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Watarrka National Park - Central Australia: Hike between
sheer cliffs and diverse plant species at Kings Canyon,
then explore the Garden of Eden rock pool.
 Watarrka
National Park encloses Kings Canyon, with its 300-metre-high
sandstone walls, walking trails, lush forests and permanent
waterholes. The sheer red rock face of the canyon soars
above dense forests of palms, ferns and cycads, sheltering
them from the harsh desert, and providing refuge for
many native animals.
The Park has been home to the Luritja people for more
than 20,000 years, and its flora, fauna and rock formations
are best seen on foot. Try the gentle shady Kings Creek
Walk trail one kilometre along the valley floor. Get
up early to see the sunrise and walk the six kilometres
around the Canyon rim to take in magnificent views across
the desert or into the lush valley below.
 Opening
times: ¦ Daily, 24 hours
Activities: ¦Barbecue ¦Birdwatching ¦Self-Guided
¦Bushwalking ¦Wilderness Walking
Facilities: ¦BBQ Facilities ¦Car park ¦First
aid equipment ¦Guide ¦Interpretive Centre ¦Picnic Area
¦Public Toilet ¦Visitor Information Centre ¦Viewing
Platform
Those with a four-wheel drive can then take the
unsealed Mereenie Loop on to Alice Springs.
Getting there: The Park is located about 450km
southwest of Alice Springs and can be reached by 2WD
vehicle via Luritja Road from Yulara and Lasseters Highway
(sealed road). It can also be reached: via Larapinta
Drive, through the West MacDonnell National Park, linking
into the new gravel Mereenie Loop Road (4WD recommended);
or via Ernest Giles Road (4WD essential) and Luritja
Road. Careful driving techniques should be applied at
all times to accommodate changing road conditions.
Kings Canyon 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 by line of
sight southwest of Alice Springs and 1,316 km south
of Darwin.
When to Visit: The Park is accessible all year
round. The cooler months (April to September) are the
most pleasant.
Picnic Tables: Located at the sunset viewing
area at Kings Canyon and at the Kathleen Springs carpark
and picnic area.
This privately owned resort is inside Watarrka National
Park, 7 km north-east of Kings Canyon, off Luritja Rd.
The camping area has powered and unpowered sites, in
shady, grassed surrounds. The resort offers a wide range
of facilities including bars, restaurants, swimming
pool and tennis courts. Fuel is also available. There
is a short walk to a spectacular sunset lookout with
wonderful views to the escarpment. No fires are permitted.
Kings Creek Station is a working cattle and camel station
that runs cattle and exports camels. Established in
1982, the Station covers an area of 1800 sq.
Camel Rides:
• The camel train is led by an experienced guide who
will be happy to answer your questions and take your
photograph.
The camels' easy gait and comfortable, individually
designed saddles ensure a safe and pleasant ride.
•Sunrise Spectacular (1 hour) - Your experienced guide
will lead your camel through the red sands to view desert
oaks, wildflowers and some of the abundant bird-life
in the area.
•Sunset Spectacular (1 hour) - A relaxing guided tour
as the sun sets against the brilliant George Gill Range.
 Kings
Canyon Area - Walking Tracks:
• The Canyon Walk (6 km loop Approx. 3-4 hrs duration)
This walk begins with a steep climb to the top of the
Canyon, then follows the Canyon rim around before descending
to the carpark.
Approximately half way along the walk is the 'Garden
of Eden', a delightful area of cool waterholes and riverine
vegetation communities.
This walk requires a medium to high level of fitness
with some strenuous sections. Extreme care should be
taken in the hotter months (Sept - May) when walkers
should consider other shorter walks as alternatives
during the middle of the day.
 Kings
Canyon Area - Walking Tracks:
• The Kings Creek Walk (2.6 km return Approx. 1 hour
duration) This walk meanders along Kings Creek ending
at a lookout point, then returns by the same route.
It can be rough underfoot, so sturdy footwear is essential.
Information signs on the Aboriginal cultural uses of
the area are located at several points along the route.
This walk has assisted wheelchair access for approxmately
half the walk and the remainder is suitable for walkers
of all ages.
 Kings
Canyon Area - Walking Tracks:
• The Giles Track is a 22km overnight walk traversing
the top of the range from Kathleen Springs to Kings
Canyon with an entrance/exit point at Reedy Creek/Lilla.
Careful planning and preparation is required. For more
information contact (08) 8951 8250.
 Kings
Canyon Area - Walking Tracks:
• The
2.6-kilometre walk to Kathleen Springs
This walk is recommended for families and visitors with
limited mobility. Signs along the track tell the story
of centuries of Aboriginal culture and the recent cattle
industry. It leads to a delightful spring-fed waterhole
at the head of Kathleen Gorge. This is a cool moist
place to sit and enjoy the areas tranquility.
