Dawn had come and go. Rising at 5am was well worth it: the sunrise over Uluru and Kata Tjuta proved to be spectacular. After seeing Kata Tjuta from atop the sand dunes, it was now time to see it up close and learn about the many stories behind it.

Our young and energetic guide Nick claimed this to be his favorite part of the trip, “At Uluru, we can only walk around its base and admire it from below. But here at Kata Tjuta, we get to walk in and around the site, and immerse deep within it.” He said that once, there was an Australian woman in his group who cried the whole time they were hiking in Kata Tjuta – because it was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen.

Domes of the Olgas

We were eager to see Kata Tjuta’s beauty for ourselves and it wasn’t long before we were hiking along the Valley of the Winds route that snaked into and around the domes of Kata Tjuta. A cluster of large dome rock formations, Kata Tjuta is also known as the Olgas (because of the highest point Mount Olga). But don’t let this name fool you – the 36 domes that make up Kata Tjuta are assembled in such a unique and artistic way. From the base, we could see each dome rock pointing in a different direction, soaring into the sky like heads of giants. Perhaps that’s why the local Anangu named the site Kata Tjuta, meaning  ‘many heads’ in the Pitjantjajara language.

A cluster of large dome rock formations, Kata Tjuta is also known as the Olgas. But don’t let this name fool you – the 36 domes that make up Kata Tjuta are assembled in such a unique and artistic way.

“Kata Tjuta is a very sacred spot, only suitable for initiated men.” From our hike in Uluru, we knew this whole national park was a sacred area for the local Anangu who have been lived here for approximately 20,000 years. But here in Kata Tjuta, most of  the sensitive spots are away from the walking trail.

“There are many Pitjantjatjara dreaming legends associated with this place. A number of legends surround the great snake king Wanambi who is said to live on the summit of Mount Olga and only comes down during the dry season.” Tell us some of these legends, I urged Nick. “Unfortunately, the majority of mythology surrounding the site is not disclosed to outsiders.”

“There are many Pitjantjatjara dreaming legends associated with this place. A number of legends surround the great snake king Wanambi who is said to live on the summit of Mount Olga and only comes down during the dry season.”

Ancient Rocks of History

As we continued to make our way deeper into the dome rocks, we found ourselves looking at the highest point of Kata Tjuta – Mount Olga, rising 1,066 m (3,497 ft) above sea level. It’s hard to imagine all these rocks date back to 500 million years, when they were all part of the Mount Currie Conglomerate.

Back in those days, these mountains were higher than the Himalayas but when Earth’s tectonic plates started separating, these mountains were lifted. Uluru was formed when part of the mountain got shifted 180 degrees, therefore resulting in a monolith; while Kata Tjuta was raised in various directions, causing the mound to be shattered into many domes.

On the surface of these sedimentary rocks, we could see striations, a result of different types of rocks mashed together. We also saw black stains on these rocks, a result of rainwater tricking down the rocks’ surface. Traipsing down these rocks, we found ourselves passing bearded dragons and galahs along the way – wildlife often found in the Central Australian desert.

By this time, the temperature was reaching 38 degrees Celsius, and the sun was blazing. We had started our hike at 7am so that we could walk in the morning temperatures but even though it’s hardly past 9am, we were soaked in sweat and finding it hard to cope with the weather. The trail was already closed for hikers and we had to finish our hike before 11am otherwise the extreme temperature might become a danger.

Soon we were climbing up steps that were naturally carved into the rock surface, towards the Karingana lookout point that led us way up towards the top of the valley. I struggled to keep up with the pace, the sun’s rays shining ferociously upon me, making it harder than before to continue. By the time we got to to the lookout point, we were drenched in sweat but thrilled to see a stunning panorama before us. The entire basin stretched out beneath us, with Uluru in the far distance. We sat and drank in the views, treating ourselves to some trail mix and snacks while taking some respite under the shade.

Winding Down At Camp

The walk back down to our starting point was easier than before as we skipped and hopped down to the valley, past creek beds, and over dome rocks. That day, we walked a total of 7.4km in three and a half hours, a great feat considering the extreme weather.

