Ayers Rock - The Mulga Bus Tour

The Outback was best experienced with someone who knew what they where talking about. We had both decided long before we where in Alice Springs that we wanted to do a camping tour of all the amazingly wonderfull Abarigional Areas that is in Central Australia.
We did some research and found the cheapest company to go with, without sacrafising the quality. It was all with young 20 something backpackers, (sounds awfull doesnt it, but it really wasnt)all of whom where easy going, up for a laugh kind of people, which made the three days so much fun, and all the endless hours on the bus not at all tedious.
Our Guide was the real mother hen of the group too, very chatty and fun, and was popular with everyone. It was a great 3 days (minus the 5am starts) and we learnt alot about the area. Day one consisted of leaving Alice Springs and driving to Ayres Rock. Jamie and I both dedcided that we didnt want to climb up to the top due to the fact that we had spent the whole of our travels with a determination to be respectfull of other peoples belifes and practices, and this was not any different, so we did the walk round the base instead, which was about 9 kilometres.
Funnily enough, up close its actually a pretty repetative walk, with a few interesting bits at the begginning, like wall paintings, but then after is dry desolate desert with a big rock on your right hand side. Im not saying it was boring in any way, as thr real magic happened a few kilometres away at a look out point when the sun went down, which is what we did next.

After camping under the stars that evening, and another 5 am sart, we drove back to the same spot and watched sunrise over Uluru (ayres). Then onto another More spectacular collection of Rocks called Kata Juta. Which can you belive is connected underground to ayres rock, even though their about an hours drive away.
Then after another amazing walk, we drove onto our campsite, and had another wicked camping session under the stars.
The next day (5am AGAIN) we then went onto a place called kings Canyon had another walk around what looked like a scene from a Jurassic movie.

On the way round we learnt of a type of bush that still grows in the area. Its actually was from the jurassic period, and the fruit is one of the most poisenous plants in the world. To even hold it, you would be dead within 6 hours, and to eat a tiny bit of it, you would be dead within 3 minutes, apparently a very painful 3 minutes too.

We then took the long road home, with about a 5 hour drive ahead of us, but it went really quickley due to the music quizzes, Bus Bowling, Pictionary on the windows, dry Weetabix time trails and riddles.










































Ayers Rock.















Camping in the Bush Under the Stars.












Kata Juta.
















Collecting the biggest load of fire wood I have ever seen.















Me in my swag, under the stars by the firelight. We spent both nights drinking tons of beer and goon with everyone, playing stupid funny games! great fun.












































Kings Canyon
















All of us on the way back. Im there next to Jamie but his big arms got in the way!!





















We stopped off at a Camel Farm, and for just 3 dollars you could have a go and support a local buisness so I thought "what the hay!" "YEE HA!!".





















After we got back, we all met up again in the evening to have a good old knees up, and one last drinking game. CHEERS!




















Who ever was last on the bus had to sing in front of everyone this little song (with everyone joining in too!) I think its been burnt on our brains forever now. We went on singing it on our own around the rest of Australia too !!

"Give me a home amongst the Gum Trees,
With lots of Plum Trees,
A Sheep or two and a Kangaroo,
And a clothes line at the back,
Veranda at the front,
And an old Rocking Chair."