Plans are there to be changed they say, and so where todays plans. We decided that even though the sunset was magical last night, there was no need to repeat it. In stet we would drive the 50 kilometers west to visit Kata Tjuta, the less know rock formation. We also decided to not spend a second night on the camp site. So we first went to the camp site reception to arrange that and pay for the one night we actually stayed there. The friendly lady at the reception also explained why they where closed so early, as this is not the high season. Due to the heat there are just a few campers, during the winter they are open till 21:00.
The drive to Kata Tjuta was very similar to the drive to Uluru, a long straight road. Mo notices a specific tree, which turned out to be a juvenile desert oak, in this stage the spiny leaves all point down to catch and direct all the moister to it’s root system. Once the root system has developed enough to reach the deeper water levels, it will grow into a more conventional looking tree.
As suggested we first stopped at the sun rise spot and climbed the dune to see the rock formation from this angle. It was at least as impressive as Uluru.
Back at the parking lot I noticed a dish antenna, that I had seen a few times before. The sign explained you put your phone on the spot and it would improve the signal. I checked my phone and it did not have any signal, but 10 seconds after I put it at the designated spot it had 1 bar. Very cool!
We continued our drive to the parking lot near the gorge. We where advised to check out the mouth of the gorge. But as the temperature was less harsh then expected, we ended up walking most of the gorge, which was very impressive.
Next stop was the sunset spot. There where only 5 other people here. We sat down with some drinks and snacks and had a nice chat with a British guy who was there with his daughter.
Once the sun had set, we drove back, past Uluru for a last glimps and out of the national park to the wild camping spot I had found on iOverlander. It was basically all we needed, a spot in the morning shade and level ground. After us another car came and then a van with a lady we had seen during the Mala tour and at the cultural center. She was relieved she was not the only one there.
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