Kata Tjuta

More rocks I hear you say so if you have had enough look away now - but if not, come and join me on what has probably been one of the most stunning walks we did. Kata Tjuta is a complex of ... yes you guessed it... rocks of gargantuan sizes not far from Uluru.The name in Aboriginal language means "many heads" and you can see why.  This is a bigger complex and overall higher than Uluru at 546 metres, but this is one case where size did not seem to get a bigger share of attention. They are lesser known but definitely worth visiting. They are shaped like domes, sacred sights, dumped into this vast expanse of quite green nothingness which is magnificent to the eye and which had George saying lets stay here all day just going up and down this wonderful track. There are two principal walks - one is called the Walpa Gorge and it is a shorter walk heading into a gorge between two enormous domes. The opening acts almost like a wind funnel and you have gale force and cold winds blowing while you walk. So this shorter walk was bracing to the say the least.

Walpa Gorge with the early morning light.

George literally a metre up on what is a huge rock slab.

Our favourite walk is the Valley of the Winds - The walk can be broken down into various sections but we did the whole circuit of some 7.4 kms. The scenery is spectacular, the wild flowers and fields are canvasses of colour on the landscape and the lookouts, areas of breathtaking beauty.

A budgie poking out of a ghost gum.

The view from the lookout.

Some of the wild flowers and the banks nearby

This is the Turtle which marks the highest peak in Kata Tjuta. Slow and lumbering it is there to remind us of the Aboriginal stories and to make sure we pay heed to the beauty around us.