A view of Kings Canyon from the rim walk

One of the most popular attractions in the Red Centre of Australia is Kings Canyon (aka Watarrka National Park) and its a fixture on all the tour routes. There is a 6km walk around the rim of the canyon that gives amazing views of both sides of the canyon. There are loads of fascinating plants which are used by aboriginals for a variety of medicinal purposes and also an abundance of bird life to ogle. 

Perhaps most impressive is the sheer age of Kings Canyon – it’s believed the sandstone in this area was laid about 440 million years ago, around the same time ago life on Earth began. There used to be a lake covering the area and evidence of this is shown in fossils of ripples, worms, and jellyfish. There are plant species that pre-date the dinosaurs and still grow today. I’m not a geologist and pre-history makes my head hurt, but it’s hard not to be impressed by those facts. 

Beginning the rim walk with a steep hike up to the top of the canyon

Kate, our intrepid guide, explaining how the canyon was formed and also some of the plant life in the area

A panorama of the amazing beehive like structures at the canyon

Another panorama!

Kings Canyon used to be under water a few hundred million years ago – here’s proof!

An imprint of a jellyfish fossil from when Kings Canyon was under water

Red flowers at the Garden of Eden

A grey-headed honey eater at the Garden of Eden

A 1,000-year-old cycad tree at Kings Canyon. Cycads are the oldest living group of seed producing plants in the world – dating back 250 million years!

Looking like a true tourist

My tour group with Kings Canyon in the background