Kings Canyon (Northern Territory)

Kings Canyon, also known as Watarrka, is a canyon in the Northern Territory of Australia located at the western end of the George Gill Range about 321 kilometres (199 mi) southwest of Alice Springs and about 1,316 kilometres (818 mi) south of Darwin, within the Watarrka National Park.

[3] Kings Canyon is located 321 kilometres (199 mi) southwest of Alice Springs via Larapinta Drive (only accessible by 4WD), or 474 kilometres (295 mi) along the Stuart Highway, Lasseter Highway, and the Red Centre Way, which are all sealed.

The Garden of Eden is a permanent waterhole surrounded by plant life, and while visitors are permitted on the walking track, the waterhole is an important men's sacred place for the traditional owners, with particular Dreaming stories associated with it, so visitors are not allowed to swim in it.

[1] There are four short walks for visitors:[8] The 22-kilometre (14 mi) Giles Track connects Kings Canyon to Kathleen Springs, and can be followed in either direction.

[11] Birds in the canyon area include the spinifex pigeon, zebra finch, several species of honeyeater, purple-backed fairywren, budgerigar, rufous grasswren, nankeen kestrel, and many more.

It lies 36 km (22 mi) from Kings Canyon, and offers accommodation and tourist experiences.

[19] Kings Canyon featured in the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as the rock climbed by the lead characters at the end of their trip of self-discovery.