tent gathering at uluru

dave06 · Guru

tent gathering at uluru

speedy sue · Veteran Member

Sounds like a great trip! We were there a couple of years ago now, and that was the first time I'd been there in 15 years. It had certainly changed and as you mentioned, Yulara village is now huge. Camping there is very expensive and we found ourselves right next to a rather noisy school excursion. Having said that, going to 'the rock' at sunrise, sunset, and walking around it is still an incredible experience.
You also said that you weren't planning to free camp - however, we found Curtin Springs to be a great free place to stop for the night. It's about 100 km or so away so you can save the fees of spending an extra night at Yulara.
As for the tents - just zip up at night! All those howling dingoes are probably a bit spookier when you're under canvas!

dave06 · Guru

with the dragon by my side and my arthritis it's the dingoes that had better be on their guard, she bit me once, never got over it, went to eyres rock years ago and did some free camping, fed the dingoes as I recall, yes I know I was naughty,( I'll join basil in the corner), but because of numbers and the speed requirements this time, (and the delights of several local restaraunts) we decided to just put the tents up once and then come and go as we please, not sure about this tent thing yet, the centre is not known for its saftey aspects where unattended valuables are concerened, and besides I really cant remember the last time we were in a caravan park, must be over 20 years ago???? did you mention KIDS O.M.G. I hope not, I thought it was an unwritten rule that one does not mention the "K" word on this forum, should I ask Basil to move over a bit more?, as for it being a good trip arent they all!!!!! I have yet to have a bad one, great spot, fantastic company (lots of them) lots of laughs and a beverage or three, someone told me once that if you freeze left over wine it becomes a great ice cube for your next nights wine, left over wine!!! helllo!!!

-- Edited by dave06 at 12:03, 2008-08-01

Silver Fox · Veteran Member

Are you planning to climb up to the top? The last time we were there (about 20 years ago) it seemed like everyone was climbing it - us included.
Although I probably couldn't physically do it now, I've heard that most people these days walk around it instead. Any thoughts?

dave06 · Guru

look I would love to climb the thing but rumour has it that those blokes with the bone through their nose and carrying spears and boomerangs dont like you to climb it anymore, disrupts the spirits or something, well I say leave the whiskey at the bottom and pick it up on the way back, I wonder if I could get little blue up there??? or maybe the dragon will carry me? one can only hope!!! last time we did it, about halfway up a fellows hat blew off, he immediately gave chase, reached about 15 feet away from the guide chain before he gave up, gotta think, is your hat worth your life?

Basil Faulty · Guru

I was there in 83... All very casual then....a totaly memorable experience. A bloke dropped his camera and it rolled about 20 ' from the chain and no one was gameenough to reclaim it. Then went again in 05 and what a dissapointment, the rock hasn't changed but the whole scene is devoted to extracting $$$$ from tourists wallets. There was a fee for everything, I did manage to pass wind without a fee but that was about all... AND THE CROWDS.....By the coach and plane load OMG and the unmentionable unruly KIDS.... No never again... The indigenous gestapo (no I'm being factual, not racist) who declined to talk to vanners prefering to get as much as they could out of the Europeans and Asians who fly in for a 24 hour period ( try booking a return air ticket to Uluru in one day) can have it to themselves. Central Mount Connor was far more appealing as was Chambers Pillar (though there were about 40 people there).
Alice was pleasant and relaxed and there are places where you can "camp" just out of town beware though security is a big thing in Alice as the fences will demonstrate.
So Dave as much as I'd like to sit under a Coolabah tree and swap notes over a cold beverage I won't be going with you....Nothing personal....I just try to avoid tourist traps. Besides I'm to old and experienced for this type of "boys own adventure"..LOL

Basil Faulty · Guru

Silver Fox wrote:

Are you planning to climb up to the top? The last time we were there (about 20 years ago) it seemed like everyone was climbing it - us included.
Although I probably couldn't physically do it now, I've heard that most people these days walk around it instead. Any thoughts?

