Category: Travel

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon is in the Watarrka National Park and is 280 miles from Alice Springs and 180 miles from Uluru. It forms part of the western end of the George Gill Ranges. There are three short walks in the canyon and by far the most popular is the 6Km rim walk.

The rim walk is closed to walkers from 9am on any day that the temperature is forecast to be 36 degrees or above so it pays to start the walk early. Our guide advised that we start the walk at 6.45am which was just at sunrise. It can be completed in 3 hours or so which means that you have finished before it gets too hot. It is also recommended that you carry between 2 and 3 litres of water.

The most difficult part of the walk is the first section which involves climbing 500 steps to get to the top of the canyon.

The ascent is steep and there are no hand rails but it is not too difficult if you take your time and once you have reached the top the hardest part is over and the walk is fairly strait-forward for the rest of the way.

The canyon is made of two types of sandstone, a top layer of Mereenie sandstone with much softer Carmichael sandstone underneath. Over time cracks in the Mereenie layer were widened by the action of rain and wind and eventually these cracks reached the softer layer underneath. This layer eroded much quicker and undercut the top layer causing it to collapse in and form the canyon. A process which probably took millions of years to complete.

The Garden of Eden at the head of the canyon can be reached by a short series of steps. It is a permanent waterhole surrounded by trees and palms and it is a wonderfully tranquil spot and a good place to take a break as you’ve completed almost half of the walk

The canyon is still subject to rock falls and where this occurs it can leave sheer cliff faces with expose the most remarkable patterns on the sandstone surface.

There is evidence in places that this whole area was once sand covered by water. Ripples have been left on the surface which have been incredibly well preserved. They almost look as if they were laid yesterday.

The whole walk is well worth the initial effort in getting to the top of the rim. An amazing experience in a most beautiful of locations

Sunset at Uluru

As the sun sets in the western sky the atmosphere acts like a giant prism and splits the light from the sum into its spectrum of colours. It is light from the red end of the spectrum that hits Uluru and is reflected off it. Hence it will appear redder as the sun goes down. Usually in the last fifteen minutes or so. The changes are subtle and not as bright as you see in some photographs. The following sequence was taken at sunset on March 22nd.

 

Things to do in Sydney

Not necessarily a definitive list, just a few ideas from a recent 48 hours in the city.

  1. Circular Quay. A good place to start as it is a major transport hub and therefore easy to get to. From here you have superb views of both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The area is always packed with tourists and there is a real buzz about it, there are buskers plying there trade to add to the experience. From here you can also book a harbour cruise or ferry journey.
  2. Harbour Cruise. A good option is to pick up a cruise at Circular Quay but you can also get them from Darling Harbour. There are many different options depending on your interests, popular are the cruise to the zoo and Watsons Bay which gives great views of the harbour and the ferry to Manley.
  3. Walking Tour of The Rocks. The area adjacent to Circular Quay is the the oldest area of the city and as a consequence has some of the oldest buildings in the city. You can either join a guided tour or just wander the area with a guide book to help.
  4. Sydney Free Bus Tour. A three hour tour of Sydneys Eastern suburbs including Kings Cross, Potts Point, Watsons Bay and Bondi Beach. The tour leaves everyday at 10.30 from Hyde Park in the centre of the city and it is simply first come first served. It is very popular so do get there early. There is a charge of $18 to cover the running costs of the bus and this must be paid in cash. After this you can make a voluntary contribution to the driver/guide at the end of the tour is you so desire. More details can be found here
  5. Chinese Gardens of Friendship. An oasis of calm close to Darling Harbour. The gardens have an entry fee of $6 which in my view is a bargain. They are so good I wrote a separate post about them here
  6. Darling Harbour. There is so much going on here and much of the area is pedestrianised so it invites strolling around. There are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants for when you just want to sit and watch the world go by. It is also home to the Sydney Aquarium and Maritime Museum. You can also catch ferries and harbour cruises from here. More details can be found here
  7. Coastal Walk from Bondi to Coogee. Two for the price of one here as you can spend time in Bondi with its famous beach before embarking on the coastal walk. This really is an excellent way to spend a couple of hours and the views are stunning. You van read more about it here
  8. The Art Gallery of New South Wales. Located on Art Gallery Road (easy to remember!). Superb collections of Australian art from the start of the nineteenth century and aboriginal art. Entry is free.