Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs and Ayers Rock
Day 53 - Saturday, 22 May 2010
Today, we had to be at the station where The Ghan departs by 7am at the latest, so that we could have the Prius put onto The Ghan.
After leaving our lovely car in the hands of the blokes at the station, we went and waited until 8.30am when we were able to get on board. Our Platinum class room, while not really huge, was a darn sight more roomy than the next class, Gold. We each had a single fold down bed (just as wide as we are), our own shower and toilet, and we were served our meals in our room, because I found it very hard to walk along the corridors to the restaurant car. Also, when we got there, the tables and seats were obviously meant for lovely, young, thin people, and I couldn't fit in. Anyway, we were given very good service for all our trip. The landscape we passed through was very reminiscent of our trip over the Nullarbor. We decided we would go to bed without a shower, as it would be too hard. The lights are turned off at 10pm, leaving only a little overhead downlight on. So, we ended up going to sleep at about 10.30pm, but then, I woke up every couple of hours.
- J
Day 54 - Sunday, 23 May 2010
After being woken by our lovely attendant, Erin, with a cup of coffee today, we continued on until arriving in Alice Springs at about 11am.
Alice Springs is surrounded by lovely red rocky mountains. The town seems to built in amongst the huge mounds of beautiful coloured rocks.
We arrived at our motel, Desert Palms Resort, which turned out to be individual small cabins with steeply pitched roofs. We were really looking forward to a shower by then, and, wouldn't you know it? They had an electrical problem and we only had cold water until about 8pm.
We then decided to drive around the Alice for a bit, (the Todd River actually is dry sand, even after all the rain they have just had), then ended up having lunch at a local club, The Gillen Club, which was the usual club with pokies and a bar, and good food, but was also very kid friendly. There was a birthday party going on outside, where there was a lovely playground with a huge area (about the size of a swimming pool) covered by a massive rubber bubble the kids were bouncing on like a trampoline. Inside, there was a kids' room with an array of computer games.
After lunch, we went back to our motel where I did a load of laundry while waiting for the management to get the hot water problem fixed. We got to have a lovely hot shower by about 10pm, were asleep by 10.30pm and I slept for 8 HOURS! I never sleep for that many hours in a night. The bed was sooo lovely, and the room sooo lovely and dark. B. slept for about 10 hours.
- J
Day 55 - Monday, 24 May 2010
After our great sleep, we were ready for the 400 plus km drive to Ayers Rock today. Fantastic scenery for most of the drive! We stopped at Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse for lunch, checked out their lovely Aboriginal Art Gallery, bought me a beaut net to put over my head to stop the flies getting up my nose, and continued on until finally coming over a hill, to find Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the distance.
During the drive, we saw a lot of eagles circling every now and again, and, finally, we got to see a large flock of green budgies. One of the eagles flew straight up the road at us, then flew off over the top of our car.
Arrived at our accommodation for the night and it turned out to be as B. calls it, at least a 6 star hotel. He had to walk about 50 metres from the front door, down past a very expensive gift shop of beautiful glassware, Aboriginal art work, etc, to the reception. He was then told to bring me inside, where I was met with a wheelchair and wheeled to our room, which was about another 150 metres from reception. The room is sort of gobsmacking. We both have a queen size bed, the bathroom has beautiful marble floors and is about as big as an average bedroom, with, of course, two wash basins.
We are expecting to have yet another good night's sleep, then up early for a lovely breakfast in our room, then being wheeled back to reception to be picked up by the shuttle bus to take us for our much awaited helicopter flight over the Rock and The Olgas.
- J
Day 56 - Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Oh boy, have we had a day! After a really good night in our lovely hotel, we were picked up by the helicopter shuttle bus at 9am and taken out to the airport where we were given all the safety instructions, like 'Don't go near the tail rotor." Once more, we were levered into a little seat (a bit more comfortable than the plane at Kakadu), given a headset each, and off we went. Talk about breath-taking!
We had a very nice young man for a pilot, who pointed out all the sights.
We flew over towards The Olgas first. Fantastic!! The colours have to be seen to be believed on both The Olgas and the Rock. I didn't know that The Olgas were comprised of 36 different rocks. Just the sight of the green bushes on the red sand dunes is something to see. It's all so big, one can't express how awe inspiring it is.
The helicopter flight is much more exciting than the plane flight was. When the pilot banks over to turn the machine, there is just a bit of glass, and, of course a very tight seat-belt, between you and 3,500 feet
After going back to Ayers Rock, (I can't think what to say about Ayers Rock - it's just too overwhelming), and flying beside it, he then took us back to the airport. I thought we were going to bump when we landed, but, no such thing. Just a gentle touchdown. We both got out grinning like a pair of idiots. Adrenaline pumping!
