TD China Globe Trekkers

Australia Experience – Part 2/3

Nick Xie

02/06/2009

Mission

Share photos, stories and experiences What to see Where to stay How to have fun (not go with Chinese tours)

Inspire enthusiasm about our globe Gain a world view Appreciate cultural differences Take initiatives (one day) to see the world

Backpacking Explained

How Backpack on your shoulder Money/credit card/passport in your pockets Use credit card whenever you can (cash is king!!) Stay in highly rated hostels

What to bring 1 credit card Cash Camera Netbook or iTouch/iPhone (if you like to surf internet) Battery-powered alarm clock Travel-sized daily necessities (toothbrush, etc) Medicine (cold, cough, anti-itching creams, etc) Bath towels 1/3 to ½ of cloth needed for trip (throw-away socks)

Research

GoogleTripAdvisorLonely PlanetAsk the hostel receptionistsDon’t use Chinese sites (Ctrip, etc)

Only tell you where Chinese tourist group go

Australia Itinerary Overview

Sydney – 1.5 days City + beach Blue mountain + Jenolan Caves

Uluru – 2 days Ayers rock Kata Tjuta King Canyon

Cairns – 2 days Kuranda Scenic railway + skyrail Great Barrier Reef + scuba diving

Melbourne – 1.5 days Philips island penguin tour

Uluru (Ayers rock) Flyer from Sydney to Uluru on Qantas (don’t bother going to alice spring) Famous red rocks, 9km diameter, recommend watching both sunrise and sunset climbable ~100 days in a year, Dec – Feb are mostly not climbable (heat & wind) Discovered by William Gosse, named after Ayers who sponsored the trip Sacred site by aboriginal people, women were not allowed on top of rock At hostel you can try Kangaroo + Emu + Crocodile meat

Uluru (Ayers rock)

Sunset Usually done as part of Kata Tjuta + Uluru sunset tour Optionally have a BBQ or sound of silence dinner (for couple)

Uluru (Ayers rock)

Sunrise Leave resort/hostel at 4:45 am Join a base walk tour to get close and feel the rock

Kata Tjuta

Consist of many peaks, Kata Tjuta means “many heads”, discovered by Ernest Giles Tallest is named Olgas, after the Queen Olga of Wutterberg Millions of years ago were sand dunes, red/black is from iron content

Kata Tjuta (cont.)

Close up shots Lots of holes Time, wind, and water eroded the dunes

Kata Tjuta (cont.)

A little further away

King Canyon

Get up at 4am to take the 1 day tour Not economical to drive by yourself 500-step climb up

King Canyon (cont.)

Sand + water + wind erosion = nice shape

King Canyon (cont.)

Many dunes

King Canyon (cont.)

Every 70-80 years a big piece would fall off The straight cliff resulted in the canyon

King Canyon (cont.)

Called “Dead Sea Ripple” Millions of years ago this is underwater Marks on the stones are result of waves washing them

King Canyon (cont.)

Called “Garden of Eden” Don’t swim in it, the water is stale, can be poisonous In rain season, the water rise up, and eventually form waterfall out of rocks

King Canyon (cont.)

There’s nothing between you, rocks, and the sky The rock formation is utterly amazing And the blue skies…..

King Canyon (cont.)

Look at how sharp the edges are It is due for another crack

Salt Lakes

Stopped Ernest Giles, who discovered Kata Tjuta, because he couldn’t get around it When Giles tried again, William Gosse had already beat him to discover Ayer’s rock Ironically, it was because Gosse had read the book Giles wrote on his adventure

Uluru Up Close and Personal

Looked at the heart shape on top of Spring Gosse named it Maggies’ Spring because he was dating Maggie prior to trip Ironically, when Gosse returns, Maggie already married someone else, but name remained