King’s Canyon was a place I’d read about on the internet and as it was in the vicinity of Alice Springs and Uluru, we thought it might be a good place to visit. It turned out to be another 4 hour drive but we were becoming used to these epic journeys by now. So, after checking out of the Aurora Hotel, we bought steaks, lamb chops, fruit and salad and decided we’d have a barbecue that evening as we were staying in some sort of cabin that we’d booked at the tourist information place. Sounded different anyway and was very cheap.
On the drive there, we passed wild horses and wild camels and again were glad of the air conditioning in the car as it was once again 40 degrees. We had tried to pick up some wine and beer in Alice, but were on the road too early and the liquor stores were closed. Assuming that we could find something on the way, we headed out. We stopped at one of the infrequent roadside fuel/food/motel stops and found NO wine and beers for $4.50 a can. John and Gordon managed to negotiate a discount price of $2.00 a can if the bought a slab. Jean and I waited in the A/C car watching the scene—buses of tourists pouring out to get a bite to eat or make a pit stop—and abos in their beat to shit cars holding naked children with wild hair.
When we arrived we were a bit taken aback as it seemed like some sort of ranch and it was deserted (after all I’d said to Kaye about staying on a cattle ranch!). A young man appeared at reception and he turned out to be English doing his gap year or something so he told us that in high season, this place would be packed with families and there was lots of entertainment laid on. At this time of year though, we were almost the only visitors – I think another couple of foreigners were the only other guests – but there was a swimming pool, an excellent barbecue area, clean shower blocks etc so it didn’t seem too bad for one night. Then we saw the canvas cabins where we had to sleep. We had one per couple and basically it was two single camp-beds in a tent. AND NO AIR-CON!! 
Well, you just have to make the most of things so Gordon and I went for a swim. John and I took a drive to check out the place- and buy an overpriced bottle of Australian wine. W met the only other tourist in the cabins- an Austrian wearing a bathing suit (As John called it, a “pud protruder”). Concerned about the lack of A/C in 120 degree heat, we asked him if it cooled down at night. His response, dead-pan, was, “It’s cooler than it is now”. What a relief!!?? When the Robson’s got back from the pool, we sat in our cabin with the fan going- the coolest place in the camp- and drank a few beers before dinner. 
That night, we did a BBQ, at least Gordon did it and the rest of us watched and drank wine and took photos. We had a right laugh, the food was great and afterwards we all laid on the top of the wall and watched the stars. In the middle of the desert where there is no pollution, we felt we could reach out and touch them.
After far too much wine, Gordon, Debs and I all decided to visit the toilet block at 3.30 in the morning – an unexpected encounter but it gave us a laugh and another chance to look at the stars. This place had turned out to be another altogether different experience. We still had to see the canyon itself though so after a weird breakfast cooked for us by another young man, we headed out to see what all the fuss was about. (The breakfast was in a huge mess hall, obviously designed for high season when the place is packed with tourists looking for the authentic outback experience. We had eggs and bacon and enjoyed watching the huge cockroach cross the room).
What can I say about King’s Canyon? It was tremendously hot, populated by tourists and the inevitable flies (another day wearing our fly-hats) and ……. Ok. That’s all. I could’ve done without it but you never know these things till you go see for yourself. Basically, it was a flat walk along a valley where there were lots of huge boulders that had rolled down over the years and on either side were red cliffs. Eventually, you came to a viewing platform, took your photos then headed back. Maybe we should have gone there at a different time of the year, or the day? But of course, if anyone asks I shall tell them it was unmissable…………
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