Nestled 323 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs is Watarrka National Park, which includes one of Central Australian tourist attraction, Kings Canyon. The cliffs of the Canyon soar upwards of 300 metres, and at its bottom runs a small river called King's Creek. One part of the canyon is off-limits to tourists - it's sacred to the Luritia Aboriginal people, who for thousands of years. And today, the famous "Red Centre" thousands of tourists come to admire the amazing mountainous mountainous landscape of the park. They're not even deterred by the extreme temperatures that are typical in this desert region - in summer the air often warms up to +40ºC. You can get here via the Stewart Highway from Alice Springs.
Several species of desert plants can be found in the park, most of which grow around the Garden of Eden mountain lake. It is also home to exotic birds such as the earth pigeon, lakeside finch, honeycreeper, grass wren and black buzzard.
As usual in national parks, Watarrka has many hiking trails designed for different levels of tourists. Beginners should hike Kings Canyon along the Kings Creek River on the King's Creek Trail, which leads to the observation deck, which offers a spectacular view of the cliffs overhanging the river. For the more experienced, the 7-kilometer Circular Path, encircling the Canyon and leading to its top, is suitable. It takes about 5 hours to cover this path. Well, the most experienced will enjoy the 22-kilometer Giles Track, which leads through the Canyon to the town of Kathleen Springs. At the Kings Canyon Resort tourist center you can also book a helicopter tour, camel ride or ATV ride.
