Ayers Rock -- YES or NO?
 

Who has the answer? What do you think? How much time should I spend and why or why not?

I am planning a trip down under in 2 months and my schedule allows time for Ayers Rock. I could spend 2,3 or 4 days out there. Here is what is planned IF I go to Ayers Rock/Alice Spings:
Ayers Rock
Olgas
Kings Canyon
Katherine Gorge
Coober Petty
Baloon Ride
Camel Ride with dinner and Aboriginal experience

If you have 2 months, then you definitely have enough time to visit the Red Center, unless your plan is to hang out along the eastern and western coasts, in which case you won't have nearly enough time to see everything. From a distance, Ayers Rock is both impressive and not so impressive. As you get closer, it is pretty awesome and definitely worth the effort to visit. The problem though is getting there.

Last January, I drove from Melbourne to Adelaide to Darwin via Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, and Katherine Gorge. Then once you get to the Katherine Gorge area, it is a logical detour to visit Kakadu National Park before heading to Darwin. I liked Kakadu more than Katherine Gorge, but both were nice (although it is kinda hard to really appreciate the natural beauty when the humidity is steaming). I thought Coober Pedy was a complete waste of time. I also skipped Kings Canyon and the Olgas (others loved it), but you can do those quite easily from Alice Springs on your way to/from Ayers Rock. Definitely spend a couple days there, since you want to catch the sunrise and sunset, and it is HOT (though not hot and humid like it is as you approach Katherine Gorge from the south). You can decide for yourself if you want to climb the Rock. If you do, know that high winds will sometimes close the rock to climbers. And, the climb can be pretty steep, but I've seen the most out of shape people do it.

If you have any specific questions, send me an e-mail.

Cheers.

I've done two trips out to the Red Centre, the first into Ayers Rock (I slept on a bench in a caravan park the first night, as there were not any accomodations to be found, and was visited by a dingo all night long), and the second basing myself in Alice Springs and doing a 3 day tour from there. If you did this type of tour, you can get to The Olgas, Ayers Rock (Uluru), and Kings Canyon.

The Olgas has a viewing platform when you come in, and there is a track you can walk around. I was most impressed with Kings Canyon, though. We stayed at a campground nearby that cared for orphaned joeys, and went to Kings Canyon at dawn. We hiked through the mountains there, and ended up at a watering hole. We came back out and had lunch at a picnic area.

You can buy a 24 hour pass at Ayers Rock that covers transit to the rock at dawn, daytime, and dusk, and also a sidetrip to The Olgas, which are pretty close.

Look at my photos. I thought the ones from Kings Canyon were the most impressive. Of all I saw, that's the one place I'd like to go back to.

Photos:

http://www.geocities.com/tom911

Check this link for tours listed on the Northern Territories tourist office web site:

http://www.ntholidays.com/home.asp

If you click on "tours", and then input "extended", "adventure" and "Alice Springs" as the gateway, a number of multiday tours will pop up for viewing. The company I used is not in business any longer, but Sahara Tours ran a very similar package, and they're still in business. We parked next to their 4WD tour buses a number of times (hold about 20 passengers max).

Great info Tom...sent you an email...waiting on more replies before I solidify my schedule...I will post in the end of what I come up with. Thx

If you go, by all means, rent a car, then you are not stuck on the many expensive and slow charter minivans that go to all the attractions.

I couldn't believe how expensive, crowded and unpleasant the resort was. However, we met some nice people later who stayed outside the resort and had a nice time.

If you have two months I would say yes, if you have three weeks, bag it.

lala

You should most definitely visit the Red Centre, if you've got the time.

But keep in mind as you're deciding whether or not to climb Ayers Rock (or, to use the Aboriginal name that it's officially reverted to, Uluru) that the Aboriginal people consider the Rock a sacred site and consider climbing it to be offensive to their traditions.

The not-very-complimentary name they have for climbers translates to "ants."

(edited to clarify an unclear phrasing)

[This message has been edited by greggwiggins (edited 09-04-2002).]

Just to be clear 58 days from now I leave for a 3 week tour down under.

LALALA...what would you do in place of Ayers Rock if you say bag it with only a 3 week stay? Just curious?

And isn't Barrosa the wine country ?

I consider the red centre a must.

our sunrise hike around Ayers Rock, hiking amongst the olgas was great, almost spiritual.

don't miss Kings Canyon, our hike there was one of our favorites anywhere. Stayed one night at a resort near the Canyon.

It's my personal opinion, but I recommend staying at Ayers Rock vrs. Alice Springs. There are some very reasonable accomodations.

We also did a sunrise balloon ride. WOW! floating only 100' above the outback watching camels and kangaroos. Very neat.

edited to add, we did a camel ride in Alice Springs along the main river which is dry most times. It was only a couple hours long, which was enough and fun. If I had the time I would do a camping trip w/camels in the outback. Stayed one night in Alice Springs.

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 09-04-2002).]

If I could do my whirlwind tour again, I would spend more time in Tasmania enjoying the moderate climate and lovely hiking. Oh, and they have pretty good wine too.

