KINGS CANYON

17^th May, 2015

On the road again … this time we are making a diversion and heading to Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park. We stop along the way for morning tea at Curtin Springs cattle station which has developed over time into a roadhouse as well.

A sign at the entrance to the shop caught our eye – gotta love the outback sense of humour.

We arrive mid afternoon at Kings Canyon Resort. Set in the National Park it is the only campground and accommodation close to the canyon and even then we still are 10 kilometres away. A sunset dune viewing area (complete with its own drinks bar) is directly behind the campground so everyone heads up there as the sun starts sinking in the west.

George Gill Range

There are lots of people enjoying a celebratory drink and nibbles until the shadows lengthen and it is time to call it a day.

The gang watches the sunset at Kings Canyon

There are a couple of walks to do at Kings Canyon. The most popular are the Creek Walk and the Rim Walk. The Creek Walk is an easy 2 km return track along the canyon floor and the Rim Walk is a moderate to difficult track of 7 klms which starts with a steep climb to the top of the canyon and then follows the rim before descending to the canyon floor. The leaflet says it should take 3 to 4 hours. We are keen to try the Rim Walk but the others are content to only attack the Creek Walk So the following morning we pack our backpack with water, muesli bars and apples …. wave goodbye to the rest of the gang and set off. We are pretty sure that it will take us a lot longer than 3 or 4 hours to do the walk and this is pretty much confirmed when we tackle the climb to the top.

Wok starts the climb

Needless to say we take heaps of rest stops

Halfway up - time for a break

as we slowly make our way up the steep steps.

OMG!  How many more?

Once we have reached the rim we are rewarded with spectacular views down the canyon over the car park

and up the canyon.

We are lulled into thinking that the walk along the rim is going to be relatively easy as a rock and concrete path leads off into the distance.

We soon discover that the path (more often than not) becomes a trek over the natural rock base but the scenery is spectacular.

Kings Canyon is a valley that cuts firstly through a layer of Mereenie Sandstone, deposited over 400 milliion years ago, forming cliffs 30 metres high. Below the cliffs, the slope is less steep and the valley cuts through the softer Carmichael Sandstone. Between the two layers of sandstone is a thin layer of purple shale or mudstone. Erosion of the Carmichael Sandstone has continually undercut the Mereenie Sandstone eventually widening the canyon and causing some blocks of the Mereenie Sandstone to tumble down. We pass by a huge block of sandstone showing the white Mereenie Sandstone under the rust coloured crust.

The colour in the canyon walls is brilliant.

The domes along the canyon rim remind us of the Bungle Bungles in Western Australia – just not as big.

 

Sometimes it is hard to work out which way the track goes.

I think it goes this way Wok.

I'll just check it out ...

Yep - this is the way !

The scenery is breathtaking and you will have to excuse us if we just pop a photo in for no particular reason.

To find these beautiful gum trees growing up here is a surprise but these trees have survived by working their roots down through the cracks in the sandstone to find water.

The following photos are just a sample of those we took along the way.

Wok waves to people on the creek walk

The only wildlife we saw up on the rim were small lizards

This little lizard was the same colour as the rock

and this odd bug.

We have no idea what sort of bug this is .... anyone know?

We found a cool spot under an overhang to sit down and have some sustenance. Below us was the Garden of Eden – named this because of its lush vegetation. Not our idea of a Garden of Eden but in this arid landscape its as good as it gets.

Our lunch spot

Time to move on – climbing down lots of stairs to the bottom and then climbing back up to the other side.

We then came to the top end of the canyon, which at this stage was a large crack between the north and south rim.

From the south rim we could look back up into the Garden of Eden

and see down the canyon

and across the canyon to the north rim where we had been walking.

 

The track then cut across the back of the south rim where more spectacular rock formations appeared.

 

At this stage we were absolutely worn out. The steps leading down to the car park were a welcome sight

but we were really struggling at this stage. Our legs, knees, ankles, etc. etc. were complaining bitterly but we slowly worked out way down to the canyon floor and back to the jeep. The walk had taken us just under six hours and even though we knew we were going to pay for it physically, we were so pleased to have done it. Thirty years ago Kings Canyon had impressed us with its stunning scenery. Today we were just as impressed.

The following day was a rest day for us. YES ! We really did need a rest day. We amused ourselves by watching Roger hang out his washing and took a photo to prove that he actually was doing it.

Yes!  That is Roger!  And he is doing a good job too!

While camped here we have seen a few dingoes. They wander through the campground scavenging and are quick to snatch any food left lying around. This dingo had taken a loaf of bread from a campsite and was having a great old feed of it just over in the bush behind us.

 

Our last night at Kings Canyon was spent listening to the dingoes as they howled in the distance. Just magic ......

THE OLGAS (KATA TJUTA)

16^th May, 2015

It's pack a picnic lunch time again. Although they seem to be not far away the Olgas (Kata Tjuta in local aboriginal dialect) are in fact a 50 kilometre drive from Ayers Rock. We stop at the Dune Viewing area for a panoramic shot of the Olgas in the distance.

