'Roughing' it in the Outback

* pictures numbered left to right from bottom to top)

We arrived in Alice Springs to another world - hot (90's), dry, and endless open roads. We made arrangements for a 4x4 Toyato Land Cruiser Bushwacker camper and after a night's sleep with hot shower at a local motel we headed out for the open roads of the Outback. While most roads were paved, we did venture off to unpaved, rough, red roads (picture 1) where many sites were located. First stop was the Rainbow Valley (picture 2), then the Henbury Meteorite Craters (picture 3). We go on to the Ayers Rock Resort Campgrounds where try to enjoy cocktail hour and dinner (picture 4) with fly nets over our heads due to the amazing number of pesky flies that love to cover our faces, arms and legs. Uluru (Ayers Rock) (pictures 5 &6) was just an incredible site we enjoyed at sunset and sunrise (picture 7). We spent 2 nights at the Ayers Rock campsite and enjoyed a few 'home cooked' meals in our camper (picture 8).

Next day we ventured to the sister rock area, Kata Tjuta (picture 9) and hiked around both this rock area as well as Uluru. Our third night on the road we spend at a campsite at Kings Canyon. Following day we hiked around the base of the Canyon amazed at the sandstone layers and colors of the rock (pictures 10 & 11). We also saw wild camels (picture 12) that roam freely through the dessert at record numbers. On our way to our next campsite at Glen Helen Gorge we stop to marvel at the view of the Finke River (picture 13). We then explore the picturesque waterhole at Glen Helen Gorge (picture14). Next stops includes lunch at the meteorite site of Gosse Bluff (picture 15), walks to waterholes at Redbank Gorge (picture 16), and Ormiston Gorge (picture 17). Last stop before returning to Alice Springs was the beautiful Simpson Gap (picture 18). Next day we flew back for quick return to Adelaide where we pick up our rental car to drive the Great Coast Highway to Melbourne.