Kings Canyon - Watarrka National Park
The name Watarrka comes from the Luritjja Aboriginal word for the umbrella bush (Acacia Ligulata). The photo on the right shows you some specimens of this umbrella bush. When young, the tree is more like a pine tree then when becoming older the shape reminds you more an umbrella.
The park is accessible all year around. The cooler months (April to September) are the most pleasant. The park can be reached by 2WD from Alice Springs. This main access is via Stuart Highway till Erldunda, then the Lasseter highway, Luritja Road and finally the good part of the Ernest Giles Road. There is shortcut to this itinerary. The Ernest Giles Road can be directly reached from the Stuart Highway (near Henbury) but this part of the road is very rough and 4WD is essential.
A third way to reach the park is from Alice Springs via the Larapinta drive, through the West MacDonnell National park, linking to the Mereenie Loop Road. This road is 4WD recommended. When talking to the locals to check if the road can be used by a 2WD vehicle, you will probably not have a clear answer. The road generally in reasonable condition and quite Ok for conventional vehicle but it can become corrugated if not recently maintained. When traveling in the region, I was driving a small campervan and I decided to not take the risk. You should also check with your rental company if you are allowed to drive on such roads with your vehicle (it is specially an insurance issue). To travel along the Mereenie Loop, as it passes through Aboriginal land, you also need a permit issued by the Central Land Council. This permit is available at several places (i.e. at the Hermannsburg petrol station.
This scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rockholes and moist gorges acts as a refuge for many plants and animals. The gorge itself is barely one km long and over 600 plants species have been recorded in the park, giving it the highest plant diversity of any place in Australia's arid zone. The park offers spectacular walking and photographic opportunities.
The Kings Canyon walk is a 6 km loop walk taking about 3-4 hours. The local rangers recommend to do the loop in the clockwise direction and starting early in the morning when the temperature is still cool. As usual for such a walk, be sure to bring enough water with you. After an initial climb the walk takes you up on to the plateau and offers spectacular views from the Canyon rim.
During the walk, take also the time for the short detour to the spring-fed Garden of Eden on the northern edge of the Canyon. A place where a micro-climate supports a variety of plants and from where with a short walk via an unmarked track you will reach a view point that offers a stunning view on the canyon. It is also a very quiet place as most of the visitors are not going so far.
A easier walk is the Kathleen Springs Walk. It is a 2.6 km (1.5 h) return walk in to a delightful spring-fed waterhole.
If you are feeling more adventurous you can try the Giles Track. It is a 22 km overnight walk traversing the top of the range from Kathleen Springs to Kings Canyon.
Where to stay?
Accommodation within the park is confined to the Frontier Kings Canyon, a resort where you can find from up-market motel rooms to camp sites. The Frontier Resort Camp site will probably not be everybody cup of tea. Quite nice and well organized, but also very busy and most of the time crowded.
If you are looking for something cheaper, friendlier and that can give you the taste of a kind of bush experience, a good alternative is the Kings Creek Station.
Kings Creek Station is located 40 km from Kings Canyon on the Ernest Giles Road just before the park entrance. It is a very pleasant camp site sets among large desert oaks. Sites are large, you can enjoy your own privacy and each of them has its own fire place. We have a very good souvenirs from the nights spent in this camp. The camp also offers some evening activities such as a slide show commented by a local Ranger.
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