Today we organised a tour to Kings Canyon, approximately 300 kms from the Ayers Rock Resort.
A 4.15 am start.
Others tours setting off early as well. We just loved the bi-line in this coach.
A four hour bus trip, with most of the landscape being flat with low scrub and the odd gum tree.
Full-cooked breakfast at Kings Creek Station. Many of the workers were young international travellers on 6 month visas. $5.80 if you wanted a cappuccino from the cafe and petrol was $2.29 a litre.
A young camel in the yard outside. Camels are a growing pest, feeding on many vital grasses and pastures with devastating effect on cattle and emu populations.
The landscape suddenly changes with the first view of the George Gill Ranges, of which Kings Canyon is a part.
Arrival at destination at 8.30am. Essential to be early as the ranges close the gates for entry at 10am to prevent tourists walking in the perishing afternoon heat. Today the temperature was predicted at nearly 40 and with the added intensity of the heat in the rock mass it could be as high as 43o.
Our NZ guide, Elizabeth explains the route. Shaun, the AAT driver, took the non-walkers on a shorter creek bed tour.
Up 500 steps. Notice the fly nets - a best seller in the shops here.
We reached the top to find a breathtaking world of compacted sections of sandstone and the gorge below.
Uniform sandstone creation
Plants grow well in sandstone as it acts like s sponge to any moisture. This is s striped mint bush, used traditionally as an anaesetic.
Lizards camouflaged beautifully with their surroundings.
Evidence that this area was part of an inland sea - ripples frozen in time.
The gorge from the other side of the canyon. We walked around the rim, Huge areas of rock sheer off, leaving a straight, smooth surface.
Through the centre of the gorge, where a river originally flowed, is a green zone, known as the Garden of Eden.
Unexpected verdant vegetation
The gentler path down to the car park.
Another lizard.
A camel burger for lunch at Kings Canyon Resort.
We stopped on the way back on a large sand dune.
On one side was a view of part of the Lake Amadeus salt pans. Just a crust of salt with impassable boggy mud just under the surface.
To the other side was Mt Conner, with its granite top. Locally known as Foolluru as it resembles Uluru, being a similar height and shape. This has no religious significance to the tribal people here.
Home to Yulara, the Ayers Rock Resort, with Uluru close by.
Another refreshing swim after an extremely hot day.
Sunset at the resort with Kata Tjuta in the near distance. Unfortunately we didn't have time to include that on our itinerary. Next rime...
M&M
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