Uluru, (Ayers Rock), Red Centre Australia

Why you should go

Uluru is not just a rock in the middle of nowhere, it is magical – especially when seen at sunrise and sunset.

Uluru – brief history
Sacred to the Anangu, the indigenous people who have inhabited the area for about 30,000 years, this huge red rock was formed over 6oo million years ago. It is said to be the place occupied by the spirits of their ancestors. 

In 1873, an English explorer William Gosse discovered the rock. It was named after Australian politician, Sir Henry Ayers. Today the official title is Uluru Ayers Rock.

Uluru at sunrise

How did it form?
The rock monolith dates back millions of years, to the time that the Australian continent was formed. In a nutshell, over thousands of years of mountain building and erosion, Uluru and its neighbour Kata Tjuta are the remains of hard mountain rock after the softer areas eroded.

Size matters
The rock is approximately 3.6km (2.2 miles) long and 348m (1,142 feet) tall. Two-thirds of the rock is believed to be underground.

Kata Tjuta 

Seen at sunset and sunrise
As the sun begins to set, the colour of the rock starts to change from brown to a deep red to a glowing burning orange before turning dark. It is truly a magnificent experience. The reverse happens in the morning.

The terrain is the draw of the Red Centre 
Uluru is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Coupled with the Kata Tjuta (formerly called The Olgas), they are the highlights of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Kata Tjuta, which roughly translates as many heads, is a collection of dome-shaped rock formations said to be over 600 million years old. Take a guided walk to experience this awesome sacred site close up. You can see rock art as well learning about the stories of the area. 

The Red Centre at sunset

Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture
Most people who come to the Red Centre stay at the Ayers Rock Resort. Here you can discover more about the traditions of the Anangu tribe. You can also catch a dance show here. The Red Centre is a good place to buy Aboriginal art or handicrafts. Catch a didjeridoo performance or learn about the stars.

Living in the desesrt

Discover the plants and animals that live in the desert
Despite this being harsh environment you will be surprised to see flowers and plants here as well as hear birds singing. You may also spot a red kangaroo or camel. Just be careful where you walk as you might bump into a snake.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there
Fly with Jetstar from Melbourne. For best fares visit jetstar.com

Stay

Ayers Rock Resort provides a variety of accommodation options from 5star to camping. For more information visit ayersrockresort.com.au

Day trips from Melbourne – Yara Valley Wine Experience

A great way to sample some of Australia’s wine and see some beautiful countryside outside Melbourne. The Yara Valley, sheltered by the Dandenong Ranges, is carpeted in vineyards so there are plenty of wineries to choose from.

En route, our guide gave us some great pointers about wine. By the time we reached the first winery we were almost ready to taste it like a professional.

Here are some of the wineries that we visited.

Soumah of Yara Valley

This region has a cool climate so wines produced here are similar to many found in Italy and France. Here wines with a Northern-Italian flavour are the speciality. There is also a focus on numbers that are similar to those from Eastern France such as pinot noir. Impressive.

Tokar Estate
The ethos here is from vine to glass so you expect some great wines to taste and you are not disappointed. Great for red fans, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon are stars here. The scenery is also rather beautiful, a great setting for lunch.

Domaine Chandon
This is Moët & Chandon’s Australian home. (The T is pronounced.) Our guide pointed out this to us on our drive here. He said that he had been pronouncing it wrong for years so he did not want other people to make his mistake.

See how sparkling wine is made and then enjoy a glass in the beautiful gardens. I went for the Chandon Cygnet Pinot Meunier Rosé 2014. It is unique to have a sparkler that is made solely from this grape. Think redcurrants laced with pink grapefruit with a tinge of ginger creaminess. It is crisp and fresh, perfect for a summer’s day.

Yering Farm
This boutique winery gives you the opportunity to savour traditionally-made wines. Chardonnay is good here as are reds. My favourites included merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

There are many tours going to the Yara Valley. I went on the Yarra Valley Wine Experience Aus Wine Tour. Wineries visited are subject to change. For further information visit austwinetourco.com.au

Day trips from Melbourne – Phillip Island

Why you should go.

Courtesy of Visit Victoria

The Penguin Parade (90 minutes from Melbourne)

At sunset groups of penguins, in the wild, emerge from the sea on to the sand. Watch them take a short rest and tidy themselves up before waddling home to their burrows. What makes the “parade” fascinating is that it is not orchestrated. It is how these penguins live. While waiting for them to surface, you can star gaze. You may be able to spot a planet or two.

Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park

The day trip also includes a visit to the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where you can explore acres of bushland, get to cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos and wallabies, encounter snakes and dingos as well as surrounded by other birds and animals. 

The Nobbies

For great views of the rugged coastline of Phillip Island walk along the boardwalk at the Nobbies. You may spot one or two of the little penguins at home.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

There are several companies that offer tours. I went with Oceania Tours which operates small groups. For more info visit oceaniatours.com.au