Rolling to the Rock: Day 9

“Ahh, the serenity…” ??

The memorable line from classic Aussie flick The Castle comes to mind as we wind up the dusty driveway of Kings Creek Station, and set up camp in a shady nook under an overhanging ghost gum.

Our second main ‘stop’ on our Rolling to the Rock journey, Kings Creek Station is a quieter, slightly less civilized alternative for Kings Canyon visitors to the busier Kings Canyon Resort another 25km up the road.

While lacking many of the conveniences of the Ayers Rock Campground we’ve just come from, its laid-back, friendly, rustic charm soon wins over and after three nights, we wish we could stay longer…

Not long after settling in, the kids are introduced to by various welcoming staff, Charlie the cockatoo, Molly the cow and Snowy the camel, followed by free five minute rides on another camel Jess.

A working cattle and camel station, and well-known for its Aboriginal educational charity Conways’ Kids, Kings Creek Station has around 30 powered and 30 unpowered sites, drinking (bore) water, basic bathroom and laundry facilities (get in early before the hot water runs out!), and a range of (costly) activities from spectacular helicopter flights over the Canyon to quad bike rides around the 180,000 acre property.

There’s (very slow) free wi-fi, a small pool and playground, washing machine, camp kitchens with free bbqs, charming souvenir shop, and small store and café with a few snacks and meals including tasty camel burgers.

Given its remote location, everything is expensive, from $36 for a six-pack of beer to a Canning Stock Route-like $2.48/litre for diesel. We paid $49 a night for a powered site.

But it’s the little things that win you over, like the fire pit located right behind your caravan that, after feeding with dry timber collected from surrounding bush, allows you to introduce your eight-year old to her first bush campfire and toasted marshmellows, after which she declares, “This really feels like the outback now, Dad”.

However, the following day with the sun blazing and the mercury topping 18 degrees, the swimming pool beckons and Celine and her sister Isabella can’t resist a dip. After a few screams and race to the hot showers, the traumatic episode is later described, “It’s like they put ice cubes in it, Dad!”