Journey to the Heart of Australia

The path less travelled than the well-known Uluru is a pilgrimage to the King's Canyon. Recently voted sixth among the top 10 best spots by British tourists, there is more compelling reason to take a slight detour when sojourning to the rugged Red Centre of Australia.

For the active and sure-footed early risers, a 6km walk Rim Walk promises spectacular views of the forsaken "Lost City", contrasting oasis of "Garden of Eden" and the harsh steep canyon walls amalgamating the masterpiece of Nature's erosive forces. If our local tour guide is to be believed, only the King's Canyon is the real Mccoy, while the American Grand Canyon despite its massive scale, does not qualify as a canyon in the strict sense due to the incomplete erosion process by the Colorado River.

The base walk though less glamorous, reveals yet another enchanting dimension of this natural feature. Stroll leisurely amongst the flora and fauna that inhabit this conservation expanse and discover the natural treasures of witchetty grubs, bush tomatoes, wattle seed and corkwood nectar flowers. One cannot help but admire how well the aboriginal people adapted to the harsh and barren terrain, fully utilizing native foods without causing much destruction to the ecological balance and environment for centuries.

Driving through the vast concentrated ochre sandscape, the signature Ayers Rock (Uluru) stands conspicuously, barely 250 km away from Kings Canyon. This landmark relief formed over 600 million years, has attracted visitors from all over the globe even in the scorching hot summer when persistent flies are rife. The steep smooth slopes of Ayers Rock can be daunting. Traditional Anangu leaders sternly discourage visitors from climbing Ayers Rock to preserve the sanctity of the sacred sites. However, if you are keen and undeterred, there is a small area with ropes bolted to the rock that is open to climbers.

Not to be missed are the enchanting hues on Ayers Rock at sunrise and sunset. It does not matter whether you are on camels' back or nestling in the semi-arid plains with the accompaniment of cheese and wine. The views are simply breathtaking, evolving every minute and fashioned according to the atmospheric and weather conditions.

About 20 minutes' drive from Ayers Rock are the Olgas (Katajuta) range. Panning across the wide expanse, simply relax and enjoy the rounded domes, beautiful valleys of varied vegetation of shrubs and grass greenery against the backdrop of arid rocks and barren sand. For a bird's eye view of Uluru and Olgas, one could go on the hot air balloon or helicopter ride.

Star gazing is a rare treat for city folks. If you are in the mood for a generous banquet, go for the Sounds of Silence dinner complete with wine, appetizers and mains of local food, with the sonorous didgeridoo in the background. Alternatively, a BBQ outback dinner at the Voyages Resort precinct would be great for family and group travellers. Kangaroo, crocodile, emu, and camel are available, if you are game to try them all. When night falls, the pristine setting and clear deep blue skies bring out the brightest zenith of twinkling stars. One could easily be lulled into oblivion and blend seamlessly into the aboriginal sacred "Dreamtime" legends.

Learn more about this author, Coscan Gant.
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