The Red Centre
May 2024: Day 5

Watching the Sunrise from the back of a camel and then visiting Kata Juta

Introduction

Today was again about the sunrise. The early start yesterday led to some disappointment, so perhaps watching it from the back of a camel has enough novelty to be refreshingly different. There is much hype about the sunrise and how it illuminates Uluru, but a much better experience is to watch the sun set and see how the colours play out on the Uluru sandstone. Today we did the sunrise and then later visited the red domes of Kara Juta.

Although Uluru is the best-known attraction in the Red Centre, there is another cluster of rocks that are in some ways even more impressive - Kata Juta (once known as "The Olgas"). After watching the sunrise, and then having a good hot breakfast, we drove the longer distance to view Kata Juta and to experience some of the walks in this part of the Park.

Uluru sunrise from the back of a camel

This being another sunrise, we were up early, again. We were picked up from the hotel whilst it was still dark but we were soon inside the warm camel visitor centre, where we signed away our liability, stored all bags and phones and decided if we needed an extra coat. Then it was outside to meet the camels. Someone had got up very early to have the camels saddled and lined up ready for us. We were sized up and allocated a camel based on his size, and ours, with some camels getting two people. We climbed aboard, one by one, and then up we went as the camel stood up. When all were aboard we headed off into the dunes. We were led by one of the staff members with another walking alongside telling us all about the camels. We were soon climbing up to the top of the dunes, just in time for the sunrise. Thenwe completed the circle back to the camel farm, were hot drinks and damper was waiting for us. It was a great experience and much preferred to the previous day standing on the viewing platform.

Camels in an orderly row

On my camel and up high in the air.

Off we go...

The light rapidly increases

Climbing up the dune

Another camel train in the foreground with Kata Juta on the horizon.

The sun just about to appear

Heading back home

My camel - he looks pleased to get rid of me.

How to get off your camel...

Phew - but there will be another group shortly.

Kata Juta

Kata Juta is a large collection of rounded rock monoliths, lying to the west of Uluru and about 40 minutes drive from Yulara. The area is more rugged than Uluru and less visited, as not many of the local tours visit Kata Juta, only sunrise and sunset options. In many ways Kata Juta is more spectacular than Uluru, with rounded domes and deep ravines cut into the course sandstone and conglomerate. The area also features two walks into the ravines that can be challenging but provide spectacular views that are absent from Uluru. We stopped at the Valley of the Winds walk, where I climbed to the Karu Lookout. It was a hot afternoon and I again regretted not buying those fly nets as the pesky critters descended in clouds. From there we drove the short distance back to the start of the Walpa Gorge Walk. Despite the flies this was a pleasant walk deep into a canyon, with a small watercourse in the bottom. The views were spectacular, especially looking back out of the gorge.