This prompted me to look back through my photos from the 2016 post-WRC trip with my parents - we were so lucky to be in Central Australia a month after rain (the hailstorm which collapsed the roof of the cinema in Alice Springs) because the plethora of wildflowers made it extra spectacular!
Hope you & your aunt enjoyed the Field Of Light :)
Sounds like an epic training run - I´m definitely envious.
Sounds like hill reps to the top is no longer an option these days.
In theory it still is until October, although the climb is closed fairly regularly now (strong winds on Thursday).