NT Holiday September 2001
On this page, I detail my holiday to the Northern Territory of Australia during September of year 2001. I visited the central Australian town of Alice Springs and stayed 2 nights at the Ayres Rock Resort.
As the advertising says: You never never know if you never never go...
I guess I could call this my "2001 odyssey to the monolith".
You may click on the icon of any of my photos to view a larger image of that photo.
Day 1
September 1, 2001
Stayed the night at a friend's apartment. I was driven to the airport in the morning. Left Melbourne Airport and caught a direct flight to Alice Springs Airport.
In the afternoon, I checked in at the Territory Inn of Alice Springs and walked around town.
September 2 - 4, 2001
Day 2
Left Alice Springs at 7:15am and traveled via bus to Ayers Rock Resort.
Had a stop over at a camel farm.
Continued along the Stuart Highway and then along the Lasseter Highway.
Stayed at Desert Gardens Hotel within the Ayres Rock Resort.
In the afternoon visited the Olgas (Kata Tjuta).
We ate a BBQ dinner at the Olgas. We where scheduled to look at the night stars however on this night the sky was cloudy.
Day 3
Got up at the unearthly hour of 5:00am to travel to Ayers Rock (Uluru) before sunrise. Picked up a breakfast pack from the hotel and ate most of it before leaving.
Walked around the base of Ayers Rock in preference to climbing. Its about 9.5 km around the perimeter of the rock.
Made it around in about 2 hours and just made it back to the bus to go on the base tour of Ayers Rock.
Returned to the Ayres Rock Resort. Decided not to catch the sun set tour to Ayres Rock but rested in my room. Enjoyed a dinner at the restaurant in the shopping village of the resort.
The resort had an IGA supermarket, post office, restaurant, take away food shop, newsagent, tourist office and several tourist shops.
Day 4
Left Ayres Rock Resort at 5:00am and traveled to Kings Canyon.
Had lunch at Kings Canyon Resort then travel back to Alice Springs. Stayed again at the Territory Inn. On checkin decided to book a half day tour for the next morning to the Macdonnell Ranges.
My hotel room looked over the local television station next door.
September 5, 2001
Day 5
In morning at 7:15 I caught the mini bus and visited Reverand John Flynn's grave. A well known Royal Flying Doctor Service man.
Continued traveling to Standley Chasm.
We returned towards Alice Springs and visited Simpsons Gap.
Back at Alice Springs I had lunch and developed my photos.
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September 5, 2001
In the afternoon I boarded my return flight to Melbourne with a brief stop over in Adelaide.