The Olgas

The chilly wind is still with us and those famous aussie bush flies have forced some of the gang into resorting to wearing fly nets …. wimps !

Lookin' good Wok - love the headgear!

Suitably clothed and attired we head off on the track leading to the Valley of the Winds. The scenery is striking as we make our way up the track.

Roger stands in front of a rock we named 'the submarine'

As we reach the ridge at the top of the track we get a great view back down the valley

The gang making their way up the track

and the lookout affords us a wonderful view of the domes further on.

Yep - we made it to the first lookout ... well done Wok !

Everyone takes the chance to have a rest and snap some more shots to add to the plethora we already have

Photo Op and rest time on the ridge

before making our way back down the valley to the cars and a well earned picnic lunch. After lunch we hopped in the car and stopped at Walpa Gorge where the track meanders between the giant domes of the Olgas.

Walpa Gorge

We get a terrific view of the Olgas as we set out on the road back to the campground.

The Olgas

Although not as well known as Ayers Rock, one should not overlook the Olgas. If one is in the area they are deserving of a visit.

AYERS ROCK (ULURU)

13^th May, 2015

On our way again and we leave South Australia behind and cross into the Northern Territory.

We camp at Erldunda Roadhouse for the night before turning west onto the Lasseter Highway towards Ayers Rock (Uluru in the local aboriginal dialect). About 130 kilometres into our trip we spot Mount Conner.

Mount Conner

This large table-top mountain is often mistaken for Ayers Rock on first sighting and also has great significance to the local Aboriginal people. Another 100 kilometres further west and we start to catch tantalising glimpses of 'The Rock' through the scrub and in front of us the 'Olgas” (Kata Tjuta) loom on the horizon. 

Following Barry and Fay - Olgas on the horizon

We check into the Ayers Rock Campground and take a walk up to a viewing area for a look at 'The Rock'.

Ayers Rock from the campground

Although we are still 20 kilometres away this sandstone monolith towers over the surrounding sandy scrubland. Ayers Rock is 348 metres high, and 3.6 kilometres long and if that's not impressive enough, two thirds of the rock lies beneath the sand. There are numerous sacred aboriginal sites around its base. The campground and resort accommodation is situated outside the National Park and we catch the shuttle bus to the Town Square to see what is there. We find a couple of gift shops, a clothes shop, a newsagent, a supermarket, a cafe and the information centre. After some window shopping we hop back on the shuttle to the campground and then walk up to the viewing area to see sunset on 'The Rock'.

Wok, Roger, Barry, Gwen & Fay

You may be able to tell from the way everybody is rugged up that it is pretty cold. Although it is sunny the wind is icy and daytime temperatures are hovering between 17 and 19 degrees centigrade. Night time temperatures are dropping as low as 6 degrees centigrade. Brrrrrr … Boy are we glad we have doonas. The next day we hopped into our cars and drove into the National Park, stopping for another photo op at the sunset viewing area.

Wok and the Jeep at 'The Rock'

We continued to the base of 'The Rock' to check out what walking trails were open. Although it is possible to climb Ayers Rock the local aboriginal people ask that visitors respect Aboriginal law by not climbing. The climb is often closed due to the weather or for cultural reasons and we are not surprised to see that the climb is closed due to the strong winds.

Wok (along with our two teenage children) made the climb back in 1986 when it was the 'done thing'. Today we are quite happy to trek along the base and investigate some of the caves and gorges. Embedded in the rock just to the right of the climb are some plaques which have been placed by family members of a few of the people who have died while climbing 'The Rock'.

Memorial plaques on 'The Rock'

Some have fallen, others have died from heart attacks. The climb is very strenuous and not to be taken lightly. We set off along the Mala Walk at the base of 'The Rock'

The gang on the Mala Walk at 'The Rock'

and although we sometimes have no phone connection in these outback areas Roger and Gwen get an unexpected call from their daughter Rhonda.

Roger and Gwen chat to Rhonda at 'The Rock'

We continue around the base to Kantju Gorge passing aboriginal sacred sites

Wok at 'The Rock'

Barry and Fay .... Bell Cave?

Fay, Roger, Wok, Barry & Gwen check out an overhang

and just enjoying the picturesque scenery.

Roger and Barry take a rest at Kantju Gorge - love that bench they are sitting on

We return to our cars and drive to the Anangu Cultural Centre which gives us a better understanding of the the local aboriginal traditions and natural wonders of this World Heritage Area. It's late afternoon so before heading back to the campground we find a parking spot at the Sunset Viewing Area and wait patiently (with a few hundred other sunset viewers) for the sun to set and the colours to change on 'The Rock'.

People even climbed onto their vehicles for that perfect photo of 'Sunset on the Rock'

Some people took photos of 'The Rock'  -  others took photos of the Sunset

The following photos were taken over a period of about forty minutes.

A great way to finish the day - watching the changing colours of 'The Rock'