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Detailed travelogue on Australia and New Zealand

Detailed Travelogue on Australia and New Zealand

Larry
2006-05-27 03:23:16

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(or for emergencies), though radios are still used and monitored.
There are 12 RFDS bases that cover an area the size of Western Europe --
2/3rds the size of the USA. Some of the funding for RFDS comes from the
government, though a lot must come from private donations.

AYERS ROCK

After looking around Alice Springs for a few hours, it was early
afternoon, and I started the drive towards Ayers Rock, the famous red
monolith that appears in so many pictures of Australia.
I wanted to reach the rock in time for sunset (when it turns a deep red),
which, at that time of year (mid-December), was 7:00pm. I arrived at Ayers
Rock with plenty of time to spare, and drove first to Yulara.
Yulara is the tiny area set aside for tourist accomidations near Ayers
Rock. All accomidations, food, petrol, and restaurants are in Yulara, just
a few km from the rock site.
Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock) is on Aboriginal Land.
However, they have leased the land back to the government to use as a
National Park. I suppose like in any country, accomidations inside or next
to a National Park are expensive, and Ayers Rock was no exception. Other
than a campground or dormitory, the cheapest alternative was a small private
room with bath and TV for around $A98. After going non-stop, and having had
only a few hours sleep in days, I opted for the room, though I had little
time to enjoy it. After checking in, I drove to the sunset viewing area for
Ayers Rock, and waited until sunset. Just about everyone else visiting the
park was there too, just hanging around, watching Ayers Rock change color
under a full moon.
After sunset, I drove back to the hotel to grab a few hours sleep. I
needed to be up by 4:45am the next morning.

All day long, I wondered if I should climb Ayers Rock. The local
Aboriginal people ...

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