In the evening, we drove over to Kings Creek Station, a cattle ranch that had been featured in the ‘Australian Story’, a TV series about how an Australian couple had bought the land and and made it their mission to help educate the local Aborigines. It’s a great success story and we were glad to have the opportunity to be part of this brilliant project.

Before dinner, we set off to explore the sparse forest that surrounded our campsite. According to Nick, there were wild camels and dingos in the area – but all we found were massive mounds of black ants. As the sun set, we began piling out the wooden branches that we’d picked up along the way, and started a fire. We were blessed with a great cook as our guide, and as Nick whipped up stir-fried chicken for dinner, we all helped out while chatting and having a great time in the kitchen shack. For dessert, he prepared his specialty dish – delicious bush bread that tasted like fragrant scones.

That night, we slept like babies, tucked comfortably under our swags to a view of the star-lit skies before us.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Camping in Australia’s Red Center – Part III: Conquering Kings Canyon

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tourism Northern Territory and Wayoutback Desert Safaris for making this trip possible! While the trip was sponsored, all opinions expresses above are our own.

The post Camping in Australia’s Red Center – Part II: Exploring Kata Tjuta appeared first on Wild Junket.

Dawn had yet to arrive, but the sounds of the desert had awoken me. I opened my eyes to the sounds of birds chirping and dingoes howling in the distance. A sky full of stars sprawled before me, the Milky Way running its course overhead. I listened to the desert orchestra and smiled to myself, enjoying this rare moment of solitude to myself. It was a privilege to be here in Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park, but even more so was the opportunity to camp out in this quiet and remote spot, and awaking to such a beautiful surrounding.

It was a beginning of a new day and the start of an action-packed day in Uluru. After a quick breakfast over the campfire, we packed up our swags, sleeping bags, and belongings and drove up a sand dune to watch the sun rise over Uluru and Katja Tjuta.

We didn’t have to wait for long:  Blinding rays of orange flashed across the vast desert like a laser light show. What was grey and black in the dawn light instantly came alive. The brooding Uluru was now painted in burgundy red, rising from a lime green plain of spinifex grass with patches of red sand in between. The stack of rock mountains at Kata Tjuta was illuminated in a shade of rose red, with striated lines of black and white running across their flaky surface. The fascinating transformation from night to day took place in a sheer matter of minutes – but it was a moment I would remember for life.

What was grey and black in the dawn light instantly came alive. The brooding Uluru was now painted in burgundy red, rising from a lime green plain of spinifex grass with patches of red sand in between.

Aboriginal Culture in the Outback

We were on a camping safari with Wayoutback Desert Safaris, spending three days in the national park camping, hiking, and exploring the area. The three main sites in the national park are Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon – all of which are considered sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the Red Center. Having lived here for a approximately 20,000 years, the Anangu have a particularly close relationship with their land – surviving entirely on what the bush provides for food, education and spiritual development. Today, the traditional landowners continue to live here, protecting and managing the World Heritage Site.

The day before, we had started our trip from Alice Springs, a gateway town in the Outback. Led by our young and feisty guide Nick, we drove almost 335km (208 miles) through vast fields of red sand and green spinifex along with 16 other campers on board a massive 4WD truck. The Stuarts Highway, that connects the top end of Australia all the way to the southern edge, brought us right into the heart of the Red Center. Along the way, we saw falcons flying overhead and giant lizards crossing the road. Sometimes we drove for miles without seeing anyone else in sight – that was the sign that we were heading further away from civilization and closer towards the our destination.

 Having lived here for a approximately 20,000 years, the Anangu have a particularly close relationship with their land – surviving entirely on what the bush provides for food, education and spiritual development.

Our first stop was the Uluru Cultural Centre, where we hungrily devoured interesting information about the area’s cultural heritage and tradition. Here, we learnt about the Anangu, one of the 500 different Aboriginal tribes that live all over Australia. They speak mainly Pitjantjatjara (pronounced as pigeon-jarrah) and Yankunytjatjara (pronounced as young-kun-jarrah), each of which only boast 4,000 speakers.

