Suspect 2020 is going to be almost a write-off travel wise.

The Light station is more than just the light station itself. It’s more of an open air museum with various displays, buildings, talks (including history and indigenous bush tucker talks)

Rental car for this leg of the journey was a Resale Grey Kia Cerato hatch this time from Thrifty Car and Truck Rental Melbourne Airport which was OK to drive.

Be aware, Thrifty Car rental locations are not all the same. Thrifty Melbourne Airport and Melbourne City (Spencer St) are operated by the Thrifty AU master franchise (Kingmill Pty Ltd) with the bulk of the others in Suburban Melbourne operated by some outfit called Lawrence Vic Pty Ltd whom I had a disappointing experience wtih 2 years ago renting from their Mickelham Rd branch and latterly raked them over the coals for posting fake testimonials (A big no no in my books).

Uluru Base walk is around 10km. Can be completed within 3 hours at a leisurely pace. Water stations at Mala Car park and at the opposite end of Uluru. Temperature touched on 40°C while I circumnavigated the rock. Went through about 6 liters of water (About 2 litres for each hour of walking). Similar rate of water consumption while doing the walks in Kata Tjuta.

Probably best to stay around 2-3 nights to get a chance to see both Uluru and Kata Tjuta. The climb up Uluru (Ayers Rock) is permanently closed.

You are required to  purchase a park pass. 25 AUD for 3 days. Accommodation in Yuluru township is very expensive. The cheapest option is the Pioneer Lodge Backpacker bunks which are about 50 AUD per night. After booking, double check confirmation E-mail.

Park Australia Official Website of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Thanks to John Tasso and his family for his hospitality and guiding, Adam who took over the guiding on the 2nd night and to the many porters who helped carry our gear up and down the mountain.

• Crossing the Date Line, arrived at Papeete early on Friday Morning (Tahiti Time). Picked up a rental car and drove to our accommodation for the night, an Air BnB Style apartment “Chez Vous à Papeete”, around Rue Cook Residence Cook.
• Friday Morning, circumnavigated Tahiti Nui in a Anti Clockwise direction, dropping by Maraa Grotto, A few beaches, Cascade Vaimahuta (Waterfalls), before boarding the Aremiti Car ferry to Moorea.
• Saturday, Circumnavigated Moorea, dropping off at Lagoonarium de Moorea to swim with the Tiger sharks and stingrays (they’re perfectly tame!), them on to Belvedere Lookout before heading back to a beach near our accommodation to view the Sunset.
• Sunday, walked up Magic Mountain before heading back on to the Car ferry back to Tahiti Nui.

Definitely contemplating another trip back there in the coming years, to visit to the further flung islands such as Bora Bora.

Trip notes and observations further down below…

Trip Notes / Advisory…

• Being able to understand and speak French is an advantage.
• Traffic drives on the right.
• Cost of things can be up to twice as high than back in New Zealand.
• If taking a car across with you to Moorea island. Car Passengers, must embark separately as regular ferry passengers.  At the other end, Drivers and Passengers are to disembark while in the car. Make sure you allow plenty of time to get back to the car deck. By the time the call over the loud speaker is made instructing people to go to their vehicles, it can sometimes be too late.
• Mobile Phone Roaming charges are murderous.
• The sandwich rolls at the Supermarket are perhaps the best value for filling your stomach.
• Tourist attraction “Lagoonarium de Moorea” do not have card payment facilities. Take some cash. At the time we got there, the charge was 3900 XPF for each adult.

Other notes, Observations and trivia…

• Upon our visit to Moorea, most people were from within the country (Domestic tourists), this was due to Tahiti’s school holiday period.
• A Dacia Sandero Stepway was the rental car assigned to us.
• Yes, 3 Days is perhaps a bit too short of a time to stay in Tahiti. My colleagues have all reminded me.

If doing the standard visits, the company, Entani Company Ltd. which controls access to Mount Yasur charges an Entry price of 9750 VT for first visit, 6500 VT for second visit with the 3rd visit Free. Local land owners of the mountain who also supply the guides and truck transport reported only get a small amount back.

Apart from any up and coming work trips, I’m going dial back a little from traveling for a while, so the volume of trip photos will likely drop accordingly (Not that it really matters as such)

The Gorge swim was perhaps more picturesque than the Millennial Caves themselves, with several rather spectacular falls though were quite difficult to properly photograph (particularly if you’re floating down the river).

See also Photos from Dukono and Komodo

More detailed trip notes to come and will be posted to KAHA

See also photos from Dukono and Kelimutu

More detailed trip notes to come and will be posted to KAHA