Uluru in context
On our last tour day at Yulara we were treated to a helicopter ride so we could see Uluru from the air. It stands out, a huge rock in a red desert, as though some God had plucked it out … Continued
Sunrise on the Rock
Sunrise at Uluru at this time of year is around 6:30am. The Rock famously changes colour as the light grows in the eastern sky. It’s all part of the experience – but you have to get up well before sparrow … Continued
Off to Uluru
It was time to move on to Uluru. We checked out of the Crowne Plaza bright and early to board the buses for the long drive to the Rock. And it was raining! That’s a rare occurrence in this part … Continued
An afternoon in the Alice
We’d had a busy morning on our first day – Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, and the Desert Park. The afternoon was very different, with our visits in the town itself. Our first stop was at The Royal Flying Doctor Service. … Continued
Out and about at Alice Springs
The first day of our actual tour was very busy. Our group of fifty was divided into the reds and the yellows and each group set off in a bus big enough for everyone to have a window seat. Our … Continued
A mooch around Alice Springs
Alice Springs is often seen as simply a jumping-off point for tourists heading for Uluru and Kata Tjuta but there’s actually rather more to it than that. It was the site of the Telegraph station that connected Australia to the … Continued
The Last Hurrah
When we returned from our lovely excursion to Coburg cruise director Alex informed as that Scenic had conceded that the cruise was effectively aborted. At that stage he was out of options for doable day trips. We would (hurrah) be … Continued
Coburg, Prince Albert’s hometown
We were still stuck in Frankfurt and Alex was still coming up with places we could visit on a day trip by coach. Today, 27th December, it would be Coburg. It was over two hours in the coach each way, … Continued
Still at Frankfurt
Still at Frankfurt harbour, the Christmas holidays were over and the cranes were back to work, moving sea containers from barges to shore and the local ferries, which had been moored for the holidays, were back in action. Tour Director … Continued
A glimpse of the past
It was Boxing Day, another day when Germany’s town and cities would be deserted. The ship was still tied up at Frankfurt’s industrial harbour and tour director Alex was having to come up with interesting destinations within reach of coaches. … Continued