Having been named Ayers Rock by the Europeans who arrived later, Uluru is now once again known by its Aboriginal name. When I asked Nick about the meaning of Uluru and how it came about, he explained, “The word Uluru has no specific meaning in Pitjantjatjara, it’s merely the name of a place, although the place itself holds very special meaning for the Anangu.”

Dreaming and Songlines

So why is Uluru such a sacred spot for the Anangu?

When we arrived at the base of Uluru, Nick pointed at the monolithic rock mountain rising above the sand before us and said in an almost poetic fashion, “Look at it. How many monoliths like this do you see in the world?” Spotting big blond dreadlocks, Nick looked like a new-age hippie but he had an endless thirst for Aboriginal knowledge and he was as curious and intrigued by his own country as we were.

We stood staring at the majestic Uluru, thought for a moment and nodded in unison. In the morning sun, Uluru spotted a perfect dome-shaped silhouette. There was nothing surrounding it, except for flat desert plains that ran for miles. It was as though God had purposefully molded it into what it is today – a flawless mound of red sandstone, standing lonesome and majestic in the middle of the desert. There really isn’t any monolith as big and perfectly sculpted as Uluru anywhere else.

Because Uluru is considered sacred, this spot often appeared in Aboriginal Tjukurpa (pronounced ‘chook-orr-pa’) stories. Tjukurpa has many deep, complex meanings – even the Aboriginals themselves find it a concept hard to explain. In general, Tjukurpa refers to the creation period when ancestral beings created the world. From this came their religious heritage, explaining their existence and guiding their daily life. Like religions anywhere in the world, Tjukurpa provides answers to important questions, the rules for behavior and for living together.

Many of the rock paintings on Uluru show scenes from Aboriginal dreaming, which explain how the rock was created and how some cracks came about on Uluru. Scientifically speaking, the cracks and flakes on Uluru are formed by the extreme cooling of water beneath the rock layer (which freezes at night and then expands in the day, which causes the cracking). But the Anangu think otherwise and they’ve got plenty of stories to show their side of it.

Because Uluru is considered sacred, this spot often appeared in Aboriginal Tjukurpa stories. Tjukurpa has many deep, complex meanings – even the Aboriginals themselves find it a concept hard to explain.

The rocks told many stories – those of the Anangu and of the Europeans. We came upon drawings of camels on the walls. Nick explained that these paintings were done during the 1850s when Europeans arrived with camels. The first European who came was Ernest Giles, who first sighted Uluru in 1872 and climbed the monolith with the help of an Afghan camel driver. This spot became the classroom for the Anangu children, who all came here to learn about the dreaming stories.

Meandering further along the base of Uluru, Nick picked out plants like the bush fig and wattle (Australia’s national flower), which fed the Anangu for centuries. Even now, it is still part of the Aboriginal culinary tradition, which we would learn about later during a Mbauta dinner with an Aboriginal chef. Continuing on our walk, we found a part of the rock formation that resembled a wave. Nick told us this was the kitchen for the Anangu. There was a grinding area where they used to ground wattle seeds and drain blood from kangaroos. They usually barbecued the kangaroos for a short while and ate them almost raw as the meat would have more moisture in them.

By this time, the sun was blazing even though it was only 11am. Temperatures at Uluru can rise up to 42 degrees Celsius and dip to a low of 5 at night. To escape the extreme heat of Uluru, we headed back to the camp. Nick grilled some thick juicy Australian sausages and we all gathered for a quick lunch, before heading back to the base of Uluru for another evening walk. There are several hiking routes along the base and it takes several days to walk all of them.

Uluru’s Modern Day Problems

When tourism in Uluru started in the 1940s, the white Europeans drove the Aboriginals out as they didn’t want them in the area when tourists were taking photos. The Anangu suffered in silence, left their sacred land, and retreated deeper into the desert. Fortunately in the 1970s, the land was eventually returned to the Anangu.

