Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

the Red Center of Australia

No words can accurately describe the feelings of the desert.

The closet way I can describe it to you is, imagine if you were alone inside Rick McGee’s version of an Eagles song.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a three hour flight West from Sydney deep into the Australian outback, in an area they call the Red Center within the Northern Territory. Uluru is an ancient rock formation that’s stood tall among the low sand dunes for 550 million years.

Shot on iPhone

Simply put Uluru is beautiful, beautiful land, beautiful sights, and is the coolest place to be. Home to feral camels, Dingoes, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos (they’re pink!!!) What else constitutes a good adventure? (btw ‘Feral’ is the word Australians use for invasive species)

I spent 4 days here which many say is too long as they exclaim “there’s nothing to do!”. First of all, existing in a place like that is enough and everything you can do is a vibe. We stayed at the Ayers Rock Campsite in a tent, by far the cheapest accommodation. Campsite was great, had a pool, super cool outdoor kitchen and full amenities.

ULURU

Uluru we did the base walk taking breaks to enjoy the serenity and spiritual sections of the walk. Driving to Uluru each sunset, and then staying for the stars is an awe inspiring experience. The absolute darkness and the bright stars against the stark black rock will be in my memory forever. A sunrise camel ride was a must, I can’t remember his name and I feel so bad, he was one the youngest camels and kept burping non stop. Love him still though.

KATA-TJUTA

Kata-Tjuta, is the lesser famous rock formation 40 minutes from Uluru. Indigenous story telling shares that Kata-Tjuta means fallen heads referring to the 36 domes. The valley of the winds walk is a dope ~7.5 KM hike through the rock formations.

KINGS CANYON

Kings canyon, is 3.5 hour trip from Ayers Rock Village; and so we took a day trip. Driving away form the mini civilization of Uluru was wild. You quickly pass Curtis Springs, a “town” of three houses, where the industry is to catch and train feral camels and import them around the world. Fun fact Australia has the largest population of feral camels in the world. Then importing the best looking and acting Camels to their native lands in Northern Africa and the Middle East. An even funner fact is that they quite literally chase the Camels in ATV’s until they can capture them, and the fastest camels can reach speeds of 70 KMPH.

Once you pass Curtis Springs there is quite literally nothing forever. Vast empty lands with dry low trees. Some cows and a super cool mountain formation called Mount Connor, which could trick someone driving in they already made it to Uluru.

Mount Connor (who usually gets no attention)

On the way there was a driver rest stop with a water tank and low and behold we saw major Mitchells Cockatoos!!! Such Beautiful animals, that gathered there to drink water left over from the tap.

After about 3 hours out, you get to a Kings Canyon Railway Stop, with 2 buildings, camels, gas a grill and a giftshop. Weirdly all the staff there had varying European accents, and when asked if they are enjoying their time here, they responded with a questioning grunt (hope they are OK!).

Eventually we finally made it to our destination, Kings Canyon. Which looked exactly like you were chilling on Mars. We embarked the rim walk, super dope hike, which you can’t start after 10AM since it gets too hot. This was the only area that might have had Emu’s since the Red Center is too barren for a lot of wildlife, no Emu’s spotted but we did see a young Red Kangaroo vibing on the trail with us.

That is all. In short, I made it out alive. Didn’t see snakes surprisingly either. Better luck next time. hope you enjoyed my pics,

Peace & Love ~KP

P.S the NT is such a cool state. Often called the final frontier of Australia, vast wilderness from the Northern Tropics with Crocodiles and Box Jellyfish stretching into the Central desert where there are Camels and Emus. I REALLY want to return, Darwin is calling my name.

P.S.S. The gas station by the campsites have the best cheapest food. absolutely fire meat pies for a fraction of the price of any food there period. love me some Aussie meat pies with bbq sauce, MUCK.