After about a 3.5-hour flight from Sydney to Ayers Rock, Uluru appears in the distance in the heart of an increasingly red landscape. The airport—and the resort located about 8 kilometers away—seem lost in this vast ochre wilderness. Our destination today: Kings Canyon, 305 kilometers away.
AAT Kings guide and driver, Dan, is waiting for us by the baggage carousel, ready to share these five days of adventure in the Outback with us.
The bus takes us down the Lasseter Highway to our first stop, about sixty kilometers away, Curtin Springs, where our lunch awaits. Ash and Lyndee Severin, the owners of the cattle station, welcome us to this property of over 1 million hectares—larger than Belgium—with its 4,000 head of cattle. Travelers stop here to refuel, have lunch, dinner, or even stay overnight.
The station is ideally located between Uluru and Kings Canyon Resort, and only 35 kilometres from Mount Conner, a magnificent 300-meter-high rock formation which is part of the property and that many mistake for Uluru when they get to the Red Centre. SEIT organizes tours to Mount Conner from Ayers Rock Resort. Curtin Springs is also famous for its 'Paper Tour,' which showcases arts and production of a unique paper made onsite from local bush plants such as spinifex.
** To learn more about Curtin Springs, click here **
Two hours later, Kings Canyon emerges from the semi-desert as the sun slowly sets on the horizon, setting the rocks ablaze. After dropping off our belongings in our rooms at Kings Canyon Resort, we set off for 'Under a Desert Moon', a fine dining experience in the resort, under the Milky Way. Each of the 5 courses includes a wine pairing. On the menu: dishes prepared by the Chef with local ingredients such as 'braised kangaroo tail and potato cream with charred cabbage.' A beautiful way to end a great day!
