The red sandstone walls of Kings Canyon rise abruptly from tranquil pools and pockets of cycads and vegetation in the middle of the red centre desert.
The prized activity here is the 2.5 km (1.5 mile) return Kings Creek Walk around the rim of the canyon to a lookout for fabulous views of the lush Garden of Eden.
The reward for taking on the longer 4-hour walk is even better views including the rock formation known as the Lost City.
The 1-hour return Kathleen Springs Walk is wheelchair-accessible and leads to a lovely waterhole.
Kings Canyon is 450 km (280 miles) south-west of Alice Springs via the Stuart Highway or Larapinta Drive. It’s around 300 km (186 miles) north-east of Ayers Rock (Uluru). The best time to visit is in the cooler months of April to September.
The Kings Canyon Resort and Kings Creek Station offer a high standard of accommodation in this iconic location.
