Outdoor Adventure
Australia Travel Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Australia Travel. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
The Australia Outback Red Center Around Ayers Rock
from: Kyle BesserBecause much of the continent of Australia is so dry, most of the population live along the east, southern and the west coasts. The rest of the country, the part that is less populated, is considered the Australia Outback. If you're planning a trip to Australia to see some of the Outback, you'll want to know where to go and what to see in this huge area.
You will probably want to see the iconic symbol of The Red Center. This big monolithic rock is known to many as Ayers Rock, but its proper name among the Aboriginal native population is Uluru. You could drive to Ayers Rock, and then you'd really get a taste for the Australia Outback. It's a long way from anywhere - 280 miles (462 km) from Alice Springs. Alice Springs is pretty much in "the middle of nowhere" - the middle of the Australia Outback, the middle of the Red Center.
There are many recommended Australia trekking tours from which to choose. By using recommended Australia trekking companies, you will be able to plan a tour that fits your budget. The Australia adventure travel cost will depend on how you travel, what you wish to see and the accommodations you choose for the most part.
We think the way to go is the way we went. Fly in and then rent a car. You can join an Australia adventure travel tour or you can travel independently. Rental cars are expensive around Uluru, but so are tours. You are pretty much limited to one or the other. The roads you will be driving on are two lane. Many of them are dirt roads, but all are well maintained. Remember, you will be driving on the left.
There is a surprising range of accommodations for staying near Ayers Rock in the the Australia Outback. All of these are all located in Yulara which is a township/resort about 5 miles (8 km) from the entrance to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and about 11 miles (18 km) from Uluru itself.
The accommodations range from five star hotels to hostels to a campground. There are a variety of restaurants and snack bars and a small grocery store. Within this resort area, you can walk or take a free shuttle bus to get around. You might want to stay in one hotel and eat at another.
You should plan to spend two or three nights to see even this small section of the Australia Outback. You can hike around Uluru, and you will want to see it at various times of the day. It really is an awe inspiring sight. We did not climb Ayers Rock out of respect for the Aboriginal people's wishes. They consider Ayers Rock sacred and ask people not to climb it.
You will also want time to visit Kata Tjuta, which used to be known as the Olgas. You can drive out to see them, but to really appreciate them, you should allow time for a hike. It is a beautiful hike. If you go in the middle of the day when it's hot, take plenty of water.
It would take weeks and weeks to explore all of the Australia Outback, but you can get a great taste for how beautiful it is by just visiting the Red Center around Ayers Rock.
Australia-Travel Online News
At Summit, a Struggle for Consensus on Economic Woes - Wall Street Journal
 CBS News | At Summit, a Struggle for Consensus on Economic Woes Wall Street Journal By CAROL E. LEE CAMP DAVID, Md. -- Leaders of the Group of Eight major economies struggled to agree on next steps to calm the euro zone debt crisis, with consensus at a weekend summit coming more easily on ways to cushion the world from an Iranian oil ... Obama urges G8 leaders to drive economy Obama: leaders agreed growth and jobs 'top priority' France's Hollande to make Eurobond proposals at EU summit |
Men accused of plotting attacks around NATO summit - The Associated Press
 The Associated Press | Men accused of plotting attacks around NATO summit The Associated Press By MICHAEL TARM, AP – 1 minute ago CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors on Saturday accused three activists who travelled to Chicago for a NATO summit of manufacturing Molotov cocktails in a plot to attack President Barack Obama's campaign headquarters, ... US, Pakistan fail to reach deal on supply routes ahead of NATO summit Police: 3 terror suspects at NATO summit were plotting to hit Obama's campaign HQs Latest anti-NATO protest in Chicago small, peaceful |
Blind Chinese activist Chen lands in US - CBS News
 CTV.ca | Blind Chinese activist Chen lands in US CBS News (CBS/AP) BEIJING - A blind Chinese legal activist who was suddenly allowed to leave the country has arrived in the United States. Chen Guangcheng (chuhn gwahng-chuhng) was accompanied by his wife and two children Saturday evening at Newark Liberty ... Chinese Dissident's Arrival in US Ends Diplomatic Drama Chinese Human Rights Activist Chen Lands at Newark Airport Chinese Activist Who Fled House Arrest Lands... |
First tropical storm of season forms off US east coast - AFP
 AFP | First tropical storm of season forms off US east coast AFP WASHINGTON — The first tropical storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season formed Saturday off the southeastern US coast with winds of 45 miles (75 kilometers) per hour, US weather forecasters said. Dubbed "Alberto," the storm was 140 miles (225 ... First tropical storm of the season forms off SC Season's first Atlantic tropical storm forms off South Carolina |