Kings Canyon / Watarrka National Park

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Kings Canyon / Watarrka National Park Description

72,200ha.

Kings Canyon has the deepest gorge in the Red Centre, with sandstone walls rising to a height of 270 m, sometimes looking as if cut with a knife. On the bottom of the canyon are waterholes which never dry up. In the upper part of the gorge is the Garden of Eden, with a lush growth of vegetation, including plants which are relics of earlier climatic conditions (e.g. palm ferns).

To the Aborigines this area was a sacred site, and their dwellings and places of assembly were decorated with rock paintings. The national park borders directly on Aboriginal land, and the Luritja tribe has three settlement areas within the park, to the east at Bargot Springs, in the center at Lilla and to the north of the new tourist center

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Hobbies & Activities category: Garden or botanic display; Hiking opportunity; National park; South Pacific art, artifacts

Address

Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory Alice Springs Region
Box 2130
South Stuart Highway
Alice Springs, NT 0870
Australia

Tips

Access from Alice Springs on Stuart Highway, turning off west at Henbury, then past Wallara Ranch to Kings Canyon; 200km on a loose gravel road suitable for ordinary cars. Filling station at Kings Creek campsite. Route from south: from Lasseter Highway (leading to Ayers Rock) on Luritja Road (asphalted) to Wallara Ranch.
No camping in the park.