The
2.6-kilometre walk to Kathleen Springs takes you to
historical sites, and a spring-fed water hole. Fit
and experienced hikers will love the Giles Track, a
22-kilometre walk between Kings Canyon and Kathleen
Springs. The Kathleen Springs (2.6 km return. Approx
1.5 hours duration).
 Parks
Alive Program
Free Ranger guided activities are provided in this
Park between May and September each year.
 Visitor
Facilities: There is no accommodation within the
Park and camping is not permitted, however commercial
accommodation can be found at nearby Kings
Canyon Resort, Kings
Creek Station and Kings Creek Wilderness Lodge.
Commercial motel and camping accommodation is the only
option available for visitors wishing to stay overnight
at Watarrka.
Kings
Canyon Resort
Kings
Creek Station
Kings Creek Wilderness Lodge
Take a optional flight over Watarrka National Park and
Kings Canyon. Ask at Kings
Creek Station. An aerial view of Kings Canyon with
a helicopter tour is the best way to appreciate the
true beauty and grandeur of Kings Canyon. The helicopters
feature unique bubble windows that allow you to take
photos unimpeded. You’ll certainly be taking lots of
photos.
Take a optional flight over Watarrka National Park and
Kings Canyon.
Inclusions
•Return transfer from Kings Canyon Resort in an air-conditioned
mini-bus
•Informative pilot commentary
•Multilingual commentary available on your iPod
• Fantastic views through large bubble windows
Hike
to the canyon rim, walk through the scenic desert surrounds,
or stroll along the boulder-strewn valley floor beneath
imposing sandstone walls.
The Kings Canyon Rim Walk (6 km loop, 3-4 hours). After
an initial steep climb the walk offers spectacular views
from the Canyon rim.
Along the way are the weathered, buttressed domes of
the ‘Lost City’ and the sheltered ‘Garden of Eden’ with
permanent waterholes and lush vegetation. This walk
is suitable for fit, experienced walkers.
For safety reasons, the track must be walked in a
clockwise direction. This minimises traffic congestion,
track erosion and vegetation degradation.
 Most
of Watarrka's visitors come to view the spectacular
Kings Canyon with its towering vertical walls and pockets
of 'lush' vegetation protected in sheltered gullies
amidst the vast and harsh desert that surrounds the
Park. There are two walking tracks at the Canyon, both
offering visitors an opportunity to escape the crowds
and experience first hand the beauty and solitude of
the Australian bush. Signs along both tracks highlight
features of interest.
There is also a walking track at Kathleen Springs.
This walk is recommended for families and visitors with
limited mobility. Signs along the track tell the story
of centuries of Aboriginal culture and the recent cattle
industry. It leads to a delightful spring-fed waterhole
at the head of Kathleen Gorge.
This is a cool moist place to sit and enjoy the areas
tranquility. All walkers are advised to carefully read
the information on the two walks before starting out.
Safety is your responsibility.
The Kings Canyon walk has many steep sections and is
recommended for reasonably fit and healthy walkers.
Tracks are constructed to a suitable standard with
stairs and boardwalks to make your walk safe and comfortable
and to protect sensitive vegetation and waterholes.
Information on other walking tracks in Watarrka is available
from other Parks Service publications.
Bush Ethics
Watarrka, as with all National Parks is a protected
area. Disturbance of plants, animals and natural features
is an offence. It is prohibited to: break branches for
fly swats; write or etch names on rocks; remove or displace
the natural landscape i.e. rocks or flora. Cigarette
butts, tissue paper and orange peel are three common
and unsightly forms of litter. Care should be taken
after heavy rains as gravel roads may become impassable.
Walking Track Markers
The walking tracks of the Canyon area are well sign
posted with metal trail markers. The arrows are Orange
for the Kings Creek Walk and Navy Blue for the Canyon
Walk. Please travel the Canyon Walk in a clockwise direction,
in accordance with management, safety and interpretive
signage.
Emergencies
If someone is in urgent need of medical action, you
can contact a Ranger in one of two ways.
• Emergency Radio Call Boxes This is the quickest, most
effective way of reaching a Ranger.
There are 4 call boxes located along the Canyon Walk
at:
•near the carpark at the beginning of the walk;
•the eastern side above the Garden of Eden staircase;
•at Kestrel Falls half way down the return loop section;
and
•at the top of the northern climb.
• Ranger Workshop/Residence Workshop/Residence area
is located 2km, east of the Canyon turn-off.
Basic first aid equipment is available from the emergency
first aid boxes on the top of the Canyon. Avoid leaving
an injured person alone. Stay with them to administer
first aid and send another person with careful note
of your location and the problem to get help.
Source courtesy of: http://www.parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au
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