![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.thejohnsonsjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/DSCF0982.jpg\" "\\"DSCF0982\\"")
<\/a>Getting up close and personal with the wildlife at Reptile Center in Alice Springs<\/p><\/div>\n
The next morning at 5:45 am we boarded our bus for a 3-day camping tour of the red centre. \u00c2\u00a0It was a 5 hour drive to Uluru from Alice Spring, but our guide broke it \u00c2\u00a0up by a with a couple of stops including a camel farm and a typical station (or cattle ranch) for cold drinks and fuel. \u00c2\u00a0We arrived at our camp site in Yulara (the resort\/town near the Rock)\u00c2\u00a0about mid-day and had lunch before visiting Uluru. \u00c2\u00a0When we arrived at Uluru a bit of rain was just\u00c2\u00a0clearing\u00c2\u00a0and we were excited to see that there were waterfalls coming down from the Rock. \u00c2\u00a0We stopped to take some photos before we set off on a walk around part of the Rock. \u00c2\u00a0Since it was raining off and on we decided not to walk around the whole thing, but enjoyed the part we did see. \u00c2\u00a0In the evening we headed to the viewing area for sparkling wine and dinner while watching the sunset. \u00c2\u00a0The clouds had cleared and the\u00c2\u00a0view\u00c2\u00a0was\u00c2\u00a0absolutely\u00c2\u00a0spectacular.<\/p>\n
We were all tried form getting up so early, so we made out way back to the campsite, took hot showers, and settled into our swags (a camping bedroll with a mattress and sleeping compartment) for a view up at the stars before we fell asleep.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Uluru<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Waterfall after the rain <\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Up close it looks like a big rusty rock<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Watering hole in Uluru<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Sunset<\/p><\/div>\n
The next morning we were woken up at an early 4:00 am to eat breakfast, break camp, and head to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), which are a group of large domed shaped rocks. \u00c2\u00a0We arrived to see the sunrise over both Kata Tjuta and Uluru, but the clouds just didn’t seem to be clearing. \u00c2\u00a0We set off on the 7 km Valley of the Winds hike through the area which offered some great view over the domes and the valley below. \u00c2\u00a0And since the weather was mild we found we enjoyed this walk even more than the one around Uluru.<\/p>\n