Kings Canyon Rim Walk

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is one of those tracks that puts you in your place — six kilometres of outback magnificence wrapped in sandstone domes, wind-sculpted cliffs and deep time landscapes. Located in Watarrka National Park, about halfway between Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Alice Springs, this loop takes you high above the desert floor where the light plays tricks and silence is thick.

Walking on the Edge

The Rim Walk is the crown jewel of the Red Centre Way, a 6 km loop that follows the sheer sandstone cliffs of Kings Canyon. It’s not a casual walk — it’s a scenic climb through 440 million years of geological history. Expect steep steps, exposed ledges and views that will make your knees weak for reasons beyond the altitude.

Once you reach the rim, you’ll wander through a wonderland of eroded sandstone domes, rock crevices and ancient sea beds etched into stone. Interpretive signage and trail markers help guide the self-guided experience, though a good GPS navigation app never goes astray in the outback.

Detail	Description
Distance	6 km loop
Time	3–4 hours
Difficulty	Moderate to hard (steep initial climb)
Elevation gain	~200 metres
Trailhead	Kings Canyon Car Park, Watarrka National Park
Entry	NT Parks Pass required
Facilities	Toilets, water refill, and car park
Closures	May close after 9 am during heat (≥36°C)

Exploring the Canyon Loop

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk takes you on a loop around both sides of the canyon, starting and ending at the main car park. You’ll climb up the south wall and then traverse the famous domes of the Lost City, take a detour to Cotterill’s Lookout, drop down into the Garden of Eden and then make your way down the north wall.

As you stand at the top, the canyon stretches out before you like a great crack in the desert landscape – a living timeline etched out of the Mereenie Sandstone by the relentless forces of water, wind and erosion. Below you, Kings Creek flows through the canyon walls, where cycads and ghost gums cling to the rock faces. It’s an incredible blend of flora and fauna, geology and ancient culture.

The Lost City

Once you’ve conquered the first climb, you find yourself in a maze of rounded formations called the Lost City. These weathered sandstone domes look like the crumbling remains of an ancient temple—a surreal sight reminiscent of a lost civilisation.

Each dome tells a story about the canyon’s geological history. Formed from ancient seabed sediments, you can still spot ripple marks—fossils of waves that lapped against the shore hundreds of millions of years ago.Even here, in the desert, you’ll find resilient life such as desert oaks, spinifex and flowering grevillea. Keep an eye out for a euro (hill kangaroo) peeking out from behind the rocks.

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Cotterill's Lookout

There’s a short side track leading to Cotterill’s Lookout and Cotterill’s Bridge. From here, you’ll enjoy panoramic canyon views, with the south wall dropping 100 metres to the canyon floor below where Kings Creek snakes through the shadows.

Named after explorer Ernest Cotterill, the lookout offers a quintessential outback panorama featuring rugged cliffs, cycads and the endless red desert.Be careful near the edge—there are unfenced viewpoints, and safety should always come first.

The Garden of Eden

As you make your way down into the Garden of Eden, it’s like stepping into a whole different world. After hours of walking in the blistering sun, the temperature drops, the light gets softer, and you’re surrounded by ancient cycads, cool stone and the quiet sound of a permanent waterhole.

This natural spring is a real miracle in the middle of the arid desert landscape – the water seeps through the porous Mereenie Sandstone above, so even in the hottest time of the year, there’s still water to be found here. The site is a sacred place for the Luritja people, and unfortunately, swimming is not allowed. Instead, grab a seat on the shaded benches, watch the dragonflies hovering over the pool, and listen for the sound of frogs – it’s a real treat in this part of the world.

And did you know that the Garden of Eden also has a bit of a Hollywood connection? Some scenes from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert were filmed near here.

Descent to the Trailhead and Carpark

The final descent zigzags down the rock steps to the Kings Canyon car park. It’s a leg burner, but the views back across the canyon are unreal — the kind that make you stop and just breathe it all in.

You’ll notice interpretive signage along the way down explaining the region’s flora and fauna — desert oaks, wattles, native figs — and their importance as bush tucker to local Indigenous tribes. Take the time to read them; these signs turn a tough walk into a rich cultural story.

At the bottom, facilities include coach parking, toilets, shaded rest areas and refill taps. And if you’ve left your First Aid Kit in the car, you’ll probably need it for your new blisters.

What to Bring for a Walk

This is proper desert walking — the kind that tests your preparation more than your endurance. Here’s the kit list I recommend after years of guiding here:

Essentials:

3–4 L of water per person (minimum)
hiking shoes or boots with tread (sandstone can be slippery)
First Aid Kit and electrolytes
wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunnies
trail snacks or light lunch
light jacket or fly net (depending on season)
NT Parks Pass
offline GPS navigation app (reception is patchy)
map with interpretive signage points

Optional but handy:

trekking poles for the descent
cooling towel or wet cloth
binoculars for birdwatching
small rubbish bag for a leave no trace approach

If you forget anything, the Kings Canyon Resort shop has basics like water, snacks and sun gear, but don’t rely on it for everything.

When to Walk

Out here, the seasons don’t follow the calendar — they follow the sun.

Best time: May – September (dry season). Sunny days, cool nights.

Avoid: December – March (wet season). Roads like the Mereenie Loop can flood, and rangers close the trail when temperatures exceed 36 °C.

Start early: Before 7 am is ideal — rangers may close the gate later for heat safety.

Temperature forecast: Always check the NT Parks site or Ayers Rock Airport weather station before you go.

Season	Avg Day Temp	Rainfall	Track Condition	Walking Window
May–Sep	20–30 °C	Low	Clear, cool	6 am–2 pm
Oct–Nov	32–38 °C	Low	Heat risk	5–9 am
Dec–Mar	35–45 °C	High	Flood risk	Not advised
Apr	25–33 °C	Moderate	Manageable	6–10 am