9/13: Otherworldly Sunrise & Bushwalks @ Kata Tjuta

 Got up at 5ish so we could make it out to Kata Tjuta aka the Olgas, for the sunrise view. Sunrise was expected at 6:15 so we needed an early start so we wouldn't miss the sun rising over Uluru and also at Kata Tjuta.

We were so surprised when we got to the sunrise car park and walked to the viewig area that we'd also have spectacular views of Uluru (above and below) too - like a two for one special!

We had both dressed for the hikes we were planning after seeing the sunrise so weren't quite prepared for the chilly 10 degree temps at sunrise. So happy that we took the dorm blanket at the last moment - a stroke of genius when we were still half asleep.

Kata Tjuta which means 'many heads' is a striking group of domed rocks huddled together about 35kms west of Uluru. There are 36 boulders shoulder to shoulder forming deep valleys and steep-sided gorges. The tallest rock is 200m taller than Uluru. How incredible seeing Kata Tjuta for the first time close up at dawn's early light.

We were laughing at how we looked compared to everyone else who had so smartly come wearing fleeces, gloves etc.

Not sure that this Dune Walk, the access to the sunrise viewing area,
really qualifies as a walk because it was so short!

The trees in the foreground are Desert Oak aka Kurkara; they are the tallest and most common trees on the desert plain.

Returning to the parking lot.

Honey-Grevillia

Thought a map of Kata Tjuta would be handy for you to look at
to give you a sense of what places we hiked to.

We started the day at the bottom of the map at the Sunrise View, for the short Kata Tjuta Dune Walk, then drove miles back to the only toilets in the Kata Tjuta area of the National Park at Sunset View, then hiked the entire 7.4km Valley of the Winds Trail, followed by the Walpa Gorge Trail.

Always reminders to take personal responsibility when hiking in the National Park. As i may have said in my previous post, there are NO rangers anywhere in the park.

After resting AND warming up in the car after seeing the sun rise, we commenced the 7.4km Valley of the Winds Walk before it got too unbearably hot and dangerous to do so.

The temperature forecast for September 13th called for a high of 32-33 so beginning such a long hike in the middle of the day would be just foolhardy.

This hike according to my guidebook is supposed to be one of the most challeging and rewarding bushwalks in the entire park including Uluru. I tried not to focus on the 'most challenging' part as we set out, just the most rewarding!

First time seeing a trail like this - no, this was not the challenging part!

I found it a bit hairy hiking among and up and down the loose rocks as I only had a pair of river shoes on which didn't provide a lot of traction. There was no way we could take the right type of shoes we might need or want for every experience we'd encounter this 112 day long trip so we managed the best we could.

Below is Karu, the 1st lookout on the hike.

Hiking in this terrain in a skort was NOT one of my better fashion choices, I soon realized as it didn't give me the necessary freedom of  movement. Oh well, way too far to go back and change.

A shot of me with my trusty all purpose river/hiking/running about town shoes (dancing shoes, not so much though!) I bought at Kohl's of course! They are incredibly comfy and are as light as a feather. Wonder if they will last me through India on December 18th? Keeping my fingers crossed.

The trail wound through the gorges which gave us excellet views of the surreal domes as we traversed varied terrain.

Our trusty little helper along the hike was the little blue triangle.

More views of  the hike

Steven pointed out this rock looked like a giant hay bale.

After climbing a fair distance, we at last reached the second lookout called Karingana.
What absolutely spectacular views from there of the valley below which we hiked through after taking a much needed break.

Oops, I meant to include this map in my last post descring our day at Uluru. Again you'll get a sense of the expanse of Uluru and what was where when I mentioned where we'd been. Will try to do that for future posts too so you're not always flying blind, so to speak.

Initially I thought the many piles of rocks were graves but they were just places to hold the handy blue directional markers. A lot of the markers though were missing so you just saw the rocks.

A way too blurry shot of one of the few flowers we saw on the hike. I am sure the blur was caused by the intense desert heat at the hottest part of the day!

How wonderful walking on such an easy flat path after the
much more difficult ascent through the rocks earlier.

No rangers anywhere in the park so reassuring there were Heli Pads to take the injured out when emergencies arise. Just relieved we didn't need to avail ourselves of the service!

Hearty soles, don’t you think?! Walking barefoot...

Totally different vegetation naturally on the valley floor
than the rocky terrain we'd had when starting the hike.

Tried to focus too closely, I guess, but I was struck
by the iridescent fuschia at the tips of these flowers.

Passed some other hikers at this point who said we only had
one more hour to hike before reaching the 'car park.' That was welcome news indeed.

The parking lot was in view here - yeah!

Sure wish all hikers are provided with such detailed info before
 beginning any hikes; it would make hiking easier ad safer.

Great to be reminded again of 

Zachary: A Target bag in a very dirty car!

After a much needed break, we then drove over to the south side of Kata Tjuta to hike the much shorter 2.6km Walpa Gorge trail. Began it about 12:30 or so which wasn't too hot as much of the hile was in the shade which was very welcome at that point.

Hiking it in the afternoon turned out to be especailly beautiful as sunlight flooded the gorge.

We had never seen so many different shades of green in such a small spot - just fabulous. 

Bandaid break for his tootsies, the poor babe.

In the massive domes above us, there were often huge holes. We wondered what may have happened to cause these massive boulders to likely fall from the domes. The boulders looked like they were made with concrete as a binding agent.

Think there'd be no more wattle shots - surely you're joking!

I normally lagged a bit behind my one and only on the hikes as I am always taking photos and writing down on slips of paper what we're seeing so I can remember for future refernce and the blog of course.

End of the trail for Valley of the Gorge hike. Wish you could have been there to enjoy the hike and vistas as much as we did. 

On the way back to the car, Steven and I chatted about how remarkable it is after really not knowing or seeing each other much before we got married back in ’82, that we both love on these long trips/adventures the combination of hiking, visiting religious institutions, shopping, being culture vultures and in the same proportion too – phew!

After having had 2 fantastic days discovering in our own way just part of Austalia's massive Outback, we agreed that Kata Tjuta was more captivating for us than its far more famous neighbor, Uluru.

If you've had the good fortune to have visited both places in the Red Centre, I would love to know which you preferred and why.