The giles track watarrka national park, nt riding in the back of a caravan, to the start of a twoday bushwalk, is a first for both of us. Watarrka national park is a protected area in the northern territory of australia located about 1,316 kilometres 817 miles citation needed south of the territory capital of darwin and 323 kilometres 200 miles southwest of alice springs. Enigmatic domes formations, sharp cliffs, and good views of the surrounding desert reward the. This scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rockholes and gorges acts as a refuge for many plants and animals. Not surprisingly, these all showcase the same red hue that is evident throughout most of the outback. Dec 27, 2015 watarrka national park contains the western end of the george gill range.
The aim of this page is to give you honest, local advice about kings canyon camping. This scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rockholes and gorges acts. The most popular month to go is september, which has the most number of tour departures. Watarrka national park kings canyon includes the western end of the george gill range. Kings canyon watarrka national park in alice springs. Kings canyon traditional owners reject mining in watarrka. Tourism central australia watarrka national park kings. The cooler months april to september are the most popular times to visit. Ten books you should have in your national park library. Here, in no particular order, are 10 books you definitely should have in your library. Watarrka national park red centre 2020 all you need to. Congress has since authorized the preservation of significant historic sites and the establishment of national memorials, national historical parks, national parkways, national lakeshores and seashores, national.
It offers a peaceful and pristine place to enjoy a break from the hike. Watarrka national park is located about 320 kilometers southwest of alice springs and 1,300 kilometers south of darwin. A great book that gives a good insight in the geology, mythology, history flora and fauna of the national park. Kings canyon is the famous part of watarrka national park. If you book with viator, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your. It is a rock formation in the desert of similar origin a canyon carved by a river, and. The giles track is a 22kilometre walking track located within watarrka national park. This park travel guide to watarrka national park is a usable article. Find out more about the early pioneering history pdf 3. The centrepiece of the park is the amazing kings canyon, a spectacular slash in the ancient red sandstone range.
Find the right tour for you through watarrka national park. Watarrka national park is in the northern territory, australia, its main attraction being kings canyon. Another twenty minutes drive down the road is the majestic kings canyon itself, part of the magnificent george gill. Dec 14, 2014 kings canyon, watarrka national park northern territory australia.
The park is held under a tenure known as park freehold title. The watarrka national park rests 350 kilometres south west of alice on the western side of the george gill ranges. The park is 450 kilometres 280 miles from alice springs and the best way to get there is by car along the stuart or lasseter highways or luritja road, all of which are sealed. Ayers rock, the olgas and kings canyon, northern territory national parks field guides. Watarrka national park is in the northern territory, australia, its main. Watarrka national park northern territory australia. Jul 14, 2015 the giles track watarrka national park, nt riding in the back of a caravan, to the start of a twoday bushwalk, is a first for both of us. The history of americas national parks the boston globe. Kings canyon is a canyon in the northern territory of australia located at the western end of the george gill range about 323 kilometres 201 mi southwest of alice springs and about 1,316 kilometres 818 mi south of darwin within the watarrka national park. The yawning chasm of kings canyon in watarrka national park is one of the most spectacular sights in central australia. Nov 19, 2019 watarrka national park protects a rich diversity of flora and fauna. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. Driving from watarrka national park kings canyon to uluru takes almost four hours, and you can visit both of these iconic tourist attractions on a road trip from alice springs.
Its mostly known for kings canyon, but it covers 71,000 hectares of red rugged country and pockets of lush vegetation in gorges and rock holes southwest of alice springs in the outback northern territory. But some traditional owners are worried that fracking plans could place this. It will tell you about the areas prehistory and origins, its geology and landforms, its plants and animals. Best trails in watarrka national park northern territory. As gary was the manager of watarrka kings canyon national park for many years, he knows a thing or two about camping at watarrka. Gets more interesting and exciting everytime, based on what i learnt the previous times. While theres a certain soulfulness and mystique to uluru and kata tjuta, kings canyon impresses with its scale and raw beauty, with its sheer red cliffs and by the opportunity to. Remember katherine springs watarrka national park, red.
Enigmatic domes formations, sharp cliffs, and good views of the surrounding desert. In 1933 the national park service was given trusteeship over areas previously under the jurisdiction of the agriculture and war depts. Almost everyone who visits the park visits the canyon. Watarrka national park is a protected area in the northern territory of australia located about 1,316 kilometres 817 miles south of the territory capital of darwin.
Kata tjuta and watarrka national parks national parks field guides. Watarrka national park encloses kings canyon, with its 300metrehigh sandstone walls, walking trails, lush forests and permanent waterholes. The national park can be accessed by 2wd on luritja road from yulara. Watarrka national park about watarrka national park. These include 60 rare and relic species which exist in moist microhabitats created by joint lines in the sandstone. Watarrka, an unashamed pictorial overindulgence cycloaustralis. Nov 23, 2015 watarrka national park contains more than 600 species of plants, and numerous native animals. Watarrka national park national park in northern territory. National park week seems like an appropriate time to check your personal library to ensure its up to snuff when it comes to the national parks.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. List of books and articles about national parks online. The sheer red rock face of the canyon soars above dense forests of palms, ferns and cycads, sheltering them from the harsh desert, and providing refuge for many native animals. Kings canyon is part of watarrka national park, in the southwestern corner of the northern territory.