They now have a shared management program with the government authorities, which means both parties maintain the site, protect it and make any Uluru-related decisions together. On the board of authorities, half of the members are Aboriginals and the other half are white Australian government officials. The board ensures that visitors to the site adhere to both Aboriginal laws and Australian rules.

Photography of sacred sites is not allowed and no other animals are allowed to be brought into the park. Climbing Uluru is strongly discouraged as it is considered disrespectful to the Aboriginals; but it is not completely banned, so some people still attempt the climb. Each year around 40 climbers die, because of the danger involved (some slip and fall, others suffer from the heat). Some of these climbers hike and camp on the top, which often destroys the environment considering how fragile Uluru is. I personally think that as travelers, we should always respect the locals, regardless of where we are in the world and as such, I would never attempt the climb.

Continuing further along the trail, we came across an area with burnt vegetation. Nick explained that the vegetation was just recently burnt by a young Aboriginal boy. The Aborigines like to burn vegetation so that new plants can grow and that would give them more food. This has become quite a serious problem in Australia, and we’ve seen it in other parts of the country as well. Thankfully, Nick said that the burning in Uluru is controlled now.

Right before ending our walk, someone in the group pointed out to a giant lizard standing on a rock surface. It was a perentie, Australia’s largest reptile. We watched in awe, amazed to find a creature of this size running wild in the desert. It stood staring at us for a long time, before sneaking off into the seams of the rock.

Sunset at Uluru

By the time we finished our walk, it was the perfect time to catch the sun set over Uluru. We drove out to a nearby lookout point, but sadly we were not the only ones there – a whole row of tourist buses and campervans had already gathered here to watch the spectacle.

“When sun is low, the sky becomes red because of the infrared rays that penetrate through the atmosphere. And when that happens, Uluru will become red too.” Nick shared with us.

Along with probably hundreds of other tourists, we stood with our cameras ready, anticipation and tension piercing the air. Soon enough, the color of the rock changed quickly from sandy brown to orange and eventually bright red. As Nick said, Uluru was now shrouded in a shade of vermillion red, glowing like a tungsten light bulb against a clear cloudless sky. Everyone went silent, watching the phenomenon in awe.

As the magical moment passed us, Nick popped open a bottle of champagne and we clinked glasses in celebration of the moment. Platters of cheese and crackers were served and everyone was in high spirits; Nick was spoiling us terribly. Back at the campsite, night fell and we were quick to get started on cooking. The guys helped Nick start the fire while some of us girls started chopping, dicing and washing. It was plenty of fun getting to know our group of travelers from different corners of the world – made up of a Norwegian couple, an outgoing Canadian brother and sister team, an American girl traveling solo around Australia for a year, and two young German boys who had just graduated from college.

That night, we sat by the campfire and tucked into a hearty meal of pasta bolognaise and chocolate cake, chatting and laughing as Nick told us campfire stories. Under the starry skies, we tucked into our sleeping bags and swags and dozed off – dreaming about what would await us the next day.

TO BE CONTINUED…. 

Camping in the Red Center Part II: Exploring Kata Tjuta

Additional Info:

The weather conditions in Uluru can be very extreme, with blazing heat in the day and cool desert temperature at night. We visited in October and the heat was really extreme. I fell sick after a day under the sun. Be sure to bring lots of water and hydration salt with you and wear layers for the extreme weather. Hiking at the base of Uluru is rather easy and straightforward, the longest hike we did at Uluru was three-hour long but it was a flat path. If you’re hiking on your own, be sure to time your walks with the coolest time of the day (either before 8am or after 5pm).

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tourism Northern Territory and Wayoutback Desert Safaris for making this trip possible! While the trip was sponsored, all opinions expresses above are our own.

The post Camping in the Red Center – Part I: Uluru and its Aboriginal Roots appeared first on Wild Junket.

Sprawled across the base of the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia, the desert park is a beautifully sculpted patchwork of sand country where kangaroos roam, birds fly overhead, and endangered bilby burrow underground. There’s hardly any fence around – it’s almost like an open-air playground where all of the area’s wildlife live freely.

