Kings Canyon, Northern Territory

22. Jun, 2011

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Kings Canyon

Overview of Kings Canyon from the Rim Walk.

Is part of the Watarrka National Park in Northern Territory, Australia. Sitting at the western end of the George Gill Range, it is 323 km southwest of Alice Springs and 1,316 km south of Darwin.

Description

The walls of Kings Canyon are over 300 metres high, with Kings Creek at the bottom. Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site and visitors are discouraged from walking off the walking tracks. Two walks exists at Kings Canyon. The 2 km (return) and approximately 1 hour Kings Creek Walk traces the bottom of the gorge. At the end of the walk is a platform, with views of the canyon walls above. The 6 km (loop) and 3-4 hour Kings Canyon Rim Walk traces the top of the canyon. A steep climb at the beginning of the walk, which locals call “Heartbreak Hill” (or “Heart Attack Hill”, due to its steepness), takes visitors up to the top, with spectacular views of the gorge below and of the surrounding landscape. About half way during the walk, a detour descends to Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole surrounded by lush plant life. The last half of the walk passes through a large maze of weathered sandstone domes, reminiscent of the Bungle Bungle. A slow descent brings the visitor back to the starting point. The loop can also be done in reverse (anti-clockwise), but the National Park Rangers encourage visitors to walk in one direction. The 22 km Giles Track connects Kings Canyon to Kathleen Springs and is popular with more adventurous hikers.

Visitor information

View from the Kings Canyon Gorge at sunset.

As with many tracks in the central Australian desert, visitors are advised to avoid walking during the middle of the day when the temperature is the highest and the sun most direct. Sunscreen, a hat, water (at least 1 litre per hour at the hottest time), and a fly net (in the hotter months) are essential. The Kings Canyon Resort operated by Delaware North 6 kilometres to the west offers camping, budget rooms, standard hotel rooms and spa suites. Kings Creek Station, 38 kilometres to the east run and owned by Ian and Lyn Conway offers alternative accommodation, and also provides camel rides and quad bike tours.

Birds

Birds that can be seen on the Kings Canyon Rim walk include Spinifex Pigeon, Zebra Finch, Grey-headed Honeyeater, Dusky Grasswren and Black-breasted Buzzard.

Kings Canyon Solar Power Station

Is a photovoltaic power station in the Northern Territory. It has a generating capacity of 225 kWp and produces 372,000 kWh of electricity per annum. Power generated from the project is fed into the Kings Canyon grid. It is the largest single installation of its kind in Australia and began operation in December 2003. Kings Canyon is a high-profile tourist resort in Central Australia’s

View of the sandstone domes at Kings Canyon.

Watarrka National Park in the arid zone. The remote resort previously relied on a diesel-fuelled power station. The solar power station reduces diesel fuel consumption by up to 105,000 litres per year and save 331 tonnes per annum of greenhouse gas emissions. The solar panels have an expected life of 25 years.

Peak power demand in the Northern Territory closely matches solar availability, with the peak occurring early afternoon. The PV system provides peak load and is run in tandem with a smaller diesel engine. Battery storage is not required since the diesel engines supplement the power output of the PV system, resulting in significant economic savings. Kings Canyon Solar Power Station is an accredited generator under the Australian Government’s Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) Scheme. The Kings Canyon ($2.9 m) and Bulman ($0.9 m) PV Solar Power Stations received total funding of $1.76 million from the Australian Government through the Renewable Energy Commercialisation Program and the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP).

Kings Canyon & Lake Amadeus Scenic Flight

See the remarkable Lake Amadeus and Kings Canyon from the air whilst appreciating the spectacular size of this vast country. This scenic flight takes in all the sights of our Uluru and Kata Tjuta Spectacular, with the added attraction of the magnificent Lake Amadeus, the largest salt lake in the Northern Territory. Located some 40 km to the northeast of Uluru, this normally dry giant salt lake is a visual spectacular of islands and saltpans.

