Kata Tjuta

A little ways down the road from Uluru is Kata Tjuta, another amazing rock formation. 

The highest peak is actually higher than Uluru, even though it doesn't seem like it. The rock winds in and out so there are many secret gorges and areas. 

There is a lovely little walk into one of the gorges to a watering hole. Seeing as how the rest of the area around the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deserty scrub, having the knowledge of where to find water was extremely important. It makes sense why this is a sacred place. 

As we walked farther between the rocks it became more silent and peaceful. I could almost imagine kangaroos and emus coming here to drink and have down under strange animal parties in this oasis. 

Uluru

Uluru was our ultimate destination for this road trip. After driving nearly 2000 km we reached Yulara, the resort town that has popped up to sustain visitors to Uluru. We checked into our campsite which we were happy to have booked ahead and went to see the rock.

It is big. It is red. And truly, it is amazing.  It's bigger than I imagined, and less perfect. It's silent and peaceful and important. There is nothing around the area and then suddenly there is this place. 

There are caves and waterfalls. Rock paintings and sacred sites. I had the overwhelming feeling that as people we need to take care of each other. 

"It's not that Uluru is bigger than you had supposed or more perfectly formed or in any way different from the impression you had created in you mind, but the very opposite. It is exactly what you expected it to be. You know this rock. You know it in a way that has nothing to do with calendars and the cover of souvenir books. Your knowledge of this rock is grounded in something much more elemental.

In some odd way that you don't understand and can't begin to articulate you feel an acquaintance with it - a familiarity on an unfamiliar level."

                  In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

There is something about this rock that you can't stop looking at... 

It was well worth travelling all those kilometres to see and experience this natural wonder. 

We are lucky indeed. 

Devil's Marbles

We stopped at the Devil's Marbles near Wauchope, NT. They are these very strange rock formations in the middle of nowhere. 

It honestly feels like they were just dropped here by aliens... or maybe the devil himself.

They almost look like they want to eat you!

I think that this is the kind of alien landscape that Captain Kirk would have battled a baddie on Star Trek. 

Look what TJ did! He's so strong!

Katherine Gorge

We got to Katherine Gorge, turned a corner onto a deserted trail and spotted this little guy. I grabbed TJ's arm and whispered "is this real life?"

Then we took the "easy" trail up to the top of the Gorge.

It was by no means easy. It was basically climbing stairs straight up a canyon wall. But instead of stairs it was mostly stair-like rocks, no handrail and a plunge to death if you moved 2 mm in the wrong direction. 

But the view was beautiful!

So beautiful that you almost wanted to go swimming. Until you remembered, of course, that those glistening waters are infested with hungry saltwater crocodiles. 

So, uh, maybe not. 

Walking a different way back to the bottom of the Gorge we discovered that it was dinner time for kangaroos! We lost count at about 30! Magic!!

Yarra Valley Wine Tour

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to be invited to a birthday party. But this wasn't just any old birthday party. Oh no. This one was a Yarra Valley Wine Tour!!

We got up at an ungodly hour and made our way to the birthday girl's house to catch a bus. I may have fallen asleep in the bus on the way out of town. 

We went to 4 vineyards where they let us try a splash of their wines and then had glasses and bottles to purchase. The first place had the best cheese plate. I mean look at this thing!!!

So many barrels of wine!

The next vineyard had 13 different wines for us to try! Their tasting room was located in an old hayshed and while is smelled rustic, it was also perfect, friendly and delicious!

This vineyard is actually owned by a pair of brothers. One does the wine thing while the other runs the organic orchard! 

The view was perfect, the weather was perfect. What is better than sipping wines on a sunny day with some fabulous people?

The last one we went to was a bit pretentious. They had 3 sparkling wines but instead of letting us taste them all we were given a lecture on them and then asked to choose one. This is why I like family-owned things rather than big corporations. 

They did have a lovely lawn that looked out onto the grape vines where we could sit and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Easter Sunday

With both TJ and I working like mad we don't get to see a lot of each other. We both had Easter Sunday off and went on an adventure. 

First we made Huevos Rancheros - Aussie style (corn tortillas are hard to come by!)

Then we walked to the city where TJ looked like the perfect misty-do tourist

Arts Precinct 

Our destination was the Eureka Tower

Look! Bees!

The Eureka Tower has a skydeck on level 88. You can see the whole city. There is a glass box that slides out from the building. That seemed unnecessarily expensive and scary. 

Arts Precinct from above and the MCG in the background

Federation Square

Fed Square and Flinders St Station

Yarra River and Melbourne Aquarium

We went back to earth on the fastest, ear-popping-est elevator of all time. We wandered around Southbank, had a delicious taco, got lost in the Crown Casino complex and ate thai and indian food before heading back up the tower for a night time view. 

Fed Square

Flinders St Station. I love all the lit up platforms!

The colours on the AAMI stadium (we watched a rugby game there) changed and were beautiful!

A pretty perfect way to spend Easter Sunday. We even had a couple of chocolate eggs!