ワタルカ国立公園は、高さ300メートルの砂岩の壁、遊歩道、緑豊かな森、恒久的な滝壺があるキングスキャニオンを囲んでいます。
峡谷の真っ赤な岩肌は、ヤシ、シダ、ソテツの密林の上にそびえ立ち、過酷な砂漠からそれらを保護し、多くの在来動物の避難所を提供しています。
公園は2万年以上の間ルリチャの人々の故郷であり、その動植物や岩の形成は徒歩で最もよく見られます。谷底に沿って1キロ離れた穏やかな日陰のキングスクリークウォークトレイルを試してみてください。早起きして日の出を見て、峡谷の縁の周りを6 km歩くと、砂漠の向こう側や下の緑豊かな谷の壮大な景色を眺めることができます。キャスリーンスプリングスまで2.6km歩くと、史跡や湧水水穴に行くことができます。健康で経験豊富なハイカーは、キングスキャニオンとキャスリーンスプリングスの間を22キロ歩くジャイルズトラックを気に入るはずです。キャンプ料金はジャイルズトラックに沿って適用され、キャンプ場は到着する前にオンラインで予約する必要があります。
公園へは、ウルルからラセターハイウェイとルリトジャロードを利用して約4時間で行くことができます。四輪駆動車を持っている人は、封印されていないメリーニーループをアリススプリングスに連れて行くことができます。
キングスキャニオン周辺の見どころ＆体験
Travellers’ stories
よくある質問
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While it’s possible to visit the region as a day trip from Yulara or Alice Springs, we recommend staying at least one night so that you can wake up early and complete the Kings Canyon rim walk for breathtaking views.
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Entry into Watarrka National Park is free and doesn’t require a permit.
If you’re travelling via the Mereenie loop (4WD only) you’ll be travelling on Aboriginal Land Trusts and will need to purchase a permit. Permits cost $5 and can be purchased at Kings Canyon Resort, Hermannsburg store, or the Visitor Centre in Alice Springs.
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The two most popular walking trails are the Kings Creek walk, which takes you into the canyon, and the famous Kings Canyon rim walk. You can explore the trails yourself or via a guided tour. The rim walk requires a moderate level of fitness due to the sharp incline. The Kings Creek walk is suitable for all able travellers.
Be sure to stick to the designated tracks, both for your safety and to protect the environment. It’s also hard to beat seeing the canyon from a helicopter, with regular flights available throughout the day.
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Kings Canyon lies between Alice Springs and Yulara. It’s a 3 hour (306km) drive from Yulara.
There are two routes from Alice Springs. You can take the Lasseter Highway in around 5 hours, or the Mereenie Loop – an unsealed 4WD-only track that takes around 4 hours and requires a permit.
There are also a number of tours that can take you to Kings Canyon from Uluru or Alice Springs.
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Kings Canyon is 5 hours’ drive from Alice Springs (474km) along the sealed Lasseter and Stuart Highways. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the 4WD-only Mereenie Loop, which takes approximately 4 hours depending on the road conditions (permit required). Kings Canyon is 3 hours’ drive (306km) from Uluru.
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The most popular way to explore Kings Canyon is to hike the 6km Kings Canyon rim walk. There are a number of shorter walks such as the Kings Creek hike, a 2.6 km trail filled with stunning scenery. Be sure to watch the sunset or sunrise from a high vantage point.
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If you’re taking the Mereenie Loop, bring extra fuel, a satellite phone and plenty of water, andtell someone where you’re going. When hiking the Kings Canyon rim walk, bring drinking water, a hat, camera, sturdy walking shoes and sunscreen.
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Kings Canyon is impressive at any time of the year. The most popular time to visit is from May to October when the weather is cooler. The temperature increases from October to April, so if you want to complete the Kings Canyon rim walk, make sure you start the climb in the early hours of the morning. The track closes from 9am during the hotter months.
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If visiting from Uluru, continue on towards Alice Springs. Visit the West MacDonnell Ranges via the Mereenie Loop (you’ll need a 4WD) and stop at Hermannsburg and Glen Helen.
If you’ve come from Alice, then a visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is an absolute must!