Uluru tour – Day Three: King’s Canyon

Day 101 – Kings Canyon, Australia

New morning, new day. Well, new very early morning, the third in a row, new day. Our guide dragged himself up to give us the day’s schedule. He would drop us off at Kings Canyon to join another group for the visit, while he went to the medical centre. A new guide would take over after the visit.

So, Kings Canyon. The loop starts with a steep climb to the plateau, then we had strict orders (on the pain or holding hand during the whole tour with the other’s group guide) not to approach the rim by less than 2m. Since we had to stay as a group and not lag behind, I decided that my blisters and I would go for the “easy” program: go on the creek walk, 45min, no gradient. The creek is at the bottom of the canyon.

Kings Canyon – Creek walk

I managed to drag the walk to twice the recommanded time by stopping and taking pictures of almost every tree, and of the same rock with different degrees of sun exposure.

Kings Canyon – The sun touches the rocks

Then I got the perks of waiting alone for other people: no rush (and no queue) in going to the bathroom, choosing a comfy seat in the shade and reading all about the geology of the site.

Kings Canyon – Layers of stone

We went for brunch after that, lots of eggs and bacon, and well-drilled, we packed everything back in the trailer.

It was time to go back to Alice Springs, by the way of a camel farm for a short ride. Basically, they would put two people on each camel (I got to ride by myself!), then one member of staff would guide two camels on one length of the enclosure. They would trot the camels on the way back, the staff running between the camels.

Camel ride – Camel resting area

They say it is a bumpy ride, and it is! You have to hold on firmly when the camel stands or kneels down, because they don’t keep their back horizontal! And the trot is… well, bumpy is the ride word.

After a few stops, we were back in Alice Springs, dropped off in our respective accommodations.

All the pictures (trees, trees, and more trees, with a few rocks): click here.

Day 1 – Uluru: click here

Day 2 – Kata Tjuta: click here