The Giles Track

The Giles Track is a 22 kilometre walking track located within Watarrka National Park. This two day hike offers the chance to experience impressive natural landscapes and wildlife, indigenous history and culture, and the heritage of Central Australia.

The rewards of this walk include dramatic views across wilderness that remains virtually unchanged since first described by Ernest Giles. Trek through beautiful valleys, beehive-shaped sandstone formations and across rocky watercourses. Scattered across the range is evidence of prior occupation – grinding stones, stone blades, stencilled art and petroglyphs. The flat, rocky plateau made for relatively easy and safe travelling for Aboriginal people. Native wildlife to spot includes spinifex pigeons, rock-wallabies, euros, goannas and pythons.

The Giles Track is named after the first European to explore the George Gill Range in 1872. It follows the southern rim of the range from Kings Canyon to Kathleen Springs, and can be walked in either direction. It is recommended as an overnight hike for experienced bushwalkers of average fitness. Camping fees apply and campsites must be booked online before you arrive. Alternatively, access from the Lilla car park via Tjintjit Tjintjit Spur allows those on a tighter schedule the opportunity of a one day walk in either direction.