If you scroll through my travel posts, you will notice that they were mainly international destinations, such as Japan or China. This year, my travel goal was to see more of Australia, because there is just so much this country has to offer and like a lot of people, I was intrigued by the Martian-like landscape of the Aussie outback, and boy it certainly didn't disappoint! My friend and I opted for a four-day camping tour (both of us were not confident about driving), though the days were long and packed full of activities, it was all well worth the 5:30am starts!

Kata Tjuta/The Olgas

Our adventures began straight after meeting up with our guide outside Ayers Rock Airport, and it was a short drive to our first cultural landmark – Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), meaning 'many domes/heads' and like Uluru, it is a sacred site for the local Aboriginal Anangu people. There are many walks to choose from but since we arrived in the afternoon, we chose the Walpa Gorge Walk which is about 1hr,  leaving us enough time to head to the Uluru sunset viewing area.

The walk itself is over rocky terrain which rises gently, it follows the natural creek between two of the tallest domes. In the afternoon light, the rugged sheer walls of the gorge was a deep ochre red and made for a dramatic photo composition. I was amazed at the abundance of vegetation at the base of the walls and just the vastness of the landscape. Luckily for us, the flies weren't much of a problem, however, if you're visiting during the warmer months, be prepared.

The Olgas

Rocky track of the Walpa Gorge

In between the domes

Uluru sunset/sunrise

Tip:
If you're unsure about camping but is also budget conscious:
- opt for a tour package that offers permanent tents (including beds, blankets, and pillows)
- bring your own sleeping bag and make sure you test it out before your trip