Buried deep in the heart of the continent - the Red Centre of Australia - is a rugged sandstone range home to many of the world's most captivating works of nature.
Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm are all household names in Australia's Northern territory. But none compares, in my opinion, to the majesty and beauty which is Kings Canyon.
Found in the Watarrka National Park at 270-metres high, the canyon is a perennial favourite among British travellers - being voted sixth among the top ten tourist spots.
The allure of Kings Canyon lies in the inimitable experience with nature it offers the visitor, even for the most seasoned globetrotter. "Fair dinkum" - as it is commonly articulated down under - one could only claim to have seen Australia after a 'pilgrimage' to the canyon.
For the able-bodied, the 6-kilometre Rim Walk promises stunning views of the buttressed domes of "Lost City" and the luscious Garden of Eden - footprints left behind in Mother Nature's erosive wake. Alternatively, helicopter rides are a holistic way of appreciating the grandeur of the King's Canyon, especially for those who prefer not to scale the heights of the canyon on foot.
The canyon base offers a less strenuous journey, but it is not without ample rewards. Here, the canyon yields its bounty of flora and fauna, like the Witchetty bush, where aborigines go to forage their staple diet of succulent grubs - the larvae of the Xyleutes moth.
The varied species of tomatoes found in the bush forms a mere visual spectacle to the tourist eye, but to the Aborigines an unshakable knowledge of its poisonous variants is integral to survival. In a similar fashion, the aromatic wattle seed abounds in varieties, but only a few kinds are of value for human consumption - often as an exotic flavouring ingredient to coffee and cakes.
Kings Canyon Rim Walk
Urban-dwelling visitors we encountered were unanimously enchanted by the glowing hues of sunrise and sunset in the canyon - a soothing reprieve to the hustle and bustle of city-life.
Whether on a camel's back or nestled in the semi-arid plains sipping wine and savouring cheese, the views are equally breathtaking. The mind becomes an empty canvas on an easel - images seen by the eye are artistically etched into one's memory, to be refreshed years later from photographs.
When night falls the pristine setting allows the stars to shine through their brightest zenith against the deep cobalt skies. One cannot help but be lulled into oblivion and to blend harmoniously with the aborigines' folktales of sacred "dreamtime" legends.
The "Lost City", sculptured by natural forces
With good fortune, our last-minute booking to the outback in winter turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Though we occasionally met with persistent buzzing flies, we were gracefully spared of the scorching heat and dampening showers.
Nevertheless, the dryness does sap a considerable amount of moisture from any living being. Hence, sunblock and frequent intakes of liquid is crucial for any outdoor endeavour.
To make the best of the outback trip, it is worthwhile to tour the surroundings. The adventurous could opt to self navigate on a fully stocked four-wheel drive while those who prefer to sit back, relax and enjoy the sights could join the locally conducted tours.
Cell phone connectivity fades into oblivion the closer one gets to nature. Mobile reception and internet connection are only available via satellite at hotels in Ayers Rock and Alice Springs, some 330 kilometres away.
************* Cos Chan is a freelance writer.
Photos by Cos Chan. For enquiries and usage permissions, please email cc.geranium@gmail.com
