ワタルカ国立公園 （キングスキャニオン）

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!