Sandy Way Rest Area, NT (28km E of Yulara)

Day 176 – 11^th August 2011

Sandy Way Rest Area, NT (28km E of Yulara)

After breakfast we did the Kings Canyon Resort Ridge Walk, an easy walk along the escarpment with views of the George Gill Range (30min). Next we continued on to Kathleen Springs where another walk took us to a spring-fed waterhole at the head of Kathleen Gorge (2.5km return – 45min). After lunch we travelled 300km towards Uluru, with a quick stop at Mt Connor Lookout, the outback’s most photographed red herring as on first sighting many people mistake this for Uluru.

Scenery

Kathleen Springs walk

Waterhole

Kathleen Springs walk

Lunch spot

Uluru? No, Mt Connor!

This little rock

Salt lake

Smile

Lots of red sand

Red sand

Kings Canyon Resort, Watarrka National Park, NT

Day 175 – 10^th August 2011

Kings Canyon Resort, Watarrka National Park, NT

We had a bit of a later start today but finally continued on to Watarrka NP. After an early lunch we did the Kings Canyon Creek and Rim Walk (7km loop – 3h). The Creek walk goes along an easy path to a viewing platform providing an amphitheatre view of the towering canyon rim, so a good warm up. Afterwards there is a bit of a steep climb up a rocky slope to the top but from there on it is fairly easy again. There are multiple lookouts along the walk offering views from different angles into the canyon and over the surrounding area. Cotterill’s Lookout, a short detour of the main trail, gives a great view directly into the canyon. The Garden of Eden, an oasis of ferns and prehistoric cycads, makes a great contrast against the red rocks of the canyon. Overall it was a nice walk and it feels great to be outdoors again. We relaxed at the resort for the rest of the afternoon, still taking it easy as Andrew is better but still not full of energy yet. At sunset we walked to a viewing platform to see the changes of colour in the rocks.

Kings Canyon, have we not seen this before?

He's back!

Creek walk

View of the Canyon from the viewing platform

Ready for the climb

View from halfway up

View from the top

View into the canyon

Canyon Rim walk

Canyon Rim walk

Canyon Rim walk

Cotterill's bridge

Andrew enjoying the view

Ripples left in the rock by an ancient sea

Canyon Rim walk

The Garden of Eden

Pigeon

Waterhole at the Garden of Eden

Canyon Rim walk

Sheer cliff

View into the canyon

Beehive domes

Orange sand

End of the Canyon Rim walk

George Gill Range

Andrew is smiling again

Sunset  

Sunset

Kernot Range Rest Area, NT (175km SE of Kings Canyon)

Day 174 – 9^th August 2011

Kernot Range Rest Area, NT (175km SE of Kings Canyon)

After the necessary shopping and refuelling we were almost ready to go again, but first we needed to book a campsite for Boojamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park in Queensland – most NP campsites in QLD need to be pre-booked and we were told Lawn Hill is quite popular. So we did some calculating and booked a site for our estimated arrival date in 2 weeks (you can change your booking till the day before - if no sites are available on your new date “tough luck”, but you do get a credit note which you can use at any national park). We will have to get used to this system! So finally we were off again, back to Kings Canyon.

Nele driving

Scenery

Campsite

Nice flowers

Sunset

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Day 173 – 8^th August 2011

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Not quite ready to move on so another day relaxing and updating the blog.

Blogging

Resting

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Day 172 – 7^th August 2011

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Although not 100% yet Andrew is feeling better so we moved back into the van. Andrew rested and Nele did the laundry and some more blogging.

Sleeping beauty

We moved back into the van

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Day 171 – 6^th August 2011

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

More rest for Andrew. Nele cleaned the van and started updating the blog as we are way behind.

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Day 170 – 5^th August 2011

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Not much happened today. Andrew rested and Nele walked into Alice Springs to do some errands.

Our cabin

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Day 169 – 4^th August 2011

Wintersun Caravan Park, Alice Springs, NT

Well Andrew felt terrible all night so after a quick visit to the nurse we decided to drive back to Alice Springs to go and see a doctor. So Nele had to drive the 470km back to Alice but luckily all sealed road this time! Getting a doctor’s appointment at Alice Springs however was impossible (most were booked out for at least the coming week unless you put your name on the waiting list in case anyone cancels) so we visited the after hours clinic of the hospital in the evening. The verdict is the flu which apparently is going around quite badly – so the remedy is rest, rest and more rest. We stayed in a cabin at the caravan park for some more comfort. 

The closest we will get to Kings Canyon for the time being