What is Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory?
Kings Canyon is a dramatic sandstone gorge in Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory, with red walls rising about 100 metres. It lies roughly halfway between Alice Springs and Uluru.
The canyon was formed over millions of years as the Kings Creek cut through layers of sandstone. Its sheer walls glow red and orange in the early morning and late afternoon.
The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a six-kilometre loop that climbs steep stone steps, known as Heartbreak Hill, to the plateau above. It passes the beehive domes of the Lost City and the Garden of Eden, a waterhole surrounded by ferns and cycads.
Culture and safety
The Luritja people are the Traditional Owners of Watarrka. The park protects many plants that survive from a wetter era.
Because of extreme heat, the Rim Walk is closed from 9 am on days forecast to reach 36 degrees Celsius or more. Walkers should start early and carry plenty of water.
The easier Kings Creek Walk follows the canyon floor to a viewing platform.
Did You Know?
Kings Canyon appeared in the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.