Using a combination of endemic plants, animals and Aboriginal culture, the park introduces visitors like us to the desert environment. The desert is often thought of as vast and barren – but unknown to many, it’s full of life – and this desert park definitely proves that point. Let’s take a look at the different aspects of the park:

Wildlife

During our visit, the park’s guides highly recommended the bird show – where we got to see and interact with the resident birds like the beautiful barn owl, galah (or rose-breasted cockatoo), black kite eagle and crested pigeon. The park’s young rangers were fun and full of live, providing tons of interesting information about these feathered creatures. We met one of them, a young zoologist from Queensland who had left the sunny tropical climate to brave the harsh desert conditions because of her love for these animals. She had initially come as a volunteer but eventually fell in love with the owls and galahs.

Another corner we really enjoyed was the nocturnal house where we got a glimpse of several rare and intriguing creatures like the bandicoot and the greater bilby. The greater bilby is an endangered creature, its population having been reduced by fire and foxes, while the bandicoot is a very vulnerable specie and now found only in very few parts of Australia. The reptile section of the house was rather impressive as well, with displays of thorny devil and bearded dragons. As these nocturnal creatures do not thrive under bright light, the whole house was dim and packed with mystery.

Environment

The park is divided into three separate walk-through desert habitats accessed through a 1.6-kilometer trail: Desert Rivers, Sand Country, and Woodland. In the desert river area, we walked through dry river beds where red gums and reeds thrive and mingled with cockatoos and frogs (we could literally walk inside the vegetation area). The sand country showed us the natural conditions of the sandy desert including many salt plans and gypsum. The woodland was our favorite habitat where kangaroos, wallabies and emus scampered around in their own environment. We would hang out with them and just sit nearby with no interference.

Aboriginal Culture

The park is also of significant cultural importance to the local Arrernte people and includes parts of the Akngwelye Artnwere and Yeperenye Altyerre (wild dog and caterpillar dreaming stories). The Arrernte is just one of the 500 Aboriginal tribes that live in Australia and there are over 500 Aboriginal languages spoken throughout the country (unknown to many, the Aborigines are not just one tribe). Much of the work of the park is managed by the park’s traditional landowners who are now known as the traditional custodians of the park.

We met Alice Furber, one of the park’s Arrernte custodians and guides. She’s passionate about her own tribe and is determined to educate the public about their culture and traditions. First she talked about the Arrernte’s skin system – something that ensured their continued existence. “We have a skin system that ensures our bloodline stays pure. The Arrernte only marry within the tribe.” Alice explained. The skin system give them a deep sense of belonging.

Alice then showed us how the Arrernte survive on the desert environment for food. Even today, most people in the tribe spend almost 80% of their time hunting for food – both men and women alike – so this is a very important part of their culture. “There’s a supermarket out there,” said Eric, a fellow Arrernte guide, pointing to the bush beyond. He showed us an array of plants and fruit that they usually collect from the surroundings:  bush coconut, quandong, bush cucumber, plums, and figs – which we would try later over a bush dinner prepared by an Aboriginal chef.

“People wonder what it is that is so special here and it is because everything comes here. We connect to it, we’re a part of it. Our Country is our home, and we know all the sites and all the features, our rocks, our trees, our hills. We come up with our Country. We come up with it and feel it so strongly.”

- Doris Kngwarraye Stuart, Alice Springs Custodian

Indeed, the Arrernte have a special connection with their land – and it’s easily seen here through the eyes of Alice and Eric. Perhaps it’s because I personally miss having a sense of belonging that but I deeply admire the Aborigines for the strong connection they have with their home.

Additional Info:

Entrance fee for the Alice Springs Desert Park is AU$25 per person. It’s opened from 7.30am to 6pm daily. The Desert Park is approximately a 10 minute journey from the centre of Alice Springs. The Park is accessible by motor vehicle, touring coaches or Desert Park Transfers.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tourism Northern Territory and the Alice Springs Desert Park for making this trip possible! While the trip was sponsored, all opinions expresses above are our own.

The post Digging Beneath the Surface: Getting to Know the Central Australian Desert appeared first on Wild Junket.

