The Red Centre Blog 7
Our next destination, a short 300+ Km's, saw the 'ticking the box' off a long standing bucket list destination being Kings Canyon. It also was the first of 5 locations where our alternative accommodation option of 'tenting' was utalised. The drive to Kings Canyon has you head east from Yulara before turning north onto the Red Centre Way (Luritya Rd) then heading the 200+ Km's into the Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon.
Sculpture at Junction depicting Kings Canyon as destination on the
Red Centre Way
A must do attraction located in the camp grounds is a sunset viewing platform with a unique pop up bar serving bubbles and soft drinks.
There are 3 walking trails on offer. A short drive to Kathleen Springs has a most scenic, short 2.6 Km round trip walk. Kathleen Springs was a cattle mustering point with stock yards and water troughs filled from a large holding tank which was served from the nearby permanent spring.Another short 1.5 Km round trip is the Kings Creek walk which runs through in the base of Kings Canyon. The creek was dry at the time we were there.
The Kings Canyon walk has 2 options, short and long. The shorter more moderate 4.8 Km walk offers spectacular views from the top of the canyon. This walk is the last 1/3 rd of the much more arduous 6.5 km canyon rim walk which, if capabilities allow, is a must do.
There are 2 options for the onward journey to Alice Springs. The most direct is to head north east through the West MacDonnell Ranges. This involves obtaining a permit for the first 90 Km unsealed section which is through community land, which is easy done, but also needs assessing as to road conditions. If the road is good it is suitable for 2wd vehicles, but if heavily corrugated or the creeks are running a high clearance 4wd is required. The conditions were not in our favour with the road heavily corrugated. We had the 4wd option but with our load,the rear of our wagon was lower than normal and with non off road shock absorbers and tyres it wasn't an option.
So we had to take the indirect route, an hour and a 100 Km longer, which meant heading south the way we came, back to the Lassiter (Yulara) highway then east to the Stuart Highway then head north to Alice. Not having the high clearance or off road suspension restricted our sightseeing options along the way but not to a major degree over the entire journey.
Alice was to be the first of two, the second at Darwin, what I describe as 1/2 camping experiences with onsite safari/eco tents and using our own gear for cooking etc. This turned out to be a great mid range economical option.
Alice Springs offers many amazing attractions but there is one very unique 'attraction' that is, hopefully, of a temporary nature. Alice Springs airport is being used by international airlines, primarily from Asia, to 'park up' their planes during this period of minimal air traffic. Alice Springs has been chosen because of the dry climate which is required for long term parking of such planes.
A380 being prepared for return to Singapore. Departed within 24 hrs
Emily Gap was a 10 min drive from our camp site.
What would have to be a big % of Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific's fleet
The permanent attractions are too numerous to mention. Some are in very close proximity to the town while others are all within reach in a days drive some being worth a longer stay of a day or two to explore more fully, which we did not do on this trip. This was not our first visit here but we were able to see some places we hadn't seen before with others being a return visit which is well worth it.
The very popular Old Telegraph Station a short drive north of town
Most of the attractions out from Alice are to be found through the West MacDonnell Ranges. The furthest out and most spectacular is Glen Helen Gorge, close to the historical site of Hermannsburg, but it was closed. What we did visit was well worth the drive.
West MacDonnell Ranges
Simpsons Gap
Standley Chasm
The Ellery Big Hole. It so so deep the water is freezing cold regardless of the temp. People have gone into shock arriving here in the extreme heat and diving straight in. That's me on the right and that's as far as I went. The character on the left took a plunge and was soon out.
A constant road trip travel dilemma is the feeling of regret that descends upon one when departing a highlight location. Alice Springs generates such a feeling not only for the amazing features it has, but having family who lived and died and are laid to rest here amplifies the regret that it is time to go!
Forward: Into the tropics.