Everything is rattling and squeaking as we sit at the tiny table, clutching our backpacks to stop them flinging about as the unsprung van hurtles along at 90km an hour. Watarrka national park red centre 2020 all you need to know. Media in category watarrka national park the following 82 files are in this category, out of 82 total. This makes the park an important conservation area and a major visitor attraction in central australia. Almost 600 plant species can be found in the oasis of the park. Watarrka national park is home to king canyon, a chasm cleaving the earth to a depth of some 270 metres. Kings canyon, watarrka national park northern territory australia.
Watarrka national park luritja road cotterills lookout. Watarrka national park is a protected area in the northern territory of australia located about 1,316 kilometres 817 miles citation needed south of the territory capital of darwin and 323 kilometres 200 miles southwest of alice springs 3 it contains the much visited kings canyon at the western end of the george gill range and kathleen springs22 kilometres miles to the southeast. It is situated on the western edge of the george gill ranges, 300km to the north east of ulurukata tjuta national park and 310km west of alice springs. Nov 24, 2015 watarrka kings canyon national park is one of the most beautiful and spiritual landmarks in central australia. This scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rockholes and moist gorges acts as a refuge for many plants and animals.
Watarrka national park contains the western end of the george gill range. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page. Parks and wildlife of the northern territory sum up watarrka as follows. The national park can be accessed by 2wd on luritja road from yulara, and the paved lasseters highway. Kings canyon travel guide watarrka mulgas adventure tours. Watarrka national park is a significant conservation area with gorges and waterholes providing home for a wide range of animals, birds, reptiles and an amazing array of plants. Kata tjuta and watarrka national parks national parks field guides paperback june 1, 1995.
Watarrka national park is only three hours drive from uluru, and is home to the mighty kings canyon a majestic destination featuring 300 metre high sandstone walls, palmfilled crevices, and views that stretch across the desert. The most impressive of these is the garden of eden waterhole, a worth while detour located half way through the kings canyon rim walk. Kings canyon is one of the major tourist attractions in the red centre in australia. Kings canyon soars over 100 metres dense forests of palms, ferns and cycads. As gary was the manager of watarrka kings canyon national park for many years, he knows a thing or two about camping at watarrka and we can tell you that options for kings canyon camping are a lot more limited than they should be.
Watarrka national park kings canyon central australia. More than just a day trip destination, watarrka national park has a range of walking trails, 4x4 tracks, camel. The scenic landscape in and around the canyon is the result of millions of years of erosion. Weve got 6 tours going to watarrka national park, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 10 days. Watarrka national park contains more than 600 species of plants, and numerous native animals. Watarrka national park includes the western end of the george gill range. Book your tickets online for watarrka national park, red centre. More than 750 species of plants have been recorded here, including desert oaks, acacia, eucalypts, and rare cycads and ferns. Exploring watarrka national park kings canyon planetware. This twoday hike offers the chance to experience impressive natural landscape and wildlife, indigenous history and culture, and the heritage of central australia. You can book helicopter tours over the canyon, camel rides and quad tours at kings. Watarrka national park is in the northern territory, australia, its main attraction being kings canyon understand.
Permission has been granted to the national park service to post this information online, but the s are still reserved by the owner of the original books. Kings canyon is a highlight for visitors to central australia. Apr 26, 2012 national park week seems like an appropriate time to check your personal library to ensure its up to snuff when it comes to the national parks. We strongly advise that teachers read the safety induction hand book before visiting the park.
Kata tjuta and watarrka national parks national parks field guides at. Once used to corral livestock, its now a good place to catch sight of colourful birdlife. The founding years, 1933 this is a book i wish i had read many years ago. The only good reference i can think of to describe kings canyon is to compare it to the grand canyon. Dean sewelloculi on tuesday about 30 traditional owners will file two applications with. The stuart highway connects alice springs and adelaide. Park histories park history program national park service. Kata tjuta and watarrka national parks national parks. The parks traditional owners have no power to veto the exploration permit application because watarrka national park is not on aboriginal freehold title. This scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rockholes and gorges acts as a refuge for many plants and animals, making the park an important conservation area and major attraction of central australia. It is part of watarrka national park, 450 km from alice springs.
Watarrka is home to around onethird of the total northern territory land species. Check out the best tours and activities to experience watarrka national park. Booktopia has uluru, kata tjuta and watarrka national parks field guide by anne kerle. The contributions of women to the national park service and the national park movement. As you cross the boundary of the watarrka national park, youll see the turnoff to kathleen springs, where a walk 90min return takes you to a sacred aboriginal waterhole. Dec 03, 20 watarrka is home to around onethird of the total northern territory land species. The desert people who look after watarrka kings canyon national park have held an urgent meeting with australian environment minister greg hunt about potential fracking in the sacred area. While theres a certain soulfulness and mystique to uluru and kata tjuta, kings canyon impresses with its scale and raw beauty, with its sheer red cliffs and by the opportunity to climb on the precipitous walls for fabulous aerial views. Kata tjuta and watarrka national parks national parks field. The ancient red canyon walls soar 100m above kings creek to a plateau of rocky domes. Almost no one other than williss walkabouts treks beyond these tracks deep into the wilds that make this such a. Uluru, kata tjuta and watarrka national parks field guide by anne. Watarrka national park is one of the greatest national parks in the northern territory. Grand canyon national park virtual rim to river run down south kaibab trail 4k duration.
Feel on top of the world as you walk along the towering red rock cliffs of kings canyon and take in views of the forest of palms below. Kata tjuta and watarrka national parks field guide. After the rains, wildflowers bloom, adding splashes of color to the red earth. On park freehold land traditional owners can only give a non binding opinion to the parks minister. The park is characterised by high sided gorges and mountainous rocky landscapes.
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