Christmas / New Year at Uluru

Submitted: Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 09:49
ThreadID: 97263 Views:3859 Replies:7 FollowUps:4
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My wife and I are planning a 6 week trip from Brisbane, leaving 14th Dec 2012, to travel to Alice Springs, Uluru for Christmas 2012, included in this tour, The Olgas, Kings Canyon, The East and West MacDonnell Ranges, Devils Marbles etc. and then on to Oodnadatta, South Australia and Lake Eyre and finally on to Lightning Ridge and back to Brisbane by the 29th Jan 2013.
Anyone interested in tagging along or catching us along the track, please let me know.
Bob and Michelle
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Reply By: Denis H - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 11:32

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 11:32
Not a good time to be in the outback - Hot as hell and water, water, water!!
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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 12:37

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 12:37
Uluru temperatures here. You would need to be very well prepared for the possibility of extreme heat and very low humidity, both of which can be life threatening if you have a mishap.

Cheers,

Val
J and V
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Reply By: chanticleer - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 13:55

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 13:55
Good advice. Trip postponed for 7 months till the cooler months.
AnswerID: 492287

Follow Up By: Ross M - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 14:35

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 14:35
Very wise. Even the lizards and snakes don't sunbake at that that time of year with bake being the important issue to avoid.
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Reply By: Kris and Kev - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 14:41

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 14:41
Chanticleer,
We just did the centre and although we allowed 6 weeks we could have taken longer. Especially in the East MacDonnell’s. Not sure how you are travelling but we had our off road camper trailer and stayed at some brilliant places and were able to travel on some fantastic tracks. Weather wise it was very, very cold. But the days were beautiful. Being in a camper mornings of minus 5 really tested us. But I would hate to do the trip in summer as some of the walks would be a killer. So depending on how you are travelling, you could easily spend the full 6 weeks just in the centre.
Kevin
AnswerID: 492292

Reply By: Hairy (WA) - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 15:54

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 15:54
Gday,
I have to disagree......thats a great time to go camping in the centre. You dont get all the tourists! LOL
Just camp near water and you wille fine......its only heat.

Cheers
AnswerID: 492301

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 20:28

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 20:28
Sounds like you may be my kind of tourist Hairy. A bit of heat would be worth it to avoid the crowd as long as you had a VERY good water supply.
Having worked in the Pilbara you get used to heat.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 22:05

Sunday, Aug 05, 2012 at 22:05
Love The Kimberly and the Top End in The Wet – hot and sweaty but everything comes alive.
If you have a caravan - keep your eye on cyclone warnings, and if not tied down, be prepared to do a runner.
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 12:45

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 12:45
A trip like this is doable, but you need to hold a few winning cards, so that it doesn't become a disaster.

I find high temps/low humidity more appealing than high humidity/moderate temps. The dry heat can be tolerable, as long as you have ample water, and somewhere cool, like a reliable airconned vehicle to retreat too.

But if you strike some extreme weather, like 45 deg plus everyday, it would make it hard to "smell the roses". They'd have have died and shrivelled up long before before you got there. These extremes will make things hard for your vehicle too, and if you happen to break down, it could be a miserable few hours, or longer, till you're rescued.

One other thing, if it hasn't rained, the terrain can look quite stark, and unfriendly, giving you a false impression, and hiding the actual beautiful qualities of those areas.

Bob.

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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AnswerID: 492375

Reply By: Member - Stanley D - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 14:18

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 14:18
Dear Chanticleer,
Did the Centre last year in November and early December. We were lucky as it had been raining for three weeks before we arrived. So had three weeks of perfect weather- mid 20's most of the time. I had been told to expect heat and so prepared for it. Carried spare water (60 lts). Decanted it into 2 litre flasks and refilled every time we finished a walk- You will drink plenty. Sun off gear- umbrellas were most useful. Most of the walks will need to done very early. Getting up at 5 ish to start walking and be finished late morning avoiding the heat.
But the biggest problem is the FLIES you will need fly veils- bought from our shop at Explore Oz, and some Deet repellant. Hopefully there might be a cold snap before you arrive- kills off the flies.
Hope all goes well for you
Regards,
Stanley
AnswerID: 492541

Follow Up By: Member - Stanley D - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 14:20

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 14:20
Forgot to tell you that the Devil's Marbles are also famous for the mosquitos. As the wet season will be in full swing up north they will be savage.
Regards, Stanley
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