Yeah Foxy you'd think that they would put in an escalator for us to "frail" to make the ascent... They could then put a boardwalk around the top to stop our feet from touching the stone and charge us for the pleasure... I'm certian that if there was money in getting people to the top they would be in it...
It's a decent hike around the rock too, takes about 4-5 hours from memory

Paul-NSW · Veteran Member

to far to go for a quickie

dave06 · Guru

good god paul a "quickie" at our age (Dave comes over all faint with the thought of it)

Silver Fox · Veteran Member

You're getting cynical in your old age Bazza! The rock is still the rock ... and I'm sure is still a special experience. I have heard that you're more likely to remember the busloads of chattering schoolkids than the majesty of the monolith these days but I refuse to believe it. Having said that, maybe it's safer for me to cherish my memories rather than risk a return trip.

dave06 · Guru

talk about tourist traps and extracting dollars, we just came back from having a gawk at halls gap and the great ocean road, at the twelve apostles it was incredible, the helicopters and busloads of tourists never mind the private vehicles, you talk of those horrid miniature adults (blechhhh!!!) we were on kangaroo island sitting at remarkable rocks about 12 months ago when a bus load of Japs came charging through and I MEAN charging they climbed every bloody thing, and photographed the lot, I had big white spots in front of my eyes for days we had to just move to one side and let them go, they were there for about 15 mins before they were herded back in to the cattle truck, I mean tour bus, the invasion of pearl harbour would have been a quieter affair, I know the rock will be busy but I dont want to go through the centre when we retire with the motorhome so I'll get it out of my system now, besides some of the group have never been before and are a bit fearfull so under my wing they go, Alice is always great as is all the centre but they have major problems up there with the bony people

LesleyW · Member

Jeff and I went there in '97. We did a 3-day guided camping trip from Alice - starting off at the Olgas, then to Ayers Rock, then to King's Canyon. Jeff walked through the Olgas but I was suffering from heatstroke so I took meself back to the coach. Unfortunately it had been raining just before we arrived at the Rock so climbing it was orf - Jeff was most disappointed - but we did the walk around the base and then had the story of the Dreamtime of the Rock from our brilliant guide, Steve. Kings Canyon was well worth the visit - had a lovely swim in the pool at the foot of the canyon.

There were other visitors in all three places, but not so many that they got in the way. We won't be going there this time, though - doesn't look as if it would be as enjoyable anyway.

Basil Faulty · Guru

dave06 wrote:

talk about tourist traps and extracting dollars, we just came back from having a gawk at halls gap and the great ocean road, at the twelve apostles it was incredible, the helicopters and busloads of tourists never mind the private vehicles, you talk of those horrid miniature adults (blechhhh!!!) we were on kangaroo island sitting at remarkable rocks about 12 months ago when a bus load of Japs came charging through and I MEAN charging they climbed every bloody thing, and photographed the lot, I had big white spots in front of my eyes for days we had to just move to one side and let them go, they were there for about 15 mins before they were herded back in to the cattle truck, I mean tour bus, the invasion of pearl harbour would have been a quieter affair, I know the rock will be busy but I dont want to go through the centre when we retire with the motorhome so I'll get it out of my system now, besides some of the group have never been before and are a bit fearfull so under my wing they go, Alice is always great as is all the centre but they have major problems up there with the bony people

I have some lovely pics of the Twelve apostles, alas no where to post them here. I did see and do recall with amusement some asiatics being shown the 12 apostles "on the run" as it were, down the Lock ard steps, 10 seconds on the sand then back up the steps and martialled back to the coach....

Problems in Alice??? Worse than Port Augusta where they have 12' high fences round the van parks... Hmmm....

dave06 · Guru

Yes Basil once again you are correct, port augusta and north has or rather did have a huge problem with the bony people, but joy baluch (the towns mayor) has done wonders, the problem escalates in summer when the real wild ones come in from the outback heat, they just have no sense of right or wrong and run rampant through the town the next problem is our societys laws as relates to them, the coppers cant lock them up as they tend to hang themselves, well I say where's the problem there, yes I know I hear you screaming "you predjudiced mongrel" and in some cases you are right, but when there is one law for the white and another law for the colored then I get very grumpy, the bony people get away with literally murder nowadays and apart from federal intervention there is no stopping them, all I say is when one is in the areas of indigenous habitation, be aware and afraid, and dont stay long, these people are like children out of control and are allowed to do literally "anything they please"