Kings Canyon Day Trip from Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) Tour Review

As a first-timer to the Red Centre of Australia, who was limited on time, I was excited to see all the best sites. The King’s Canyon day trip from Uluru was one of the highlights of my time there. While it may seem similar at first to the American West, you’ll find what makes it distinct in the interesting stories about settlements in the area and how these natural formations came to be.

When to Book the Kings Canyon Day Trip

While I spent a month in Australia, the Red Centre of Australia alone is an expansive region that could take weeks to explore. To make the best use of your time, fly right into Ayer’s Rock (Uluru) and take day trips from there. Learn about the other things you can do there on my Uluru 4 day itinerary.

Make sure to book well ahead of time as tours fill up and there are limited tour operators in the area. I recommend doing the hop on/hop off bus to tour Kata Tjuṯa and Uluru at sunrise/sunset on one of your first full days in Ayer’s Rock. Then doing the Kings Canyon tour the next day.

You could choose to be dropped off at the Kings Canyon Resort at the end of the tour instead of returning to Ayer’s Rock Resort. This is nice if you want to spend another day or two exploring Kings Canyon.

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Make sure to time your trip well. I don’t suggest visiting Uluru during the summer (December-March) because of the flies. I visited in September there weren’t any flies at King’s Canyon. I only encountered a few flies while walking the base of Uluru the day before. If you are visiting when there are flies, then be sure to but a face fly net.

Hotel Pick Up & Breakfast at Kings Creek Station

You’ll have an early start (4:30 AM), well before any breakfast facilities are open at Ayer’s Rock Resort. Pick up was prompt and organized. Luckily, they’ll be a stop along the way at Kings Creek cattle station and camel farm. There you’ll be able to sit down and enjoy a hot breakfast. Breakfast options included eggs, sausage, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. A hearty start to the day; perfect fuel for hiking!

The breakfast is included in the tour, but barista-made coffees are extra. If you want a proper espresso or cappuccino with your breakfast, then hop off the bus quickly to be one of the first in line for a coffee so you’ll have time to enjoy it with your meal.

The Kings Creek cattle and camel station is a family run enterprise that has been here since 1981. This is quite the feat as you’ll learn once you hear about the difficulties of cattle raising in this hash environment.

You can see the camels right in front of the building, and we even spotted a nursing camel. Camel rides can also be purchased here, although there is pretty limited time at this breakfast stop so best to save that experience for another time.

How camels arrived in the center of Australia is another interesting turn events. Essentially, they weren’t killed at the end of a project after using them for labor, so they began roaming free on the Outback with no natural predators.

Starting the Kings Canyon Rim Walk

After around a three and a half hour ride from Uluru, you’ll arrive at Watarrka National Park. At this point the group will split into those who want to do the full three hour (6 km) Kings Canyon Rim Walk or the easier one hour (2 km) Kings Creek Walk.

The Creek Walk avoids the elevation changes that the Rim Walk does while doing up and down the canyon. I didn’t come all this way to take the east way out, so Rim Walk it is! Besides, the best views are from the top.

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is suitable for many ages and abilities, though it will involve some scrambling, uneven terrain, and steps. It is not a paved path, but they did a fairly good job making some proper steps up and down the canyon. The Rim Walk is classified as a category 4 hike.

Dangers on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk

There are two main risks on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk: falling to your death off the cliff and dehydration. To mitigate these risks all participants are asked to sign a waiver confirming they will stay a safe distance (2 m min) from the edge and are carrying minimum 2 liters of water.

The 2 liter water rule is well communicated beforehand and the start time is early enough (9 am) that you avoid the main heat of the day. If it is forecast to be 36 degrees celsius or above during the day, then the park closes access to the Kings Canyon Rim Walk after 9 am and to the South Wall Return track at 11 am.

What it’s like on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk

The initial ascent of the Kings Canyon Rim Walk is the most difficult part, requiring some 500 natural stone steps. The guide does stop part of the way through to make sure everyone catches their breath and stays together.

Having a guide was one of the best parts of the hike. She made sure we were safe, managed our time, and pointed out things we would otherwise not have noticed.

After the ascent, you’ll mostly be roaming along the top of the canyon. While many areas are very spacious, there are some parts of the trail that narrow between rock formations or go along the rim edge. These are the areas that require more caution.

Garden of Eden

About half way through you’ll make it to a staircase that descends into the Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden is a permanent water hole in a lush oasis hidden in the Canyon. While the biblical reference may be a bit dramatic, it was surprising to see water bubbling out of nowhere.

Note that swimming is not permitted in the Garden of Eden since it is a sacred indigenous site.

Ancient History of Kings Canyon Formation

Along the trail, there are interesting signs pointing out the history of the area. You’ll see below how it explains that the cross-bedding in the stones is evidence that these were once sand dunes.

Get a glimpse into prehistoric times by seeing the plant species that have been around since the dinosaurs. Some of the trees here at Kings Canyon are hundreds of years old themselves.

Shell fossils that have been imprinted into the stone show evidence that this area was once covered with water. This is one of those interesting facts I would have missed without a guide.

There are plenty of stops for pictures along the way. The hike ends with a descent back to the start of the loop.

Kings Canyon Resort

If you opt for the shorter Kings Canyon Creek Walk, you’ll be dropped off at the Kings Canyon Resort earlier for an extended lunch break. At the resort you may enjoy a swim or add on a 15 minute scenic helicopter ride to your experience.

If you choose to do the longer Kings Canyon Rim Walk, you’ll be taken to the resort when you conclude and have time there for lunch. You can purchase one of their hot meals, or take a seat at the tables and eat any food you may have brought with you.

I ate a wrap I had bought the day before at the grocery store at Ayer’s Rock Resort and then took a walk around the grounds out to the Luritja lookout.

Return to Ayer’s Rock Resort + Rest Stop

The 3.5 hour journey is broken up with a rest stop at Curtain Springs. This quirky stop has basic toilets, showers, a shop, and an array of exotic birds to view.

Just when you think the drive is feeling long you spot a massive rock formation in the distance, expecting it to be Uluru. We were all surprised to learn it was a completely different formation, Mount Conner. Mount Conner formed under completely different natural causes as the guide will explain, leading to its more angular shape.

The landscape takes another unexpected turn as the guide points salt flats and makes a brief stop. It was pretty cool to see them closer, since I had spotted them from the plane on the way into Ayer’s Rock.

After a long, but rewarding day, you’ll be dropped back off at Ayer’s Rock Resort at around 5:30 pm. This day trip to Kings Canyon was well worth the effort!