Day 10 - Kings Canyon & The Camel Ride

The Rim Walk around Kings Canyon was today’s main event – 5.4km trek up and around the rim of this spectacular canyon.  

We set off from camp with our snacks packed for another day hiking and lunch was waiting in the Waeco for after the walk.

We had been warned that the Rim Walk is quite strenuous, mainly the first section which is natural rock steps straight up the side of the canyon – very steep climb – apparently this start section is 500 steps, certainly felt like at least 500!

 
 

Scott taking it all in.

The Boys waiting for us after the steps.

The little rock wallaby's found a new hidey hole.

The Rim Walk was right up the boy’s alley – they could run ahead (especially on the steps at the start!) and scamper up the rocks.

There's fun to be had everywhere!

A few Grey Nomads we passed said they wished they had the boys energy, me too!

Two Nanna's from Rockhampton said watching the boys running around made them miss their grandkids - Scott & I offered to lend them the boys for an afternoon if they needed a Nanna fix.

More rock hopping action.

All the way along the walk I was saying “this is my favourite day so far”, which apparently I also said at Coober Pedy, then at Kata Tjutu then again at Uluru.  

But today truly was the best (ok, so far) the scenery was just stunning and the hiking, although difficult in places was interesting and fun.

Some of the scary steps.

Those of you who know me well would know I’m terrified of heights and this walk was going to test me, it took a lot of mind power to get me across a few very high walkways and the open timber steps that led up a cliff face after the Garden of Eden. 

I'm very pleased to say I did them all! 

The Garden of Eden in the middle of the canyon was stunning.

On top of the World.

No barriers up here, so hold on tight Scott!

Oh look it's Dirt boy on some rocks.

A little lizard sunning himself.

So much plant life in such difficult terrain!

Adding our rocks to the "I was here" pile.

The walk took us 3.5 hours, which is what the sign said it would take.  We had spent plenty of time stopping and taking in all the sights – that’s the motto of our trip “Stop and smell the roses”!

After a cold drink and sandwich at the car we headed back to the Station for a bit of a rest, then it was time for the boys to go on their camel ride.  

The decision to stay at the station was also so the boys could do a camel ride, once again on the recommendation of Aunty Leah & Uncy Steve.

So at 4pm we headed to the camel yards and waited for our cameleer Clancy to take the boys out for their camel ride.  We had planned on doing a sunset camel trek through the station but the camels are all heavily pregnant that they use for rides so they are only doing short treks, which suited the boys just fine.

This was one greedy girl - she got a bit too friendly with
Mitch when he was feeding her before the ride.

Waiting to giddy up on the Camels.

Some fun facts about camels that we learnt from Clancy the Cameleer – gestation period is 14 months, yes you read it right 14 months.  

Their red blood cells are football shaped so can zoom through their body.  

The last one we all knew which is the hump is fat stores not water.  

The station farms camels and cattle, they have the same number of cows as they do camels – they’re not sure of either quantity.  

I asked what the camels are used for and they are exported, some go as meat but the station has supplied the Moroccan Army with camels and also to Afghanistan as the blood lines are pure in Australia and our camels aren’t diseased.

The boys headed out of the yards into the station with Clancy leading them and all we could see was chatter going both ways, we worried that Mitch might chew his ear off but I think Clancy enjoyed it. 








When they came back in, the boys had all this new information and turns out Clancy is a fellow Novocastrian – well Port Stephens but we’ll claim him.  He’s worked here for 14 month and runs the quad bike tours and camel rides as well as doing distance Uni.

Clancy the Cameleer leading Mitch & Dec back in.