Day 2: Alice Springs to Kings Canyon

As the morning sun climbs into the sky to warm our backs we depart Alice. Making our way through the shadows and rises amongst the ranges the colours begin to emerge first very subtly and then stronger. The kaleidoscope of colours changing throughout the day consist of reds, golds, greens and whites with lots of beautiful blues, and as the sun becomes higher in the sky purple makes an entrance so subtly that you have to look twice to make sure of what you are seeing.

Arriving at Wallace Rockhole we will visit the community’s local rock art sites and learn more about the Aboriginal culture. Wallace Rockhole is part of the Urana Land Trust, which is located 25kms along the James Ranges and 40kms to the west of the MacDonnell Ranges. The Wallace Rockhole community is a tight knit family, whose community spirit is respected with multiple awards over the years for the Territories Tidiest Town.

After exploring Wallace Rockhole we will grab a quick bit of tucker (at your own expense) and make our way along red sandy tracks to Gosse Bluff (Tnorala) Conservation Reserve. Gosse Bluff is a comet impact crater that is 130 million years old.

It is a place of great cultural significance to the Western Arrente Aboriginal people and is registered as a sacred site, however traditional owners of the land welcome visitors to experience Tnorala’s magic.

We then head south and cross through Katapata Gap and the Mereenie Wilderness Area to the top of the jump-up, where we have an uninterrupted view of the George Gill Range and Carmichaels’ Crag.

It is then time to make our way to Kings Canyon Resort where we can recharge out batteries for day 3’s adventure.