Not luxurious, but the location makes up for it! (Kings Canyon Resort)

Member Name: jenniferjain

Product:	Kings Canyon Resort
Date:	17/12/08 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Location and setting

Disadvantages: Price, communal facilities, dining options not that great

We stayed in Kings Canyon Resort in November 2007 as part of our trip around Australia. Kings Canyon is located several hours drive from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Kings Canyon Resort is the only place to stay for many miles. The drive to it is pretty tough because of the heat. You can't possibly get lost though as there is only one road out there!

The high prices at the resort reflect the fact that you don't have any other choice. Because of this, we opted for the second cheapest option (the cheapest option being camping in your own tent). We stayed in a double room which was basically a concrete box in a long building. There was no private bathroom - communal toilets and showers were in a separate building. Towels and some toiletries were provided. The room also had a fridge which was useful. There were communal cooking facilities and a small shop and petrol station where you could buy food to cook and snacks.

As we were only there one night, we chose to eat in the restaurant which had a fair selection although being vegetarian we did struggle a bit.

Although obviously not the most luxurious of accommodation, this really didn't matter because it was the very setting which made it worth it. There were several short walks around the resort which were detailed on a sheet from reception. We didn't get very far though, because there were a few too many dingoes about for our liking! There is a special decked area for viewing the sunset over the canyon in the distance, and this view was spectacular. It was also amazing to come back slightly later on when it was totally dark and just stand on the boardwalks around the resort looking up to the stars, an incredible view with no light pollution.

The resort felt very safe and friendly, probably because it is a bit off the beaten track. We met some fellow travellers in the communal areas and it's always nice to chat with others about your travel experiences. We could easily have stayed longer.

The canyon itself is a short drive away, with plenty of parking and a couple of walks. You are somewhat restricted in your exploration because of the importance of the area to the Aboriginal people, but the main canyon walk was amazing and one of the highlights of our trip. You just need to start very early to avoid the hottest part of the day!

Summary: There isn't much choice about where to stay, but you can't go wrong here