The pilot has told us that it was really something to drive to the base of each site, so, after the bus brought us back to the hotel, we hopped into the car and drove out to the base of the Rock, and he was right. Up really close, it changes colour as the sun shifts. The Olgas are the same. We drove 50km out to the Olgas and back, then back out to the Rock, so we could get lunch at the Cultural Centre.
Now back in our hotel room, absolutely exhausted. Leaving tomorrow to go back to the Alice to catch The Ghan on Thursday to Adelaide.
- J
Something that surprised me, was how secure I felt in the helicopter. I had heard reports from others about how scary it was sitting in the front seat (where I was), with glass down to your feet. I must say I did not experience that at all. All told, a wonderful experience. We have now had a hot air balloon flight, a light plane flight, and today, a helicopter flight. As I said to our pilot today, I really can see how folk would want to learn to fly a helicopter. Add the venue to the experience, and this has been one of the most exhilarating days I can remember.
- B
Day 57 - Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Back to Alice Springs today.
Left our very lovely luxurious room at about 9.15am to travel back to the Alice, actually 457km. The scenery, which we had expected to be red, dry desert, has turned out to be covered in green bushes and grasses, due to all the rain we brought with us. It's a really great drive, back past Mt Conner, which we think almost rivals Ayers Rock. In fact, we saw it as we were driving into town yesterday, and thought it was actually Ayers Rock. It was only when the helicopter pilot pointed out that it was exactly in alignment with the Rock and The Olgas, that we realized that it wasn't the Rock.
We stopped at Erldunda for lunch, and also something for tea tonight. Then, back on the road again, this time driving through the McDonnell Ranges, which surround Alice Springs with beautiful, great outcrops of multi-coloured rocks.
Arrived back at the motel we stayed in after first arriving in Alice Springs, The Desert Palms Resort, a great place with very reasonable rates. http://www.desertpalms.com.au/accommodation.php
Had our tea which we had bought back at Erldunda. B. had bought an egg and lettuce roll which he said was so good, it was worth going back to Erldunda to get another one. A mere 200km. BTW, while I was waiting for him to visit the loo in Erldunda, I was reading a poster on the wall with the history of the Erldunda Roadhouse. It gets its water from 3 different bores, 1 that is only 5km away, but the water is not potable, and is therefore used for the garden, the other 2 are over 20km away. They also take in any emus that are injured on the roads, (no kangaroos because there is usually not enough water). They keep them and breed them, and are now sending them to other places that need emus.
Tomorrow, back on The Ghan for Adelaide.
- J
Day 58 - Thursday, 27 May 2010
Today, after checking out of our room, we once more got back on The Ghan. This time, our room was the last one in the last passenger carriage, even further down the train from everything. Still, our room was comfortable, and we were also facing forward this time, so we could see what was ahead.. We found going forward to be much more comfortable than facing backward. Yet again, we were waited on by a couple of very nice, young ladies, Hannah and Lauren. As soon as the train started, we were presented with two lovely scones, jam, cream and coffee. From then on, the food just kept coming and getting more exotic. For our evening meal, we had pork chops in a wine sauce, with veges - yum!
As we bounced along, the scenery outside was just as spectacular as before. As usual, we had an overcast sky, threatening to rain all the way to Adelaide.
This time, we also decided to take some photos of our room, to show everyone how nice it was. As last time, we got a lovely nightcap of liqueur before settling down for a bit of a bumpy night's sleep.
Day 59 - Friday, 28 May 2010
Before arriving in Adelaide, where we were going to spend only one night, we got an email from Cousin Lawrence and Irene to say they were going to be in Adelaide for a couple of days, so we asked them to book us into the same motel, so we could meet up with them.
On arriving in Adelaide, we found the lovely ladies of The Ghan had arranged for an electric people mover to meet us at our carriage to take us up to the waiting room, while they unloaded our car. So, we sat in this open people mover (like a large golf buggy), with a light bleeping on top, and drove the whole length of the train. One of the attendants had told me that it was 650 metres long. I felt like the Queen, as everyone on the platform turned around and watched as we drove past.
After picking up our car, we drove into Adelaide and found the hotel, the Adelaide Royal Coach Motor Inn, (http://www.countryclubs.com.au/royal-coach ). This is a full-facilities hotel/motel, with 24 hours reception and 24 hours room service. We are in a very comfy double room which we got for $130 per night complete with continental breakfast. Definitely worth a visit when in Adelaide. We settled in, met up with Irene and Lawrence, and ended up sitting in our room, consuming some lovely chocolate liqueur they had bought from Echuca, and some red wine. I think I am becoming addicted to liqueur.
Needless to say, we slept well last night.
- J
No comments:
Post a Comment