Watarrka (Kings Canyon) Area

Kings Canyon opens with a steep climb some walkers call Heartbreak Hill, and the reward is one of the most iconic hikes in the country, a full loop along sheer sandstone rims and clifftop views for kilometres in every direction. Down inside the canyon itself, the Garden of Eden holds a permanent waterhole and genuine pocket of green, a real oasis against the surrounding desert. This is Luritja Country, its traditional owners holding stories here that stretch back far longer than the walking track. Start before sunrise if you can, since the heat and the light both reward the earliest possible start.