At the Alice Springs Reptile Center, we learned about all the various kinds of lizards in Central Australia, from the aptly named thorny devil to the largest reptile in Australia, the perentie. These reptiles are nothing short of bizarre and extraordinary – some featuring sharp spikes on their head, while others dangle flappy beards from their chins. The smallest reptile in at the center measured at just 2 inches long, and the largest at 79 inches. We even got the chance to get up close and personal to several of its inhabitants, including the resident goanna that was roaming freely in the grounds of the reptile centre.

To give you a look at what sort of reptiles hides beneath the sand of the Red Center, here’s a photographic introduction.

Thorny Devil

Featuring real thorns all over its body, the thorny devil (also known as thorny dragon) is definitely the most peculiar reptile species we’ve seen. It has a unique way of defending itself: with a spiny “false head” on the back of its neck, the lizard presents it to potential predators instead of its real head. Its conical spines are usually colored in camouflaging shades of desert browns and tans. 

Bearded Dragon

The bearded dragon may look rather fierce, but it’s actually very shy. When threatened, it usually displays a spectacular defensive stance by opening its mouth fully, extending its ‘beard’ backwards and expanding its ribs. This type of lizard usually lives in the arid, rocky, semidesert regions and dry open woodlands.

Perentie

The Perentie is Australia’s largest reptile, with reliable records of this species growing up to two meters in total length. As a member of the monitor (or goanna) family, it is strictly carnivorous, feeding on insects and other reptiles. It is regarded by the indigenous Aboriginal culture as sacred, and many are depicted in Aboriginal art and stories such as ‘How the Perentie and Goanna got their Colours’. We actually spotted one in the wild, roaming freely around Uluru. It had a massive tail and a long tongue to accompany it.

Common Green Tree Frog

Australia’s green tree frog is the most common frog species, though it’s largest than most Australian frogs (reaching around 4 inches in length). Despite its name, it changes color from olive green to bright green to brown. Not at all timid, it’s often found living with humans in showers and toilets. The green tree frog screams when it’s in danger to scare off its foe; and it squeaks when it is touched.

Gidgee Skink

Spotting rough, spiny scales, the gidgee skink is unlike other skinks due to its outstanding defence system. First it moves into narrow crevies or tree splits and inflates its body with air. This allows its spiny scales to act like little hooks, preventing it from being pulled from its predator.

Blue-Tongued Skink

As its name implies, this lizard has a prominent blue tongue that is usually bared as a bluff-warning to potential enemies. A pity the picture doesn’t show its tongue. It’s a diurnal, ground-foraging omnivore, feeding on a wide variety of insects, gastropods, flowers, fruits and berries.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tourism Northern Territory for making this trip possible! While the trip was sponsored, all opinions expresses above are our own.

The post Under the Sand: What Lies Beneath Australia’s Red Center appeared first on Wild Junket.

We are flying above Alice Springs on a hot air balloon, surrounded by swathes of wilderness. This part of Central Australia is a vast expanse of reddish brown desert studded with patches of yellow-green spinifex and gum trees, home to no more than a few Aboriginal communities and wildlife. There are no big land masses or big structures, just sprawling bushes all over the horizon. Atop a hot air balloon, it’s easy to get a sense of the vastness of the Australian outback.

Up, Up and Away

Our hot air balloon flight had started earlier that morning, at the crack of dawn. It was still completely dark when we got to our launch site; the sky was studded with millions of stars and the temperatures were well below 10 degrees Celsius. These hot air balloons can only rise in the early hours of dawn because of the colder temperatures, explaining why flights only occur in the early morning. Besides, temperatures in this desert skyrocket to a scary 38 degrees Celsius at noon, making it close to impossible to fly anytime after 7am.

Shivering in the cold desert air, we helped our pilot Ron and his colleague Byron set up for our flight. The enormous balloon is as tall as a 14-story building, so everyone had to chip in to help unfold it and set it to its take-off position. Just as Ron and Byron fired up the balloon, all 20 of us hopped in quickly and watched in excitement. As soon as we lifted off, the balloon rose slowly above the canopy of the bush. Despite being in a group of 20, there was a soothing silence as we all soaked in the view around us.

