I honestly thought I was going to die.
When I reached the top, I dropped my backpack unconsciously and mustered all the energy I had left to catch my breath. I was vomiting air, and my chest was starting to tighten. ten minutes and ten gulps of water later, I began feeling alright. That quick climb kept me grounded both figuratively and literally. I remained seated on the rocky ground, wondering how it came down to this.
I loved hiking. I loved it because I could do it well. I’m never the strongest person in the group, but I used to be so nimble and swift. Whenever we would trek to a mountaintop, I would always be the first or second to reach the destination. I could climb trees effortlessly. I could slide down slopes unscathed. and I could run fast. before this, the last time I trekked for hours was at Mt. Melibingoy (Mt. Parker) in South Cotabato in 2013.
What a difference two years make. considering that that climb, I got myself a full-time office job again, gained pounds (lost count), quit regular jogging, and restarted chain smoking. and it all led to this: me, knees shaking, wheezing like a pet dog in labor, but too embarrassed and stubborn to quit.
And why would I? just in between gasps, I could see just how sensational the place was. and if it’s any indication, then I was in for a bombardment of gorgeousness. Assuming, of course, that I make it alive.
View from the top of the cliff.
Three Trails
Situated halfway to Uluru from Alice Springs, the Kings Canyon is part of Watarrka national Park, covering 71,000 hectares of Australia’s Red Center. While it is typically overlooked by tourists for the a lot more popular Uluru, this landform still attracts over 250,000 visitors each year.
The site’s a lot of famous feature is its towering red sandstone cliffs, reaching as tall as 300m. Crumpling the western edge of the George Gill Range, these walls were a result of the erosion of small cracks in the land over millions of years. There are three walking trails that you may take to explore the site, depending on the time you have and how fit you are. Whatever you choose, it is crucial that you do not go off the trail for two reasons. First, some areas are considered sacred to the Aborigines. Second, it can get dangerous. Some hikers have perished at the site because of heart attack and falling off a cliff.
Don’t go off the trail.
Harsh landscape.
Kings Canyon rim Walk. The full canyon experience which begins with the 500-step climb. This 6km path will take you into the gorge itself, over and along what they call “Garden of Eden” (a permanent waterhole), and across the weathered sandstone domes. If the temperature in Yulara breaches the 36-degree mark, you have to take the rim walk before 9am. Otherwise, the heat can become unbearable, pushing the authorities to block access after this time.
South wall Return Walk. This is actually part of the rim walk loop. This will take you to the top of a cliff overlooking the garden of Eden. Takes 1.5 to 2 hours. If the temperature is 36 or higher, you need to take this trail before 11am.
The Kings Creek Walk. This 2-km trail follow the creek that snakes across the site. Takes an hour. The easy choice, it is suitable for anyone, regardless of age and level of fitness. It is also open all the time.
Kings Creek Walk
Rim Walk
We opted with the full rim walk experience, which began with a climb up a 500-stair hill, widely known among locals as “heartbreak hill” or “heart attack hill.” how fitting.
“We’re not even a quarter of the trail,” our excursion guide Nick warned. “But don’t worry, that was the hardest part.”
Abbastanza vero. It was a lot much easier from there. We trod on rough grounds of a plateau, etched with what looked like ripples. It was as though the they were frozen in time. before I could ask why, Nick already shared the answer. “This used to be underwater. These ripples are signs of an ancient sea that used to fill this area.” Apparently, these rocks used to be underwater sand, and they bear fossils of marine lifeforms, too. We looked around as we ambled, and in no time, we reached the first viewpoint, overlooking a red, rocky desert, partly patched with thin foliage.
View from the first lookout.
View from the first lookout.
Our guide Nick, describing how the ripples got there.
A closer look at the ripples.
After minutes of walking under the sun and in between rocks, we reached a staircase that descends into the gorge, the bottom of which is covered in dense palm forest, broken by a meandering creek. “This is what lots of call the garden of Eden,” explained Nick. It is a permanent waterhole, a life-saver for the aborigines and lost explorers in Australia’s early days. We walked along the creek and found its end. The waterhole is surrounded by soaring walls, keeping it away from extreme sunlight. It was refreshing to stay under its shade, a good resting place for hikers.
A staircase leads down into la gola chiamata giardino dell’Eden
Questa pozza d’acqua ha salvato molte vite.
Un ponte collega i due lati della gola.
Quando siamo tornati all’altro bordo, siamo stati accolti da un labirinto di centinaia di cupole di arenaria stagionate. Gli alberi e l’ombra non erano in abbondanza, ma è stata una facile passeggiata a dove abbiamo iniziato.
Visualizza all’ultimo lookout.
Tornando al parcheggio.
Dice che Krestel Falls, ma non siamo riusciti a trovare alcuna cascata. Solo una scogliera.
La scogliera di arenaria da 100 m del Kings Canyon.
Tra le cupole di arenaria.
1 km da percorrere!
Dopo quasi quattro ore, mi sono ritrovato alla base di Heartbreak Hill, guardando la cima. Ma con così tanto fascino presentato a me, mi ricordavo a malapena la lotta che ho fatto arrampiciando su quel picco. Grazie al cielo che ho soldato, per ciò che indugiava mentre stavo lì c’erano molte forme e forme di appello che mi hanno festeggiato gli occhi lungo la strada. Il vero crepacuore sarebbe mancato tutto.
Watarrka National Park
Telefono: +61 8 8956 7460
Quando visitare: facilmente accessibile tutto l’anno, ma meglio da aprile a settembre.
Abbiamo controllato Kings Canyon come parte di un pacchetto di escursione Yha. Viene fornito con 2 notti per il soggiorno ad Alice Springs Yha e un viaggio in campeggio di 3 giorni a Uluru per gentile concessione del tour roccioso, che si ferma al Kings Canyon (giorno 1), Kata Tjuta (giorno 2) e infine Uluru (giorni 2- 3).
Per molte più informazioni o per prenotare il tour, dai un’occhiata a questo sito.
Dove alloggiare: l’ostello Rock Yha di Ayer è anche noto come The Voyages Outback Pioneer Lodge o Outback Pioneer Hotel. Offrono stanze con aria condizionata e equipaggiate dal Wi-Fi nel cuore della città di Yulara. C’è un bar, una griglia e molte strutture benefiche in loco. C’è anche un mazzo di check -out per Uluru Sunset nelle vicinanze.
Prenota la tua stanza qui
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