Ayers Rock is roughly in the centre of Australia, having visited it in 2001, it is a once in a life time experience. We actually went to Australia for three weeks, we stayed with family for a week and a half and then travelled the rest. I would say if your going that far you have to at least see some of the amazing sights!! Though when we told our nieghbour where we were going and that we were visiting Ayers Rock their response was ''A bloody long way to go see a rock!!' Which I guess many people might agree with but maybe I can change your minds!

Ayers Rock is literally in the middle of know where. The easiest way to get there is (This is how we got there!) by plane. The nearest airport is Alice Springs and the trip lasts about 50minutes. If your not a keen flyer then brace yourselves as the actual airport at Alice Springs is small but at Ayers Rock is tiny and doesn't have room for large planes. We went on a 16 seater which meant I spent the whole time watching the propellers going round! In its defence though the views from it were amazing! You can't actually fly over the rock, so you get a view from all angles, and from above you can actually see in respect how big the rock is and how it stands out in miles of flat desert. So if nothing else the flight it self is well worth it just to see it from above the ground.

Ayers Rock actually has a tourist centre where you can stay. When we went (so this might have changed) they were fully equiped apartments, there is a supermarket, cafes, a few selection of shops for all the little bits and pieces you might need. However this is no where near the rock, which means it doesn't spoil the rock and make ita tourist attraction it is tucked away out of sight. They lay coaches on and other means of transport (e.g Harley Davision) to take you to the rock and bring you back. If you are thinking of going to the rock this is the place I expect you would stay, but it is in the middle of nowhere the nearest town is Alice Springs so you wouldn't want to spend a week there, its a day maybe two day stop over to see the rock and then carry on.

Ayers rock dates back to the word go, as I've mentioned it just stands out in the middle of flat desert, its approx 9km all the way round, which you can walk around. In some parts of the rock there are drawings which are corded off but you can view from a distant which date backs with the rock. You can also climb the rock but they prefer that you don't. When we went people where climbing it but we our selves didn't (there is a sign at the bottom that says nobody will take responseblitly for any deaths occuring by climbing the rock! This put me off right away!)
Just walking around the rock and touching it is enough, you can feel the energy coming from it and its so hard to describe but there is a magical feel about the whole setting. If you spend a day there as the time changes the rock seems to change colour, with the sun rising and setting and it never looks the same. Apart from the rock there is a centre there which you can visit which is filled about knowledge of the rock. This is a tourist attraction but is about a thirty minute walk from Ayers rock. It fits in with the whole setting, with a straw roof and made with red clay. There is a small cafe there to get drinks etc, shop to buy photos (none of these are tacky or cheap tourtistie items you might find at the sea side but items to get to remnd you of your trip.) Toilets, a small museum with photos, artwork and written information about the rock and a place where you can see women making items to be sold in the shop. These items are made the same way that they have been for years and it is amazing just to see the care and detail that go into these products.

Well as you may have guessed there isn't a lot of nightlife, in fact none at all. In the apartments there are TV's and there was a bar when we went. But if you fancy something abit different then there is a coach trip that you can take. We did and I would recommend 100%. You get picked up from the hotel/vistors centre and taken back to the rock. This time not right to the rock but around the other side and some distant away. The coach journey is about 20-30minutes. When you get there you are greated with drinks and nibbles (including some kind of crocodile nibble!) From there you walk over the sand dunes (not literally there is a walkway for you) and are taken to a 5star resturant that has been set up. It is all outside with tables and all the cooking done. So its is pot luck on the weather. There you have a 3 course meal which included more crocodile, kangaroo and shark! (For those of you that don't fancy that they do have chicken etc!) With the sun setting you get to watch the rock changing colour and then finally disappear into darkness. After your meal you then get a talk about the stars. This might not seem that great but you are in the middle of no where. There arent any street lights or lamps but just the candels on the table. The view of the stars is amazing and the guide talks around the stars pointing them all out with a torch, which means in such darkness you can actually find which ones she is on about. Not only that if your like - like we were, you can get a very good view of mars.
The only downside to this is how cold it gets. We were warned to take coats but the temperature pummets and it is freezing, though they are prepared for this and have wraps etc you can borrow to watch the sunset and listen to the star talk.
This is amazing trip and one way to watch the sun set and experience some of the local food. The trip does cost a lot of money but you can book it from the UK or where ever you are travelling from. So you can pay in advance and not have to worry about paying it out of your holiday money which is an excellent idea and worth bearing in mind!

During the day if you walk around the rock it is important that you wear sensible clothes, hat, sunglasses, suncream etc as the heat is so strong! Also if your walking around the rock bear in mind that if you need a drink you have to walk back to the tourist centre so take drinks with you! And the otherway round if you go for the night tour wrap up warm!!
Overall it was a magical experience and if your thinking about it, then go for it. It is an amazing experience and something that you will never forget, It is a lot of money but you can book all the trips from home and pay in, installments and then go over and enjoy the holiday!