12 September 2017

Before coming to Australia I had not heard of Kings Canyon, however after a little research of the “Red Center” Watarrka National Park was quickly added to our must-do list. Several articles said some visitors enjoyed Kings Canyon more than Uluru (Ayers Rock). We might agree.

We preferred to stay at the Ayers Rock Resort for several nights instead of splitting our time between the Kings Canyon Resort. As a result we had a 3 hour drive each way from Ayers Rock to Kings Canyon. If you haven’t figured it out yet, we don’t mind a good road trip so we didn’t mind, but it might not be the best plan for some visitors.

We timed our visit well with the weather. In September, we experienced high and low temperatures around 33C (92F) and 9C (48F). They close some of the trails when temperatures get too high so luckily our late arrival did not risk the extreme summer heat.

The Canyon Rim Walk was fantastic. It starts with a steep 100 meter climb from canyon base to rim. It is not for everyone but we’ve done worse. Beyond the fantastic views, the trail itself was more fun than most. It required some climbing over, around, and under rock formations. There are shorter and easier hikes so anyone can enjoy the park but the Rim Walk should not be missed if you are able. They also have multiday hikes for folks with more time and dedication than us.