Our morning tour around the base of Uluru was lead by a lively Outback guide who told wonderful stories about aboriginal life and traditions and the significance of paintings and places on and around Uluru. We also visited the Anangu Cultural Centre and had the opportunity to purchase beautiful aboriginal paintings and wood carvings.

Uluru at the base of the walking trail

On the Uluru guided tour

Aboriginal cave paintings on Uluru

An atypical view of Uluru

After a drover’s lunch back at our hotel, we were back in the air and arrived at Cairns in the early evening, checking in at the Kewarra Beach Resort where we spotted three wallabies on the grounds. We enjoyed a group dinner outdoors before retiring to our bungalows.

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Uluru Base Tour

I got up at 5:15 AM (!) to get ready for our flight to Alice Springs in the heart of the Outback. From the airport we drove to Alice Springs for a brief lunch and shopping stop at the Mbantua Gallery, a gallery featuring aboriginal art and an aboriginal cultural museum.

Mbantua Art Gallery, Alice Springs

We then departed for Yulara, the resort area near Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), and checked into Sails in the Desert before leaving for Uluru. We watched the sunset and Uluru’s color changes while we enjoyed champagne and canapes. My first taste of the exotic was at dinner – kangaroo ragout – not too bad.

View from my room at Sails in the Desert Resort

Sunset at Uluru (Ayer’s Rock)

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• Alice Springs
• Sails in the Desert – Yulara
• Sunset at Uluru