Red Sand, Starlit Swags and a Five-Hour Singalong: Year 9 in Central Australia
Reflection written by Emily R, Year 9.
Six days, three groups and one unforgettable journey through the heart of the outback.
Year 9 camp was different from the moment discussions began. We were given choices, and I chose to experience Central Australia. With the threat of below-zero nights and sunburning days ahead of us, off to Kathmandu and Macpac we went to buy all the camp essentials, thermals, hiking runners, and enough sunscreen to survive the outback.
From the moment we stepped off the Qantas flight, we knew this experience was going to be something special. We were divided into three smaller groups, each with two staff members and we had our amazing Earth Sanctuary leader, Andy. Then came the serious business of setting up swags, which involved a combination of perplexion, laughter, teamwork, and problem solving, but in the end, we all succeeded.
A sky without limits
Of all the things we did, the astronomy session was one of the really powerful experiences. Without light pollution dulling the sky, seeing the zodiac and the stars so clearly was incredible. Through the telescope, we could even see Jupiter's four moons, which made the whole experience feel even more surreal. It's hard to explain just how bright everything looks until you see it for yourself.
Sleeping under the stars turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. Surprisingly, the nights never became freezing, the thermals stayed packed away, and best of all, there were barely any flies. Honestly, I think some of us felt slightly robbed of the ‘true outback experience.’ However, sleeping in swags under the stars became one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip, something we'd never experienced elsewhere and can't wait to do in the future, in our newly purchased -5 comfort level sleeping bags.
Exploring the landscape
Throughout the trip we explored the unique flora and fauna of Central Australia through visits to Alice Springs Desert Park, and the sustainability walk around the local environment. Visiting Simpsons Gap gave us the chance to experience the landscape up close and learn more about the native plants and wildlife that survive in such harsh conditions. While we were there, our group leader also shared a Dreamtime story explaining how the rock formation resembles two lizards drinking water, which made us look at the landscape in a completely different way. While I wouldn't normally call myself a hiker, the environment somehow made it feel achievable, and the natural beauty was breathtaking. I came home saying that if Ruyton ever offered a hiking trip, I'd definitely sign up after this experience, which is probably the biggest plot twist of the whole camp.
The road to Uluru
Then came the bus trip from Alice Springs to Uluru. We absolutely loved Andy, who somehow convinced Mr Hawkes to allow a five-hour singalong. And sing we did. By the end of the drive, which went surprisingly quickly, the bus felt less like a school trip and more like a travelling karaoke located in the middle of the red outback.
The first time Uluru came into sight, we were all excited and overwhelmed at the same time. After hearing so much about it, actually seeing it rise out of the landscape was incredible. Exploring Uluru was something none of us will forget. We hiked around almost half the base of the rock, taking in the enormous scale of it up close. Watching the sunrise and sunset over the rock was amazing because the colours constantly changed from deep reds and oranges to softer purples and browns depending on the light. We also loved learning about the Dreamtime stories and how they connected to the landscape and the rock itself, which gave us a much greater appreciation of its cultural and spiritual significance to the Anangu people.
Coming home
These are only brief snippets of an unforgettable six days away. Among the many moments we will always remember, one stood out for our group, being the bedtime retelling of The Lorax by Ms Kruger, enthusiastically reenacted by Mr Hawkes. It became one of the funniest, happiest, and most unexpected moments of camp, and is something our group will be talking about for years to come. By the end of the trip, we all came home with red sand in our shoes, hundreds of photos, new understandings about ourselves and our peers and a completely different appreciation for Central Australia.