I like the Barossa and wish we had more time to enjoy the Margaret River area.

Don't get me wrong, Uluru is nice, but its a controlled resort area. If you can find an independent way to see it, then do it. I just found the whining tourists and marketing to be a bit tiresome.

Also, after spending time in the fine Aleutian chain, I didn't enjoy Alice Springs that much. It was rather depressing.

So, my next Australian places to visit are --
more of Tasmania - swansea looked good and so did Cradle mountain. I also want to see Broome in the Northern Territory. For some reason, the idea of red clay and turquoise water and pearl diving works for me.

We also spent a good part of our time taking the train across Australia. That trip, was really quite spectacular.

lala

LALALA, One concern I have it the "tourist" thing. I don't usually take kindly to these types of things because in my travels I am used to NOT doing the tourist kinda thing...but I should fare well since it is short.

Sweet Willie - I am worried that I need to set up my schedule for Ayers Rock prior to leaving the US..but thought I could just do the buffet pick and choose option once I land and use a hotel travel deask or concierge but I have heard accomodations can be hard to come by if you don't set up early enough.

Sweet Willie - any recommendations on who you used while there? Thanks...many responses and good info.

Broome is in WA (Western Australia) and is a great place..the sunsets are magical and worth the visit in themselves.

Phoebe

My wife and I just cashed in some UA miles ourselves, and will be off to Australia for three weeks on 10/31. We love the place--it'll be our sixth trip. We're going to Broome, too, which we visited once before and liked very much. It's possible to drive to Windjana Gorge and Geikie Gorge from there, which are very interesting, and the loooong drives let you see a lot of remote territory. I think you can forget near-shore swimming at Broome in November--box jellyfish. Also, bear in mind that it will be very hot and muggy, although the wet season should not yet have commenced. We're birders and are going for the migrant waders at Roebuck Bay. Another nice place in WA is Exmouth--the nearby Cape Range NP is very, very scenic with good opportunities for snorkelling (but first check out the killer jellyfish situation--we weren't there in November). Most of our trip (when we're not visiting some Aussie cousins of mine) this time will be in the SW and S of WA driving from Perth to Margaret River to Albany to Esperance and back--which should be great, but not what I'd recommend for one's first trip. Re Ayre's Rock, we liked it and the Olgas a lot, but I certainly wouldn't regard it as a "gotta see" around which you should structure your whole trip. We were there in 1983, so I can't comment on how touristy the area may have become. If you're going to see the Barossa, you might consider an excursion to the Flinders Range NP--excellent outback scenery and fine bushwalking in Wilpena Pound, with decent accommodations. Tasmania is extremely nice, but not at all where I personally would go on trip one. Don't neglect the rainforests of Queensland! We stayed once at a nice spot in the Cairns hinterland called Chambers Rainforest Apartments which was great and a bargain, but there are plenty of places from which to choose. If you want to snorkle, Lizard Island is great, as is Heron Island, and neither should present a stinger problem. As for rain, we've visited the Cairns area twice in November without any trouble. Hope this helps--you'll have a great time, I'm sure. The country and the people are wonderful.

I was born and raised in the Northern Territory, Darwin actually. My familys mode of transport was the car and because we were relatively poor, our holidays consisted of camping trips throughout the Northern Territory. In all this time we never visited Ayers Rock. Saying that, there is so much other stuff to see in the immediate area of the Rock that, since it is a holiday, why miss it. The olgers are one of my favorite places....so mysterious. Cooper Peddy is still one of my mothers favorite places and we visited there a least a couple of times a year. All of these things you listed are very definately worth doing if you have the time to enjoy them for what they are

Ayers Rock
Olgas
Kings Canyon
Katherine Gorge
Coober Petty


Australia is such a large country with 2 distinctive personalities and I think that to try and capture the essence (whatever that is) would be impossible on a vacation. When I moved to Brisbane (the City) as an Adult, my life was very removed from that in the outback. You cannot compare the 2 experiences! When I visit my family, who still live in Darwin, (I have been away for 10 years now) sometime I feel like I am on the set of Crocodile Dundee or something!!

Anyway that is my say...i hope you have a wonderful trip....don't miss the outback...I worked as a park ranger in Kakadu for a short time...Kings Canyon, Katherine Gorge, wish I was going now, but I have to wait till March.

Email me if you have questions I might be able to help with http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by mmmmmmmish (edited 09-05-2002).]

We have been to AU 4 times and never to Alice Springs or Ayres Rock. We have two more trips to schedule and they too, will not include the Rock.

It is a maximum time and expense versus all that there is to do in AU.

If you were advising someone from out of the country visiting the USA for 3 weeks, would you suggest going to the middle of the desert for 3-4 days as you suggest you might do in AU? You have plenty of "Mountain/mesas here on the West Coast to visit.

Sorry but almost anything would be an ungrade IN MY OPINION, but then it is your time and money, but you asked.

With only three weeks I would go to WA for the full time or split it between Sydney and Melbourne (or Adelaide).