We flew into Syndey and met up with Viv and her fiance Andrew. We visited the botanical gardens, Manly beach, blue mountains (with Bev who we had previously met in Peru), and for the Anzac bank holiday weeked went camping up to Forster.

Opera house and harbour bridge	A roo in the zoo	Viv and Ev chiling out at 5 mile beach (near Forster)

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We stayed for 4 weeks with a friend from the UK who immigrated thirteen years ago. We had a great granny annex to stay in that felt like luxury.

We visted the Barrosa wine valley, Did a coastal tour whilst borrowing Jills car. Went with Clifford to Magnetic hill.

Barrosa Wine valley	Tram running between Glenelg and Central Adelaide	Magnetic Hill

We arrived in Alice to be greeted with the worst weather for 60 years. This did not bode well for photographs later in the week when we had intended to head to the rock.

We were lucky to be greeted at the Airport by Sue and baby Claire. A few days later we decided to stay longer and stick out the weather. We changed our flights and moved in with Sue, Andrew and Claire.

Whilst here we visted Palm Valey at the weekend in a hired 4x4, played indoor beach volley ball, did a 50km bike ride to simpsons gap, played board games and enjoyed good company.

Alice springs at the telegraph station	Palm Valley	Sue, Andrew, Claire, Evelyn and Ben

It had been worth the wait. Our hire car was booked for Saturday and we woke up to blue skies. Time to drive 400kms south and visit Kings Canyon. All was well until the last 4 kms whereby the campsite access had been flooded. Nothing for it but to take in a Sunset at the Canyon and then use one of the local BBQs provided near the canyon and pitch up tents (although it was a bit black and scarey so we talked some others into joining us).

Only the big 4x4s could get in to the campsite	Ben and Ev enjoy a sunset instead	Kings Canyon

We left Kings Canyon and it started to pour. We kept our fingers crossed for better weather at Uluru (Ayers Rock). As we travelled the 300kms the weather appeared to get better and was only slightly cloudy on arrival. This allowed us to get our first sunset at the rock.

The following day we were up bright and breezy to get a sunset at the Olgas. Mist and cloud was all around but this created its own magic as you could not see them until we arrived there. Wallop there they were. We did the 7km walk around it and it was great.

The next day we spent more time around Uluru. We arrived for sunrise, did the 8km base walk and after some deliberation (ethically about what was right) Ben decided to climb the rock whilst Evelyn stayed at the base. We then headed off for a BBQ at the visitors centre.

This is how some view the rock	The olgas	Barbie time