early to catch the ferry and train to Sydney Airport for our trip to Uluru - a once in a lifetime experience for us. Australia is so vast that Uluru is one and a half hours behind Sydney time. We flew over the Blue Mountains and Broken Hill, a frontier mining town in the far West of NSW in the outback. Apart from these two focal points it was barren earth all the way until the wow factor of Uluru appeared. The journey seemed to reinforce just how vast Australia is. We arrived at Yulara airport at the same time as another aircraft.
We were driven to the hotel by a coach, which goes around Yulara picking up and setting down passengers at various designated points. Our home was to be The Desert Gardens Hotel for two nights.  https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8589-desert-gardens-a-member-of-novotel-hotels/index.shtml

   After a light lunch we walked to the Town Square for a look at Yularu, the resort for Uluru. The square was shaded by sails and covered walkways, something much needed with temperatures of 28degC overnight and 37 by day.
Our first experience of the Rock was to take part in Dinner Under the Stars whilst witnessing the sun going down. We were collected and welcomed by an indigenous person playing a didgeridoo, after champagne and canapes it was time for a short walk to our tables, which were laid with crisp white linen and silver cutlery.  Our table was made up of 2 Scots, 2 Londoners and 2 Brazilian girls (who didn't speak English).
Soup was served at the table and the main course was served buffet style. In between the main course and desert an astronomer gave a 20 minute presentation about the night sky and the constellations that we could see, very atmospheric as the table lamps were switched off. A truly special, atmospheric and spiritual moment.
The following morning our alarm went off at 3.55 for a 4.45am pick up for our second tour. The first stop was for hot drinks and biscuits before finding our places to witness the sunrise between 5.40 and 5.50. It was breathtaking to see how the Rock got a progressive richer colour in this short time. After this, it was on to stop 2: a 45 minute drive to Kata Tjula or The Olgas, here people were given the opportunity to walk up the gorge, afterwards cold flannels that had been impregnated with Lemongrass were dispensed as were welcome drinks, nuts and biscuits.   A further stop was to walk to a dune and experience of going up the boardwalk. 
Once back at the coach park we were surprised to see many birds were looking to drink the drips of water from the coaches aircon - slowly the wildlife is becoming tamed by not having to rely as much on their instinctive hunting and foraging. Throughout the three excursions our guide remained the same, having been a former  Geologist, his knowledge of the different types of rock and their formation was quite amazing to listen to. How special to be able to touch it.
Back in the resort we headed to the Town Square and the Kulata Academy Cafe, where the indigenous people, the Anangu, are taught hospitality skills.  Then it was back to the hotel for a shower before our third and final trip to the Kata Tjuta Olgas Heritage Centre and the Mutijulu Waterhole. Here we looked at story boards, people painting and watched a film show. After a stop at the Anangu artwork at the Mutijulu Cave and the Mutijulu Waterhole it was on to a reception to mark the end of our excursions; drinks and canapes were served in large open sided gazebos.
Back at the hotel we relaxed before heading to bed at 10.30 after being on the go for 18 hours. Three very different but equally memorable trips in their own right. An experience that will stay with us.
Wednesday morning we were up at 7.30 and after overnight rain it turned into another hot and sunny day. We showered and walked to the cafe in the Town Square, by now a firm favourite! We were collected at the hotel at 11am and in a temperature of 38deg.
We landed in Sydney at 5.50pm local time and after a meal I went to bed to relax, leaving the others to head out to the local.