The View From My Beer
After another long day it’s time to enjoy a cold Carlton Draught at Todd Tavern in Alice Springs. With the death of NT Draught, there doesn’t seem to be a local beer. It’s easy to tell it’s an Australian pub, cause there is lots of betting options available at each table.
Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon is in Watarrka National Park, featuring 300-meter-high sandstone walls and unique flora, and has a rich cultural history. It’s famous for the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which includes the Garden of Eden rockhole, and is a sanctuary for over 600 species of plants and animals. The canyon was formed over millions of years by erosional forces, including water and wind, and the distinct domes are remnants of ancient sand dunes.
My Drive
Day six of my seven-day outback trek through Northern Territory. Today I drove from Yulara back to Alice Springs via Wattarka National Park (aka Kings Canyon).
King’s Canyon
I checked out of my hotel early as I knew I would have a long day ahead of me. I saw Uluru slowly disappear from mt rear-view mirror as I slowly made my way out of Yulara. The drive to Watarrka National Park was pretty uneventful, just the way I like it. The road was sealed with one lane each way for most of it. I enjoy driving in the outback, the open spaces that allow you see forever and then some…
The Dirt
When at I looked at my options for getting from King’s Canyon back to Alice Springs I wanted to avoid roads I had already travelled on. I also wanted to get to Alice Springs before it was dark to avoid the issue of kangaroos at dusk. The option I chose was ST6 – Lassiter Highway. It was 320km, but most of it ended up being a dirt road. Its been a while since I have driven on a dirt road. I was a little nervous at first until I got used to drifting out going around corners and keeping an eye out for cattle near the edges of the road. And there were a few.
World Solar Challenge
Each year a solar challenge is conducted in which solar-powered vehicles make the 3,000 km journey from Darwin to Adelaide. The 2025 event was held between August 24 and August 30, which just so happened to coincide with my own drive between Darwin and Alice Springs. I first encountered these vehicles in Darwin just as they were heading off. Today I saw them again soon after I pulled off the dirt track and made my way North towards Alice Springs. They were all heading South. I am glad I was going the other way as it was not immediately clear how one would go about getting past these vehicles. They travel at an average speed of 85 kph on roads where the speed limit is 130km. They have at least one support vehicle in front and one behind. I am sure it must pose quite a chllenge for other cars to figure out how/when they can get past these convoys.
