Td China Globe Trekkers Australia 2
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Transcript of Td China Globe Trekkers Australia 2
TD China Globe Trekkers
Australia Experience – Part 2/3
Nick Xie
02/06/2009
Mission
Share photos, stories and experiences What to see Where to stay How to have fun (not go with Chinese tours)
Inspire enthusiasm about our globe Gain a world view Appreciate cultural differences Take initiatives (one day) to see the world
Backpacking Explained
How Backpack on your shoulder Money/credit card/passport in your pockets Use credit card whenever you can (cash is king!!) Stay in highly rated hostels
What to bring 1 credit card Cash Camera Netbook or iTouch/iPhone (if you like to surf internet) Battery-powered alarm clock Travel-sized daily necessities (toothbrush, etc) Medicine (cold, cough, anti-itching creams, etc) Bath towels 1/3 to ½ of cloth needed for trip (throw-away socks)
Research
GoogleTripAdvisorLonely PlanetAsk the hostel receptionistsDon’t use Chinese sites (Ctrip, etc)
Only tell you where Chinese tourist group go
Australia Itinerary Overview
Sydney – 1.5 days City + beach Blue mountain + Jenolan Caves
Uluru – 2 days Ayers rock Kata Tjuta King Canyon
Cairns – 2 days Kuranda Scenic railway + skyrail Great Barrier Reef + scuba diving
Melbourne – 1.5 days Philips island penguin tour
Uluru (Ayers rock) Flyer from Sydney to Uluru on Qantas (don’t bother going to alice spring) Famous red rocks, 9km diameter, recommend watching both sunrise and sunset climbable ~100 days in a year, Dec – Feb are mostly not climbable (heat & wind) Discovered by William Gosse, named after Ayers who sponsored the trip Sacred site by aboriginal people, women were not allowed on top of rock At hostel you can try Kangaroo + Emu + Crocodile meat
Uluru (Ayers rock)
Sunset Usually done as part of Kata Tjuta + Uluru sunset tour Optionally have a BBQ or sound of silence dinner (for couple)
Uluru (Ayers rock)
Sunrise Leave resort/hostel at 4:45 am Join a base walk tour to get close and feel the rock
Kata Tjuta
Consist of many peaks, Kata Tjuta means “many heads”, discovered by Ernest Giles Tallest is named Olgas, after the Queen Olga of Wutterberg Millions of years ago were sand dunes, red/black is from iron content
Kata Tjuta (cont.)
Close up shots Lots of holes Time, wind, and water eroded the dunes
Kata Tjuta (cont.)
A little further away
King Canyon
Get up at 4am to take the 1 day tour Not economical to drive by yourself 500-step climb up
King Canyon (cont.)
Sand + water + wind erosion = nice shape
King Canyon (cont.)
Many dunes
King Canyon (cont.)
Every 70-80 years a big piece would fall off The straight cliff resulted in the canyon
King Canyon (cont.)
Called “Dead Sea Ripple” Millions of years ago this is underwater Marks on the stones are result of waves washing them
King Canyon (cont.)
Called “Garden of Eden” Don’t swim in it, the water is stale, can be poisonous In rain season, the water rise up, and eventually form waterfall out of rocks
King Canyon (cont.)
There’s nothing between you, rocks, and the sky The rock formation is utterly amazing And the blue skies…..
King Canyon (cont.)
Look at how sharp the edges are It is due for another crack
Salt Lakes
Stopped Ernest Giles, who discovered Kata Tjuta, because he couldn’t get around it When Giles tried again, William Gosse had already beat him to discover Ayer’s rock Ironically, it was because Gosse had read the book Giles wrote on his adventure
Uluru Up Close and Personal
Looked at the heart shape on top of Spring Gosse named it Maggies’ Spring because he was dating Maggie prior to trip Ironically, when Gosse returns, Maggie already married someone else, but name remained