Variations in the underground water table are constantly changing the colours and patterns of Lake Amadeus, providing an awe-inspiring image of the harsh and unforgiving environment of central Australia. En route to Lake Amadeus, keep a good lookout for camels and kangaroos as you roam the region at low level, where the desert sands mingle with the ancient Desert Oaks and golden Spinifex.

Kings Canyon Helicopter Ride

Fly to Kings Canyon from Ayers Rock return and enjoy a bird’s eye view over this amazing natural landscape. An aerial tour is the only way to fully appreciate the scale and grandeur of this spectacular Canyon and the rugged region surrounding it. See the domes of the Lost City and the Garden of Eden oasis, before heading back to Ayers Rock. There are return minibus transfers from your hotel at Ayers Rock. You get approximatley 84 minutes of flying time and there is informative pilot commentary on all flights. As you fly over Kings Canyon there are fantastic views through large bubble windows. This is an unforgettable experience in one of Australias best locations.

Kings Canyon Quad Adventure

Take a guided tour of Kings Creek Station on your own 4-wheel quad bike. Journey through the rugged outback taking in spectacular scenery whilst riding through wild bush and over red sand dunes searching for wildlife. Learn a little about outback station life from the stockmen guides as you pause to view the splendor of the George Gill Range. Your adventure takes you through the cattle country where you will often see santa/shorthorn cattle and, occasionally, surprising feral camels, kangaroos and dingoes. Majestic wedge-tailed eagles are often sighted, gliding in the sky looking for prey, while below colourful parrots and other native bird life flit around the scrub. Take the late afternoon tour and enjoy a magnificent sunset at the secluded lookout.

Inclusions

Quad bike hire
Helmet for your safety
Skilled guide
Safety briefing

Giles Track

Giles Track

Watarrka National Park
Kings Canyon
Northern Territory
Australia

Impressive natural wonders, indigenous culture and the heritage of Central Australia can all be experienced when trekking this 22 kilometre, two day long distance walking track located in Watarrka National Park. The Giles Track follows the southern rim of George Gill Range, from Kings Canyon to Kathleen Springs. You will be rewarded with dramatic views of Watarrka National Park across wilderness virtually unchanged since first described by Ernest Giles. Hike through beautiful valleys, beehive-shaped sandstone formations, and across rocky watercourses. This hiking experience will disclose native wildlife including spinifex pigeons, rock-wallabies, euros, goannas and pythons.

Scattered across the range are many grinding stones, stone blades, stencilled art and petroglyphs as the flat, rocky plateau made for relatively easy and safe travelling for Aboriginal people. The track is suitable for experienced bushwalkers of average fitness, capable and equipped to carry adequate food, water and camping equipment in a remote area. Contact Parks and Wildlife NT for more information and the appropriate map and track notes.

Open Daily, 24 hours.

Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)

Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)

330 kilometres via the Red Centre Way
Kings Canyon
Northern Territory
Australia

Watarrka National Park, synonymous with its most famous landmark, Kings Canyon, is located 450 kilometres south west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta region of the Northern Territory. The park encompasses the western end of the George Gill Range and is home to a variety of unique native flora and fauna, including over 600 different plant species. Commercial accommodation is available at Kings Canyon Resort or at nearby Kings Creek Station and Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge. The area has also been home to the Luritja Aboriginal people for the last 20,000 years.

The word Watarrka refers to the umbrella bush that proliferates in this amazing landscape. The canyon’s 300 metre high sandstone walls are breathtaking, and the surrounding area is home to diverse flora and fauna. Travellers can hike to the six kilometre canyon rim, follow a walking trail through the scenic desert surrounds, or stroll along the boulder-strewn valley floor.

The shady Kings Creek Walk ambles one kilometre along the valley floor to a viewing platform. Enjoy the 2.6 kilometre walk to Kathleen Springs where historical sites, a spring-fed water hole and barbecues can be found. For fit and experienced walkers there is the Giles Track, an enjoyable 22 kilometre bushwalk between Kings Canyon and Kathleen Springs. Ranger guided walks and talks occur during May to September as part of the ‘Territory Parks Alive’ program.

Open Daily, 24 hours