We are due to fly out in 2 weeks to Oz. At Ayers Rock we are staying at the Outback Pioneer for 1 night and had booked an AAT Kings Rock Pass via the same travel agent that the whole trip has been booked with. They are now telling us that we cant have the Rock Pass as our flight times won't allow us to do any of the tours that it includes.
The upshot is we are now stranded at the Outback Pioneer without any means of getting to the Rock for Sunset or Sunrise. We are taking out 2 kids with us and they are going to be devastated. Any suggestions anyone? Should we hire a car, get a taxi??
Oh and to add insult to injury they will only offer us £20 pp as compensation. I am LIVID, we booked this trip 12 months ago and they decide to tell is all this 2 weeks before we go.
I climbed the rock, but hubby only managed half way. I'm not sure if you can still climb it. I know the Aborigines discouraged it as it is sacred to them. I did have second thoughts, but decided that I would only be there once in my life and would never get the oppportunity again so went for it.
I think we stayed at the Outback Pioneer, but it was in 1993 and my memory is hazy.
luci
You could hire a car out there for the time you are there and go to the veiwing area of the sunrise or sunset with that
Your travel agent should have seen you had time to do the sunset or sunrise trip before you leave go and see them and see if they can arrange some thing to go all that way to see not a thing is bad arranging on there behalf.
it is quite expensive at the ayres rock resort but they do a bargain barbarque at the back of the hotel you stopping at and was told it is very good.
plus if yourself or any of your family not keen on bugs or insects best buy a hairnet or something to cover your head because the flies get all over the place and to me it spoiled the experience a little because im not the best with bugs.
when we went was told they are not keen now for people to climb up the top of the rock if the temp goes over a certain temp they advise you not to go up...we was advised to walk round the bottom...but again the flys put me off doing that.
Have a wonderful time.....best holiday we ever been on austrailia
Thanks for all your replies. We (or rather the travel agent) have had to completely re-organise things for us. We are now going to have to have a day less in Perth and add a day onto Ayers Rock - its the only way we could do it if we wanted to see both sunset and sunrise and be part of a proper tour. I am still annoyed but the kids are really looking forward to seeing The Rock so I couldn't disappoint them.
just make sure the tour goes to the rock and gives you some time to walk round it or go up it...i assume you will have time at the rock after the sunrise because where they take you to view sunset and sunrise is to a viewing area on either side of the rock depending on sunset and sunrise and its roped off so you cant walk to the rock from there.
Hope you have a lovely time.
I'n glad that you've been able to sort things out and will be able to view the Rock as planned. However, I would ask you to seriously resist any urge to climb it. It is a sacred place for the Aboriginal people of Australia who regard it as a desecration to have it clambered over by tourists. It was described to me by one as the equivalent of tourists insisting on eating their picnic sat around the high alter in St Peter's or Canterbury cathedral on the grounds that it's 'only a table after all'. Try and imagine how believers in this country would react if something like that happened and then ask your self whether doing its equivalent is something that you want to do there.
SM
I agree with the other people saying to not climb the rock. The 9.4km(I think) walk around the base was a major highlight of our RTW trip and although it was pretty tiring, I felt a buzz for days after for doing it.
As for food options, yes the Outback does a BBQ but that is quite expensive considering what it is. There is a little hole in the wall counter service selling burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs etc, which although not particularly healthy (very tasty) was relatively cheap. Warning, it does shut early though...think about 8.30pm.
There is also a restaurant over in the resorts shopping centre which does an ok pizza and pasta menu amongst other things.
Have fun, it is a great place.
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.