The flight was slow and relaxing, so much so that we barely noticed that we were almost 1,300 feet above the ground. At one point, we all gasped out loud as a tree came within inches away from us, but we barely felt a thing as our basket floated over it. Due to the wind conditions, we bobbed up and down mid-air, at times floating so close to the bush canopy that we felt we were almost landing, while other times we were so high we could almost see the mountains in the distance.

“You’re about to see me spit, not just because it’s fun but because it’s my way to test the wind direction and speed,” Ron said. Apparently he wasn’t joking. A small lump of spit could determine where the wind was blowing from and how fast we were going. Ron also shared that the maximum legal height for hot air ballooning is 10,000 feet but the height best for viewing is anything below 1,000 feet. We didn’t know how the view was like from 10,000 feet, but from our vantage point, the view was definitely spectacular.

Above the Clouds

As we glided over the bush, we could see rugged, colossal mountain ranges looming in the near distance. “That is part of the West MacDonnell Ranges, and below us, is the Owen Springs cattle station. It is over 3,000 sq km and covers a big part of this area.” I gasped, that is almost 30 times the size of my home country.

I was strangely surprised to see how green the landscape was. Based on our previous conversations with local experts, we knew that Australia’s Red Centre is nowhere near empty. It is home to hundreds of different species of plant life, but I had no idea it would be packed with this much vegetation. From this height, I got a refreshing perspective of the desert: from the sand dunes to the amount of vegetation.

“That is why hot air ballooning is such a great way to see the outback. Not only do you feel the magnitude of the desert, you also get a really different perspective from here. Just see for yourself and you know what I mean,” Ron explained.

Ron has been a hot air balloon pilot for six years but he’s still as serious and passionate about his job as day one. “Many people think it’s easy and relaxing to control hot air ballooning, but we pilots have to be very careful. All your lives are in our hands. There is no room for errors.”

His colleague Byron is equally enthusiastic about hot air ballooning. Byron’s parents had set up Outback Hot Air Balloons a few decades ago when they first moved here. He took his first flight when he was just two years ago, and got his pilot license at the tender age of 16. Today, he can’t imagine his life without ballooning. Outback Hot Air Balloon remains the one and only ballooning company in the Alice Springs region.

Back on land, Byron pulled out a few bottles of champagne and popped them open to celebrate the end of our flight. We all clinged glasses and cheered to the spectacular flight we just had – with beautiful images of the outback etched in our mind.

Disclaimer: This experience was made possible by Tourism NT and Outback Hot Air Ballooning, but all opinions expressed above are our own.

The post Outback Hot Air Ballooning: Seeing Alice Springs From Above appeared first on Wild Junket.

Sunrise at Uluru and Kata Tjuta was a stunning sight to behold, and there was no better moment to experience these two impressive sights than at the crack of dawn. While on a three-day desert safari out in Australia’s Red Centre, we got the chance to see it for ourselves. The fascinating transformation from night to day took place in a sheer matter of minutes – and yet, it had the power to stay deeply imprinted in my memories.

We’re sharing these memories with you here through our photos, hope they bring you there with us!

Disclaimer: This experience was made possible by Tourism NT and Wayoutback Desert Safaris, but all opinions expressed above are our own.

The post Photoblog: Sunrise in Uluru, Australia appeared first on Wild Junket.

In a desert as full of life as this, we had much to discover over the week. Starting our journey in Alice Springs, we got face to face with the area’s wildlife at the Desert Park, before getting even closer to the lizards and giants at the Reptile Center. Onboard our funky campervan, we then headed out to the West MacDonnell Ranges where we hiked through gorges, waterholes and beautiful rock formations. The last part of the trip was by far the highlight for us: a 3-day camping safari to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park where we trekked around the world-famous site and learned all about the Aboriginal roots of this area.

We feasted on stunning scenery each day, from organ-shaped sandstone cliffs, to oasis-like waterholes and majestic rock formations, and yet we’ve barely covered a quarter of this massive desert. We’ll be sure to return again someday, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our best photos from this trip into the Red Centre, hope you enjoy them!

