In what was a bit of a rarity for us, we started our travel to the next destination in the afternoon, after doing the Cultural Centre, Base Walk and Ride in the morning. We figured we wouldn't be getting to Watarrka NP until the following day so why rush it.
We packed up and headed off a little after noon and rolled back down the highway, overnight stop unknown.
We stopped for a pic of the spectacular, but unfortunately unaccessible Mt Connor on the way back. I'm not entirely sure why access to this landmark isn't readily available, as from this faraway, it looks like a pretty cool place to go and visit.
We tried a couple of other free camp spots marked in Wikicamps but found them to be either a) too hard to find (excuse the pun) or a little rocky and dodgey. In the end we found the Lurtija Road Rest Area to our liking and we parked up for the evening.
We had a little company but it wasn't jam packed in. I prefer a few vans or cars around actually as it provides the extra little bit of security and confidence that you aren't completely alone in the world.
B took the kids for a stroll over the dunes along the track. My toe and foot had pulled up quite sore since striding around the rock that morning and so decided that I would "supervise" camp.
This was a strange one. Sam and Evie had picked up seed pods from the trees in the rest area and turned it into a weird sort of game, kind of like air hockey, but without being anything like air hockey. Each trying to knock a central pod off the table and collect pods at the same time. Yep... I had no idea... Still, they loved it. It burnt of energy. It involved laughs. Everyone wins.
Pano's can (almost) make roadside stops seem cool!
So from the overnight stop it was a leisurely few clicks (about 150 of them) into Wartarrka NP and the Kings Canyon Resort, which would be our home for the next few nights.
We had planned our timing like this as it would allow us to catch up on a bit of washing after spending the best part of a week free camping in the red dust. And so it was, the first wash was socks. Pretty much all of them!
The camp ground has a pretty nice area to watch the sunset over the National Park, with a bar included as well! After seeing the prices of a beer though, we figured it was just as nice sitting near the van, with the same view and grog a damn site cheaper!
After the debacle of haircuts at Exmouth with the kids, we had bought a set of clippers and B set to work "shearing the sheep".
The Butchers had rolled into the park that afternoon as expected after spending a few days out in the West Macs and then driving around to Kings Canyon Resort the long way. That's a very big drive by anyone's standards, at around 600km so we shouted them dinner at The Big Green Lizard Pasta Bar and we all caught up on our most recent adventures.
The next day was a "Big Walk" day. We teamed up with the Butchers to tackle the Kings Canyone Rim Walk, one of the more difficult walks to do in the area.
This monument/installation certainly wasn't here the last time I walked around the canyon!
Clocking in at around 6km, the Rim Walk is rated Grade 4, primarily I reckon for the first 300m which takes you from ground level straight up to the top of the rim. At least you know once you've done that bit, all the really hard work is done.
James and Tom taking a rest about halfway up the big climb.
Most of the crew at said halfway point, still smiling. Well except for Evie who we've just told there's more climbing to do!
And just like that you were at the top and the spectacular views began. The reason I used to put Kings Canyon above Uluru and Kata Tjuta came flooding back. Views and rock formations that left you breathless.
And so the pano-shot extravaganza began...
Strangely Sapph and Sam were our pacesetters. Not sure why, but they strode ahead, happy in each others company. They've formed such a cool bond over the trip and it's nice to see them interact the way that they do.
The domes at the Northern side of the Canyon were strangely similar to those we saw at Purnululu, albeit on a slightly smaller scale.
Admiring the first of many vantage points of the canyon. I think this was as close as B was happy to get to the edge.
Us mocking up falling over the edge. Even funnier when you zoom in on the faces. For those worried out there, there was another ledge a foot lower than us behind us that stretched out for a few metres before a big drop. It must have been safe, even B was hamming it up! I'm still trying to work out if Elle is saving Tom, or throwing him off?
No, not a bridge across the canyon... just one to get to another cool lookout...
...where you can take shots like this of the full extent of the canyon. One for the wall methinks...
And thanks to a nice other couple travelling with their kids, we were able to get a full "family" shot of the Whites and the Butchers. They've been such great friends and companions to us on the trip, and given this was where our paths would separate, it was great to share such a wonderful experience with them.
Just wish someone moved my backpack out of the way first!
Unlike my betrothed, I don't have a debilitating fear of heights. And whilst I wasn't exactly doing cartwheels here, this was a pretty cool spot to sit and take in the vast expanse of the canyon.
And from there I took this shot. Slightly further around than the previous, but still capturing that amazing sheer rock face.
Onwards we trekked and the sandstone domes become more prevalent. Here we are looking back across to North side of the canyon after going down the stairs (in the middle, across Kings Creek) and back up the other side. Matt, Sam, Sapph and I hiked down to The Garden of Eden, but it was full of tourists so we hot-stepped it back up to the rest of the group to inform them that we had actually managed to bunny-hop the group (which makes for taking "people-less" shots much easier).
Around to the other side of the wall and I love this shot because it a) shows the sheer wall on the other side you didn't see before and b) the angle of the rock wall on the south side. From what you previously think is straight up, you realise the earth has twisted and sheared monumental pieces of rock. The forces involved are almost on the celestial scale...
Matt, like myself, had no fear of heights. Here he is sticking his head over the edge. Given it's a drop of over 100m straight down, it's understandable the need to exercise caution! Safe to say, this was a "do as I say, not as I do" moment with the kids.
And from there, we continued along the rest of the Rim Walk which highlighted other parts of Watarrka NP and surrounding areas away from the Canyon. Might foot was really giving me grief by now and I was most definitely the anchor to the group. Still we soldiered on and Matt, James, Tom and I chatted at the back about life, love and everything in between. We didn't fall too far behind though, James and I were first back to the car by detouring to the dunnies like the rest!
Back to camp for a shower, freshen up and then around to the pub for a celebratory dinner and to watch the Socceroos on their next leg of World Cup Qualification. This was nice as we'd also watched another leg whilst in Exmouth with the Butchers too.
As is their inclination, the kids "paired off" as they normally do, and set about nailing all the board games the pub had to offer.
This could quite possibly be, the quietest these two ever had been, and ever will be. The tension is palpable. World Series Connect 4 here...
The boys, after making their own rules to Jenga went on to Ludo. Not sure if they knew what was going on, but both seemed to be winning and I reckon both claimed the victory. Which is nice.
Then the Connect 4 battle was taken up by the two "Big Kids" with the same amount of gusto and enthusiasm.
Matt and Elle... You have made our trip all the more richer and rewarding for bringing your family into it. We thank you so very much for being an integral part of it.
And with little fuss, albeit slightly dusty from a couple too many beers, we rolled out of Kings Canyon Resort the next morning.
We had said goodbye to the Butchers before, thinking we "might" see them again, but this was definitely goodbye for the rest of their trip at least. With us heading North back towards Queensland and they heading south, there was no further chance of the two vans meeting.
So it was bittersweet, but we knew friendships had now been forged that couldn't be forgotten. We've shared so many great spots with them along the way, we know for a fact they'll be constantly popping up in our photos as we go through them remembering life on the road!
But it was now time to bid the Centre goodbye. It's taken 20 years to get back here, but I can almost promise it won't take as long for the next visit....
No comments:
Post a Comment