We had a five hour drive over to Ayres Rock this morning (recently renamed Uluru which was the original name given by the aboriginal people –before rich white people came and gave it their own name!), across the red, parched desert. The road was long and straight and we hardly saw any other traffic en route. We saw Ayres Rock well before we reached it as the terrain is flat and the rock towers above the ground for about 320 meters. It is known as an Insolberg as it has just a third showing above the ground and 2 thirds below. Thousands of years ago this terrain was a sea bed and the rock emerged as a result of the earth being forced up at a right angle. So the vertical seams of rock that make up Ayres Rock today were once horizontal sedimentary layers of the seabed. It is a stunning visual treat. We drove around the rock and walked along one of the gorges into the heart of the rock. The real highlight this evening though was to see the sunset over the rock. To celebrate the occasion we were given champagne and nibbles while we all stood and watched the transformation of the rock’s colour and appearance as the sun set behind us. This was one of the most magical events of this holiday and something we will remember for the rest of our lives.
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