Get lost in the magic of Kings Canyon with its plunging red cliffs, vast plateaus, rocky chasms and hidden gardens. Â
If Uluru is at the top of your Red Centre bucket list, make sure you leave space for Kings Canyon. Nestled in the heart of the Outback, Watarrka National Park & Kings Canyon has been home to the Luritja and Pertame people – the traditional owners – for over 20,000 years and is brimming with culturally sacred sights, geographical wonders and views that take natural beauty to a new level. With your Intrepid leader by your side, hike to the top of the rim to marvel at soul-stirring vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see, explore the otherworldly rock domes of the Lost City, and climb down to the Garden of Eden on the canyon floor to discover a dreamy desert oasis. You'll also have the opportunity to connect with these sacred lands in a more meaningful way by experiencing a Welcome to Country ceremony and doing a guided walk with a Luritja guide to learn about traditional bushtucker and medicines. Exploring Kings Canyon is an unforgettable adventure with views that'll make you feel like the king of the world.
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Highlights of Kings Canyon

Experience a Welcome to Country
The Luritja and Pertame people are the Traditional Owners of Watarrka National Park and have called these spectacular lands home for more than 20,000 years. What better way to kick off your Kings Canyon adventure than by experiencing a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony. Not only will you be able to acknowledge the sacred lands on which you find yourself on, but it's also a chance to connect with the traditional custodians and experience the richness of this First Nations culture.

Hike around the rim of Kings Canyon
Lace-up your hiking boots and set off to explore the incredible sights, colours and textures of the Kings Canyon rim. Climb through narrow sun-drenched rock passages up to the clifftop where you can marvel at the sheer drops that plummet down to the canyon floor, or lose yourself in the beauty of the Lost City – a vast landscape littered with rock domes that resemble ancient dwellings. You might even feel like testing out your singing skills in a natural rock amphitheatre where you'll hear the echo of your voice bounce off the walls.

Dine under the outback skies
Take your idea of alfresco dining up a notch with a five-course dining experience in the heart of the Kings Canyon wilderness. The outback-inspired menu is made with locally sourced ingredients and native herbs only found in Watarrka National Park, making it a truly unique dining experience that you won't find anywhere else. Start with some canapes as you watch the sunset paint the sky in different shades of pink and orange, followed by your entree, main course and dessert served under the glittering night skies.Â

Explore the Garden of Eden
After admiring the views from the top of the canyon rim, it's time to swap the sun-drenched scenery for the dreamy Garden of Eden. Hidden deep within the rocky crevices, this permanent watering hole is teeming with huge cycads, rare plants and diverse native wildlife. The watering hole is a highly sacred men's place for the Luritja and Pertame, and while you can't swim here, simply experiencing the contrast of this desert oasis will leave you in awe. The Garden of Eden was once part of a vast yet shallow sea, and if you look carefully you’ll see fossilised ripples of the once-sandy ocean floor.

Learn about Luritja and Pertame culture
Join a local Luritja guide on a guided bushwalk to gain a unique insight into their culture and learn about traditional bush tucker and native plant medicines used for a range of healing purposes. The bush tucker and plants vary from season to season, but you might find yourself extracting witchetty grubs from acacia tree roots or foraging for edible seeds and flowers. You'll also discover how rocks and stones are used to grind plant medicines, how natural materials are used to make weapons, and how the Luritja and Pertame hunt for wildlife.

Watch a Kings Canyon sunset
No trip to Kings Canyon is complete without watching the sunset. Follow your Intrepid guide to a perfectly positioned sunset viewing platform where you'll see the already magnificent rocky landscapes glow in the last bit of daylight. As the sun gradually disappears behind Carmichael's Crag and the George Gill Range, the skies above the canyon erupt in vibrant shades of red, orange, pink and purple for a truly magical sunset that you'll never forget. Why not grab a cold one from the pop-up caravan bar to raise a toast to an epic day spent at Kings Canyon with your new travel pals.Â
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Kings Canyon FAQs
Everyone travelling on an Intrepid trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 
All travellers are required to produce: Â
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
- All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination (if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
- If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional. 
In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine
Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy
Most of our Kings Canyon tours start in Alice Springs or Yulara. Yulara Airport (Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport) operates flights to/from Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Alice Springs and several other cities in Australia. However, you might find it easier to fly into Alice Springs Airport as there are more flights.Â
If you’re travelling by car, you can drive to Alice Springs via the Stuart Highway which runs from Darwin in the Northern Territory and Port Augusta in South Australia. You can then turn onto the Red Centre Way loop that connects Alice Springs with Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges, Watarrka/Kings Canyon and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Greyhound also operates a bus to Alice Springs from Adelaide if you don't fancy driving. The journey takes around 20 hours and stops at Port Augusta, Coober Pedy and several other iconic spots along the way. However, flying might be a better option if you don't have much time.
The climate in Kings Canyon is semi-arid with hot summers and mild winters. Although the days are warm and sunny throughout the year, the temperature variation differs considerably between night and day, particularly in winter when the temperature can drop to just above zero at night. Rainfall is very low throughout the year compared to other parts of the Northern Territory with an average of just 3.9 mm of rain in January (the wettest month).
A Kings Canyon tour usually involves a fair bit of walking, so make sure you bring a comfy pair of walking boots or runners. You’ll also need long pants or leggings, shorts, t-shirts and a couple of long-sleeved shirts (long sleeves can help prevent sunburn and pesky insect bites). It’s sunny all year round, so a wide sun hat (ideally that covers the head and neck), sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm with SPF are essential. It can get cold at night, particularly in the winter, so you’ll need a warm fleece, a jacket and a woolly hat. Lastly, don’t forget to bring a reusable water bottle and a small day bag to carry your essentials. Â
Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.
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