Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park

It is the perfect oasis from which to explore the wonders of Kings Canyon including the amazing rock formation called the Lost City and the Garden of Eden an oasis of an entirely different kind at the foot of the Canyon. The flora of Kings Canyon offers a clear indication that the climate of this whole area was once vastly different.

Getting There

There is no better way to explore Central Australia then at your own pace. As Kings Canyon lies just 3 hours from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and approx. 4 hours from Alice Springs, self drive is a popular option. The drive passes some incredible sites including Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge.

The Mereenie Loop Road brings you right to the doorstep of the Resort. Please note: the Mareenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km of 337km, a 4WD is required. Alternatively travel via the Stuart Highway, approx. distance from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon 461km and 4.5 hours travelling time.

Kings Canyon Resort - is just seven kilometres from Watarrka National Park

Voyages Kings Canyon Resort is located in a loop off the main highway running between Ayers Rock and Alice Springs. The sensitively designed resort is just seven kilometres from Watarrka National Park, the home of the magical sandstone formation of Kings Canyon.

Due to Voyages commitment to best environmental practice, the resort has been built to blend harmoniously with the surrounds. Kings Canyon Resort offers a wide range of accommodation from the campground that enjoys the outdoor stillness of the Red Centre to deluxe spa rooms - offering understated comfort rather unexpected in such a remote location.

Getting There

The Mereenie Loop Road brings you right to the doorstep of the Resort. Please note: the Mareenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km of 337km, a 4WD is required. Alternatively travel via the Stuart Highway, approx. distance from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon 461km and 4.5 hours travelling time.

http://www.kingscanyonresort.com.au/

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) - 25 km (16 mi) from Uluru

Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Anangu Traditional landowners, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.

Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or The Olgas owing to its peculiar formation, is another rock formation about 25 km (16 mi) from Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.

The rock was originally sand, deposited as part of an extensive alluvial fan that extended out from the ancestors of the Musgrave, Mann and Petermann Ranges to the south and west, but separate from a nearby fan that deposited the sand, pebbles and cobbles that now make up Kata Tjuta. The similar mineral composition of the Mutitjulu Arkose and the granite ranges to the south is now explained.

Flora and Fauna in Uluru Kata Juta National Park

Anangu acknowledge that a decrease in the number has implications for the condition and health of the landscape. Moves are supported for the reintroduction of locally extinct animals such as Malleefowl, Common Brushtail Possum, Rufous Hare-wallaby or Mala, Bilby, Burrowing Bettong and the Black-flanked Rock-wallaby.

The Mulgara, the only mammal listed as vulnerable, is mostly restricted to the transitional sand plain area, a narrow band of country that stretches from the vicinity of Uluru to the Northern boundary of the park and into Ayers Rock Resort. This area also contains the marsupial mole, Woma Python and Great Desert Skink. The bat population of the park comprises at least seven species that depend on day roosting sites within caves and crevices of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Most of the bats forage for aerial prey within 100 m (330 ft) or so from the rock face.

The park has a very rich reptile fauna of high conservation significance with 73 species having been reliably recorded. Four species of frog are abundant at the base of Uluru and Kata Tjuta following summer rains.

The Great Desert Skink is listed as vulnerable. Anangu continue to hunt and gather animal species in remote areas of the park and on angu land elsewhere.

Hunting is largely confined to the Red Kangaroo, Bush Turkey, Emu and lizards such as the Sand Goanna and Perentie. Of the 27 mammal species found in the park, six are introduced: the House Mouse, camel, fox, cat, dog and rabbit. These species are distributed throughout the park but their densities are greatest in the rich water run-off areas of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park flora represents a large portion of plants found in Central Australia.

A number of these species are considered rare and restricted in the park or the immediate region. There are many rare and endemic plants at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. The growth and reproduction of plant communities rely on irregular rainfall. Some plants are able to survive fire and some are dependent on it to reproduce.

Plants are an important part of Tjukurpa, and there are ceremonies for each of the major plant foods. Many plants are associated with ancestral beings.

Trees such as the Mulga and Centralian Bloodwood are used to make tools such as spearheads, boomerangs and bowls. The red sap of the bloodwood is used as a disinfectant and an inhalant for coughs and colds. There are several rare and endangered species in the park. Most of them, like Adder's

Tongue ferns, are restricted to the moist areas at the base of the formation, which are areas of high visitor use and subject to erosion. Since the first Europeans arrived, 34 exotic plant species have been recorded in the park, representing about 6.4% of the total park flora.

Some, such as perennial buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), were introduced to rehabilitate areas damaged by erosion. It is the most threatening weed in the park and has spread to invade water- and nutrient-rich drainage lines. A few others, such as burrgrass, were brought in accidentally, carried on cars and people.

The MacDonnell Ranges

The MacDonnell Ranges run east and west of Alice Springs and contain a number of hiking trails and swimming holes such as Ormiston Gorge, Ormiston Gorge Creek, Red Bank Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge.

The Mereenie Loop

Red Centre Way (formerly Mereenie Loop Road)

The route runs initially along a minor loop encompassing Larapinta and Namatjira Drives through Aboriginal land-holdings from Alice Springs on to Glen Helen or Hermannsburg, thereafter becoming a single road progressing on to Kings Canyon. From there Luritja Road runs down to join up with the Lasseter Highway, feeding off the Stuart Highway at Erldunda and on to Uluru. The route passes through some of the Northern Territory’s most spectacular countryside, and also offers an alternate route for visitors travelling to and from Uluru and Alice Springs.

The Mereenie Loop Road

The Mereenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km of 337km, a 4WD is required. This drive is one that memories are made off and photo's will fill your home with. Imagine the 4 great Central Australian icons areas all in one trip being Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta (formerley known as The Olgas) and Uluru (formerley known as Ayers Rock) .

The Red Centre Way is the gateway to an abundance of natural and aboriginal attractions through the ancient heart of the Australian outback. Allow a minimum of 5 to 7 days for this journey through red desert sands, spinifex and mulga forest.

Red Centre Way 5 Day Intinerary
Alice Springs to Glen Helen, 130 kms.
Glen Helen to Kings Canyon, 260 kms.
Kings Canyon to Uluru, 300 kms.
Continue experiencing Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Uluru to Alice Springs, 445 kms.

Highlights along the way include Glen Helen Gorge, the Gardner Range, Finke Gorge, Mount Connor and Palm Valley.

4WD is recommended on the Meerenie, although conventional cars have been known to survive the trip. My advice is drive slow - veyr slow and enjoy the veiw (RAB2009)

Permits To Drive On the Mereenie Loop Through Aboriginal Lands

The Loop will take you through areas where ten distinct Aboriginal languages are spoken. Also, a permit is required to travel on the Loop. You can obtain them from the Central Land Council in Alice Springs ([08] 8953 4345), Glen Helen Resort, Hermannsburg Petrol Station and Kings Canyon Resort. The permit costs just $2.

Sections of Text Courtesy Of: http://wikitravel.org/
Photograghs Courtesy Of: NTTC - Northern Terriotry Tourism Commission

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