Kings Canyon Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The driving skills of the driver were excellent as was his knowledge of history and indugnous storiess and the commentaries while on the coach were great. However at our first stiop we arrived at the same time as another AAT Kings coach andsiness. I saidsunis it was full of Americans who raced into the shop and lined up for fod and drinks - that meant that a lot of the passengers on our coach did not have enough time to buy anythi ng. When we got back to our coach at the aloted time the driver made the coment that not many of us bought anything and that didn't support the local business - I told him the reason and suggested that the driver coordinate their arrival times so the one perso nin the store had time to serve everyone - I thought I was being helpful not becoming public enemy number 1! He saaid quite loucly wel there has to be one person who is a troublemaker and told me to get on board. Quuite a few of the passengers commmented that he was rude to me and didn't understand. When we arrived at our accommodation at Uluru hw had said he'd hoped staff were there to help peoplle with their luggage but there was no=one so he unloaded our luggage and just left us to it. My sister and I managed but there were quite a few others with mobility issues and one lady had two walking sticks and her husband has one as well so they strigg;ed. On our day at Uluru to have wine and snacks someone asked if there was seating for us as a few other coach loads did - we were told that if people had wine and seats they fall off - if you need to sit sit on an esky. I did that jand was holding my sister s glass while she went to speakk to a local ,ady about her art and I put my gl,*** and place of food on the esky next to me. I eas yeled at - get off the esky I need to get in there and while I was getting up he came over and snatched myy glass off the esky and =handed- it to my - the wine in my glass went all over the front of me = he didn't even acknowledge it let alone pologize. Many others noticed it and as mt sister came back e picked up our plate of fod and was about to put it in the bin! Another passenger took my now empty glass and went and refilled it for me but it certaainly wrecked the atmosphere of being there. He was god driving around and stopped a few times so we could take photos. We didn't get to see sunset or sunrise as it was raining - not his fault/. Kat Tjuta was lovely but the driver never waited until erey one was together before starting his talks - he did that at every stop. Arrival at Kings Canyon the same was repeated with the luggage - we were pointed in the general direction of our rooms and left to work it ouur for ourselves. The first walk at Kings Canyon was good but again he just took off with the faster people abd talked to them. The ldy with the two sticks got to ine step in the path and couldn't get up it so some of us stayed with her until she was ready to head back . He was good on the trjip stopping or slowing down so we could see cattle, willd horses and camels -0 appreciated. When we got back to Alice he was god enough to drop my sister and I off at our aaccommodation instead of driving further down the road to where most of the others were staying so we loved that. On the whole he had no patience for people a little slower - didn't like that part as talking to them they were great fun and knowledgeable.

At Uluru could not get into accomodation till late at Kings Canyon we were soooo far away from the resturant we were told the buggy would pick us up as it was so far but then told no it will not you walk we had to do this for dinner and breakfast as there was no where else to eat. Tv reception turned off at 9pm? Bus driver informative but a grumpy man and many on the bus found him unaproachable to ask questions for fear he would bite your head off our sunset wine and nibbles of Uluru no chairs to sit on so a plate in 1 hand and drink in the other were we suppose to lick the food off the plate? Other AAT buses had little stools to sit on.

Anyone wishing to see Outback Australia, this is a good tour. Nice pace for all age groups even those who want a bit of a challenge.

Magnificent, beautiful and jaw dropping love every minute of it !!