The world famous Uluru rising from the sands of the desert

The oddly shaped domes of Kata Tjuta

On board a hot air balloon, we saw the sun rise over Alice Springs

Standing at the edge of the impressive Kings Canyon

The sun peeks over the water at Ellery Creek in West MacDonnell

That’s us looking happy as we hike through the beautiful Ormiston Gorge

Our group of hikers trekking along the rocky trails of Kata Tjuta

Hallelujah for this beautiful day and gorgeous sight at Glen Helen Gorge

A black kite eagle soars through the skies above Alice Springs Desert Park

A yellow bearded dragon shows us its fancy scales at Alice Springs Reptile Center

My favorite reptile so far: the aptly named thorny devil

One of the many kangaroos we saw hopping freely in Alice Springs

Our trusty companion for the trip: the Britz Bushcamper, an awesome 4WD campervan that took us all over the Red Centre

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tourism Northern Territory for making this trip possible! While the trip was sponsored, all opinions expresses above are our own.

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Now twelve years later, Alberto and I are heading back to Australia once again and this time, we’ll be spending a month there to explore as much as we can! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be doing a road trip from the Red Center of Australia to Adelaide in the south, then on to Tasmania, before heading back up to to Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef. Driving is one of our favorite ways of exploring a country, for the flexibility and freedom that comes along with it. This will be our first time driving a campervan and we’re seriously looking forward to it.

Northern Territory

We’ll be flying in to Alice Springs, thanks to the kind folks at Tourism Northern Territory who have arranged our trip for us. We’ve been dreaming of camping out in the Red Center and experiencing the real Outback so we’re stoked to have this chance this time. We’ll start off the journey with a trip a camel track and several self-guided hikes around the desert, before hopping on a hot air balloon to see it from above. I’m most looking forward to joining Wayoutback Desert Safaris on a 3-day camping safari through Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, to see the world-famous Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon.

Flickr photo by Paolo Rosa

South Australia

From Alice Springs, we’ll then pick up our campervan from Britz and head down south. Alberto and I love driving abroad, and camping under the stars so we’re really excited about renting a campervan. Thanks Britz and Tourism South Australia for making this possible! We’ll be spending a five days driving through the Painted Desert, Coober Pedy and Flinder’s Range to get to Adelaide before catching up with some old friends there.

Flickr photo by Paleontour

Tasmania

Our journey will then take us down south to Tasmania, one place we’ve both always wanted to go after reading about it. Tourism Tasmania has kindly arranged plenty of activities for us, such as paddling in Freycinet Peninsula, Hollybank tree top adventure, Gordon River Cruise and trekking in Cradle Canyon. We’ll again be driving all over the island, but this time we’ll get to stay at a few hotels including the beautiful Cradle Mountain Lodge set in the wilderness of Cradle Mountain.

Flickr photo by Razmataz

Brisbane

For the last part of our trip, we’re picking up another campervan with Mighty Campers and driving along the coast near Brisbane and then up to Heron Island, which lies right on the Great Barrier Reef. As avid scuba-divers, we’ve always wanted to experience diving the Great Barrier Reef and it’s one of the main reasons why we wanted to come back to Australia. Heron Island is not another Great Barrier Reef resort, it’s a resort on the Great Barrier Reef. We can literally dive off our backyard to see one of the world’s wonders.

Photo from Heronisland.com

This trip’s definitely shaping into a power-packed journey. We’re all psyched up for this adventure down under and we’ll be updating here whenever we get the chance, be sure to leave us some travel tips or ideas!

For more live updates, follow us on Twitter using the hashtag #OZJunket or keep a look out on our Facebook page!

To see our itinerary on a map, click to play:

Disclaimer: Our trip was made possible by all the sponsored mentioned above, but all opinions expressed are our own.

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AThe Arnhem Escarpment that borders the land of the Aborigines in the Kakadu National Park - Northern Territory, Australia.

The post Daily Travel Snapshot: Northern Territory, Australia appeared first on Wild Junket.