4 July 2014

Today has been a very relaxed day well except for the 10.25 kilometre stroll around the rock. There are a few section that they ask you not to photograph out of respect for the sacred sights, but still that leaves a heck of a lot of rock for you to take pictures of, it really is a huge thing. There was a few people walking up the rock, you just have to go past the sign that asks out of respect that you don't climb it and then it is onwards and upwards. To be honest I have to ask what is wrong with these people, I don't mean to question whether they are right or wrong for climbing it when asked not to, their choice go with what works, what I mean is just look up, good grief it's a long climb and it's no sedate angle for a stroll, what the hell are they thinking. The 10km around the base is more than enough and there is nothing too taxing about that. It's as fast or slow as you want it to be, there are people doing part of it, there are people cycling it, there are people just out there looking. Like the rest of the Territory the scenery changes all the way around it as well, some areas are just acacia scrub and other areas are relatively lush and cool. Certainly well worth the effort to come and have a look at the big rock I think..  

 The crowd climbing the rock, they have to be crazy

The resort area here at Yulara is very much a manufactured village feeling though they sure are well set up with all they need. There are camping grounds with a camp kitchen and amenities, there is a Hostel and budget (well their style of budget!) hotel accommodation, there is another medium level hotel and there is a 5 start as well. They have their own police station and fire/emergency station, post office, service station and supermarket and there are a wide range of eating establishments from a cook your own BBQ steak place to again 5 star dining. They have it all for you, at a price here though.

 My digs for the night, before the new, noisy arrivals, who knew mullets and ugg boots (at 20 degrees C) were back in 

 Campgrounds

 Campgrounds reception and shop (they all have a shop)

 One of the accommodation options

 It looks good from a distance, but that isn't red dirt on the roof

 The footpaths through to various parts of the resort grounds

 The main drive in

 One of the resorts accommodation options

 This is where they hold the cultural shows and Sunday markets

 The Resort marketplace

 Are these wild flowers? They seem fairly peaceful to me

 From the lookout, the competition for attention

Just another rock picture to finish, from the lookout in the centre of the Resorts grounds

Tomorrow probably won't bring too much as I am just retracing my steps back through Alice Springs and Tennant Creek so that I can head to Darwin, so that will take a couple of days just to get to something new! Hopefully there will be no dew so I can pack up and leave earlyish...