We didn’t manage to get to Kings Canyon when we were here in 2008, due to a tight schedule and some essential van repairs in Alice Springs so we were looking forward to seeing it on this trip.
There’s a choice of two walks – a 6km Rim Walk and a 2km Creek Walk. Mr Intrepid did the Rim Walk which starts with a lung busting climb up to the rim of the canyon.
We stayed at Kings Canyon Resort for the night – I think ‘resort’ is stretching things a bit but it was the closest camping to the Canyon walks. Also the most expensive site so far at $25 per person. Goodness knows what they do with the money but we had a gravel site with power and drinking water. There’s no phone reception here but there is wi-fi at the Canyon car park. Later, we sat having a drink at the campsite and watching the sunset over Kings Canyon when a dingo appeared.
It seemed pretty tame and more interested in saying hello to Winston but I quickly headed back to the van with the fluffy one. This seemed a good reason not to stay a second night.
The next morning, we returned to the Canyon, which is a 6km drive from the campsite, along a sealed road. I decided the Rim Walk was too scary and did the creek walk. My guided tour of the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens came in handy.
The roots of the Witchetty Bush provide a habitat for Witchetty Grubs which are highly nourishing and rich in protein. Often seen in bush tucker trials on ‘I’m a Celebrity’.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert movie note: Guy Pearce’s character has a dream to climb to the top of King’s Canyon in full drag and they do this towards the end of the movie. The writers wanted it to be Uluru but weren’t allowed.
