| KINGS CANYON - NORTHERN TERRITORY - 0871 | ||||
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Population: 100, Height above sea level: 500m Latitude: -24.251347 Longitude: 131.510639 Location: 1,850km south of Darwin. 350km south west of Alice Springs Highway: Larapinta Dve. Nearest Major Town: Alice Springs 350 NE. Nearest Airport: Alice Springs Touring Area: Central Australia |
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 Magnificent Kings Canyon. | |
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Magnificent area south east of Alice Springs
opened up to tourism by the Cotterill family in the 1960s. A monument to patriarch,
the late Jack Correrill will be seen at the base of the climb. Son Jim now runs
Jim's Place at Stuart's Well, some 80km south. Footnote Jim has now retired (2013) and sold Jim's Place but there is still extensive information available. I spent 3 years at Wallara Ranch, the one time gateway to Kings Canyon and have written a 300 page book on people and activities which went on there. Contact me on peter@wilmap.com.au for an E-Book at $10.00 plus postage if you want to learn about the life and funny characters on an Outback tourist resort. Some 325 km. south-west of Alice Springs, Kings Canyon is one of The Centre's most spectacular attractions. Named in 1872 by explorer Ernest Giles after Fieldon King, a sponsor of his expedition, the 100 metre high, sheer walls of the canyon rise from the creek bed in which there are numerous rock pools and lush vegetation, including Cycad Palms, ancient in their origin. In 1960, the Cotterill family first saw Kings Canyon, realised its tourism potential, and in 1961 opened Wallara Ranch, some 100km. away, and now, unfortunately, demolished. It provided accommodation and operated tours to the canyon by 4 wheel drive. The Cotterills used an old Dodge Weapons-carrier and a drag to cut their own road 60 kilometres towards the canyon from Wallara merely four decades ago. In 1983 Kings Canyon was zoned a National Park from the Cotterill's humble beginnings which saw only a few hundred visitors in a year, more than that now visit in a day. Wallara Ranch was run by Jim Cotterill and his wife Mardi, who moved on to build and operate Jim's Place at Orange Creek on the Stuart Highway when the Wallara lease was disputed. A monument to his father, the late Jack Cotterill, is located in the car park at the base of the climb to the top of the canyon. This climb is made up a hill to the left of the car park facing into the canyon. Features on the top include the 'Lost City' a series of massive domes which dominate the landscape, the 'Garden of Eden'- a valley on a higher level than the creek bed of the canyon, which can be reached by a short descent from the canyon top, and which has extensive foliage, cool, clear rock-pools and an abundance of bird-life 'Aladdin's Lamp'- an unusual rock formation near two small bridges across a narrow chasm; 'Lilliput'- a collection of tiny rock formations resembling tiny people; and of course the spectacular views from every angle of the canyon itself. The canyon area is a phenomenum in its own right. It is easy to spend several days wandering around its vast area exploring its unique beauty. For this reason it is wise to book into the visitor complex at the canyon, or Kings Creek Station, a short distance away. Kings Canyon is a very special part of touring Central Australia and can easily be included in a round trip to Ayers Rock. PLACES OF INTEREST: 
USE ACCOMMODATION SEARCH INFORMATION CENTRE: Central Australian Tourism Industry Association Gregory Tce. Alice Springs. NT 0870 Ph: 08 8952 5800 The best information on Kings Canyon is available at Stuart Well where Jim Cotterill built 'Jim's Place' on the highway 80km south of Alice Springs on the way to the Canyon or Ayers Rock. The walls are covered with memorabilia and cuttings from the early days of opening the canyon to tourisme. Call in for a cuppa or a cold beer and learn about the canyon first hand. HOW TO GET THERE: By car along the Stuart Hwy. then off the Lasseter Hwy between Mt Ebenezer and Curtin Springs. |
© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins