Saturday, 9 November 2013

Intrepid walkers in Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)

After a slightly hair-raising drive with Trace overtaking a driver doing 60 in a 100 km zone, someone pulling out next to her at the same time and the caravan swaying back and forth behind us, we finally arrived safely at Kings Canyon. Closer inspection of the van, the inside to be precise, revealed a kitchen and dining area covered in flour, coffee, sugar, salt, cous cous, bread crumbs and more - the result of our highway altercation. 

The resort was in a beautiful location with the canyon walls in the backdrop over 100 metres high. Again, the colours in the afternoon of the rock were magnificent. In fact the backdrop was used in the movie Priscilla and some of the cast were flown in by helicopter to land on the very top of the canyon.


In the afternoon we went into the canyon and did a short walk called the Kings Creek Walk which was only a 2km walk but traced the bottom of the gorge through the dry creek bed and finishing at a viewing platform. Part of the Gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site so visitors are discouraged to walk any further or stray from the path.







After a good night sleep we were ready for our early morning start of 7am to begin the Kings Canyon Rim Walk This is by far the most impressive walk in Kings Canyon. It takes you around the rim of the canyons sandstone walls, which formed when small cracks over time eroded to create the spectacular Canyons we have today.
To begin the walk we climbed what locals call Heartbreak Hill or Heart-attack Hill. Hoping neither of these things would occur we managed to get up in fairly good time. The kids as usual showing their parents how it is done. Even little Jem was a star!




Throughout the walk there were some amazing vantage points to look out and over the white and red sandstone cliffs of the canyon, also allowing you to look down the cliffs edges. The sheer height of these cliffs is 270metres, to put this in perspective; it is almost the same height as Australia’s tallest high-rise in Melbourne city, Eureka Towers.
Sandstone domes can be found throughout the Canyon and look like bee-hives in appearance as well as the impressive weathered formations that resemble the remains of an Aztec city, earning them the name the Lost City.





The Kings Canyon Walk takes you 270 metres down into the chasm, between the sandstone cliffs into a true oasis. Here, a natural spring waterhole surrounded by local and exotic plants and trees such as gums, bonsai looking trees and enormous prehistoric ferns create a truly unique landscape.



Once on the top of the Canyon, the walking was not hard and the kids just loved the sense of satisfaction they had after almost walking 7.5km in the day. Jem christened the top with a bush bog and Rubes unfortunately was starting to exhibit the signs of some bug coming on. A faster descent through sandstone domes reminiscent of the Bungles brought us back to the beginning of the track and a great feeling of accomplishment by all. What a great walk and day.


Ice-creams were definitely called for on the way home before Rubes started an afternoon of severe vomiting and stomach pain. She was even brave enough to get an injection from Daddy! This was going to be the start of another gastro bug for the Rath family. And, although it wasn’t funny at the time we have made up numerous songs to go along with the numerous vomiting episodes we have had on our travels. We were advised that afternoon that apparently a toilet block at Uluru had been closed due to an outbreak of some gastro virus. No wonder, those disgusting teenagers and their hygiene!

Things settled down for Rubes after a few hours and eventually she felt a whole lot better. Thankfully our drive the next day was good for everyone as it was going to be a long and hot one back to Alice for an overnight stay before heading north again.

Pulling into the Big 4 at Alice was welcome relief as we knew it was going to be a nice place to rest for the night. We were mistaken. 

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