Kings Canyon Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

All of our Red Centre trips start in Yulara (a resort town on the outskirts of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park) or Alice Springs.

Kings Canyon is located in Watarrka National Park in the Australian Outback. It’s a 3.5-hour drive from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and around five hours from Alice Springs. You can fly to Ayres Rock (Connellan) Airport in Yulara, 20 minutes outside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. There are regular flights to Yulara from Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns with Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia.

You can also fly direct to Alice Springs – Qantas and Virgin operate multiple weekly flights from most major cities in Australia.

Kings Canyon is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit is generally during the cooler months between late spring and early autumn (May–September).

The days are warm and sunny, but not hot enough that you'll melt in the sun.

Summer in the Northern Territory can be stiflingly hot. Still, it's doable if you're prepared with suitable clothing and set off early in the morning to beat the midday heat.

You'll be doing a fair bit of walking, so bring a comfy pair of hiking boots or runners with a good sole grip.

In terms of what to wear, bring hiking pants, leggings or shorts, t-shirts and a long-sleeved shirt to prevent sunburn and pesky insect bites. It can get cold at night, particularly in winter, so you'll also need a warm fleece and a jacket.

Lastly, bring a reusable water bottle, a small day bag and a sun hat to cover your head and neck.

Mobile phone and data signal in Kings Canyon resort is pretty good, although some network providers tend to be better than others.

Expect the signal to be patchy or completely cut off on the outback roads and within Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon).

You can usually pick up a few bars of signal at the roadhouses if you need to send a message or make a call.

Yes, drinking tap water is safe throughout the Red Centre.

Ensure you bring a 1-2 litre reusable water bottle to refill at the water station in the Kings Canyon car park.

Staying hydrated is important as the outback sun is intense and you'll be doing many outdoor activities.

The Luritja and Arrente people are the traditional owners of Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon).

As one of the world's oldest living cultures, they have lived on Watarrka for over 20,000 years and are deeply connected to the land and waters.

It depends on the trip style you choose. Our basic and original trips feature simple (but comfy) camping accommodation in permanent or semi-permanent tents with stretcher beds, shared facilities, or a mixture of camping and budget hotels.

If you choose a comfort or premium trip, you'll stay in 3-to-4-star hotels and resorts with private amenities.

The Red Centre covers a huge, very remote area of Central Australia. We'll spend many hours driving from A to B in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Make sure you bring ample snacks and maybe a few podcasts to listen to – or use it as an opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers! 

With a comfortable, air-conditioned bus, sit back and enjoy the unique desert landscapes that you'd miss in any other form of travel.

You can use a credit or debit card for purchases in most roadhouses and at Kings Canyon Resort. But it's always handy to have cash for smaller purchases.

You can withdraw cash at several ATMs in Alice Springs or the Town Square at Ayres Rock Resort in Yulara. Most highway roadhouses will also have an ATM or the option to get cashback. 

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.