Hiking 50km Alone in Central Australia - Giles Track

In May I solo hiked the Giles Track in Central Australia. The trail is 22km, point to point and usually completed as an overnight hike. I spent two nights on the trail, arriving at Kathleen Springs late afternoon and chose a camp spot some ~5km in from the trail start/finish. The second day I hiked from dawn to dusk, venturing through the depths of Kings Canyon before setting up camp near a natural waterhole. The third and final day saw me retracing a lot of my steps until I reached my parked vehicle at Kathleen Springs. Overall, the Giles Track is a stunning hike through a seemingly alien landscape at times and one I can hugely recommend. The terrain is relatively flat with a few rocky edges to climb but for the most part it's nothing too strenuous. The ability to legally camp almost anywhere along the trail is a massive plus and only adds to the sense of freedom and isolation you get.
I'll admit, at first it was difficult for me to justify spending so much time, money and effort getting to a trail that is usually completed as an overnight hike. I then came to realisation that I could add Uluru and the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) to trip and it would become much more worthwhile. With that said, after the completion of Giles Track I headed straight to Uluru and spent the afternoon checking out at the largest monolith in the world. The following day I drove out to the Olgas and completed the Valley of the Winds Walk, which was by far one of the best day hikes I have ever done. If there's one hike you should have on your 'To-Do' List this is it. I cannot speak more highly of this trail and it's difficult to put into words how stunning the landscape is.
See the exact path I took;
Giles Track - www.alltrails....
Olgas (Kata Tjuta) - www.alltrails....
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Contents of this Video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - Day 1 ~5km
1:41 - Day 2 ~25km
6:50 - Day 3 ~20km
8:07 - Track Overview
8:27 - Logistics & Experience
11:44 - Uluru & Olgas (Kata Tjuta)
13:58 - Next Hike
Gear I Take Hiking
Backpack - geni.us/9fUFSNe
Mattress - geni.us/QhvFEM3
Tent - geni.us/PAhP
Sleeping Bag - geni.us/IhbeWeA
Compression Sack - geni.us/JQNxM
Sleeping Bag Liner - geni.us/BYxnB
Jetboil - geni.us/eQkl
Gas cannister - geni.us/45PZ6v
Water Bladder - geni.us/7Is1
Water Bottle - geni.us/fLCJCDD
Personal Locator Beacon - geni.us/iMXwCq
Spoon - geni.us/irWK6
Swiss army knife - geni.us/KEcfc1k
Clothing
Footwear - geni.us/B3wPfxl
Socks - geni.us/9xXMO4d
Underwear - geni.us/JYj1KAI
Pants - geni.us/4SmN
Long sleeved shirt - geni.us/KRiUJtM
Camera Gear
Camera - geni.us/kwgEu
Camera batteries - geni.us/xWl9vhy
Lens - geni.us/xde22
Microphone - geni.us/jfKqiit
DeadCat - geni.us/MhN7
Tripod - geni.us/vBjIfF0
SD card - geni.us/sZB0r
Drone - geni.us/ZItv
Drone Batteries - geni.us/ihs9Yp
Peak Design Capture Clip - geni.us/X7XAHj
GoPro - geni.us/6R8AMM
Charging cable (USB-C) - geni.us/9EcGfz6
Charging cable - geni.us/kvK8

[@Flamtapa]

Great work. Im planing this trip, great work with the cinematography and music

[@AaronGrayOutdoors]

Well done bud. Never really had any interest in visiting the area but you may have just persuaded me 🤣. Great videography as always 👌

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Haha it’s not the easiest place to get to so hats off to you if you can make there. Cheers Aaron!

[@scotttimlock4421]

Josh,this is far and away the most inspiring video I have seen in some time,your cinematography skills are extremely good.I agree the NT is drop dead incredible landscape wise,and for me,and I suspect you,was a deeply spiritual experience,a couple of years back I did half of the Larapinta,but before that a 3 day tour,Uluru(walked around I. Preference,the climb was still open,there was no way I was going to do that,personal choice,no judgement on others) also king’s canon unbelievable.kata juta so good.I’m looking forward to seeing your Tas hike.Well done.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Scott, appreciate it! I’ll hopefully be ticking the Larapinta off in a couple months time so I’m looking forward to that one as well. The NT has a lot of gems in it that’s for sure

[@JamesRobertSmith]

Exceptional videography.

[@mikesutcliffe1142]

I can't believe that landscape. It's absolutely stunning. Like mouth-open-at-the -screen amazing. You're so lucky to have been able to hike through it. Walking in the footsteps of the ancients, for sure.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

It was unreal hey, pretty easy to see why it’s such a draw card for so many people. It won’t be a hike I’ll be forgetting in a hurry that’s for sure

[@mcake1234]

Great vid again mate. Yep King's Canyon is pretty awesome. The Olgas "Valley of the Winds" walk I think it's called is great also. So remote and beautiful. Thanks.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Very stunning part of Aus thats for sure. Yeah Valley of the Winds is the one. Easily the best day hike I’ve done

[@broadcastnature]

Beautiful - Thank you for creating this gem of a video

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers for watching!

[@barbaramohr6676]

Thank you for this beautiful video. You make me want to do this treck. It looks absolutely incredible. What an awesome experience these hikes must have been. I was in Uluru a few years ago and did the base walk by myself. My family wasn’t interested in getting up that early. Like you I was completely by myself the whole way around. Extraordinary. Valley of the winds hike in the Olgas was also exceptional but we did see the occasional hiker. Incredible amount of animals there which was great for my family who were visiting from Austria. Very special area.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Ah they missed out. If you’ve put in all the effort to get there, waking up early once can’t hurt! Glad to hear they got to see plenty of wildlife, thanks for watching Barbara

[@wazoologist]

Wonderful as always!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks mate!

[@chuggers96]

awesome video as always Josh - congrats on 3k subs too!! can't wait for the next one

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers mate!!

[@kaihlfransen488]

Fantastic video! I got inspired and booked a trip to do the same hike in September

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Awesome!! Be sure to let me know how it goes for you ☺️

[@gilliangroom810]

Awesome once again Josh!

[@gilliangroom810]

PS- Do you use the All trails Pro version or regular?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Gill! I use the Pro version. That way I can download the maps and use it offline, makes it much easier ☺️

[@charlene_louise]

Amazing and you did this on your own!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

I’d almost argue it’s easier doing it by yourself!

[@ryno100]

Did you notice the guy on the cliffs waving at you ?? Haha awesome

[@JoshCarrHikes]

I did haha not at the time though!

[@angelicamason1650]

Thanks Josh. Stunning landscape.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Angelica ☺️

[@jamesbell6996]

Epic video mate. Not just the Europeans that explored it 150 years ago, the indigenous Aussies have been exploring there for 40000 years I'm sure!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Absolutely, I’d imagine it would have been a very important place for the indigenous for all those years.

[@carlreid4161]

Bugger all research haha! Terrific scenery absolutely beautiful area Josh thanks for doing this and sharing! Your filming of these walks is next level buddy and of the highest quality should be on the ABC!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Haha that would be the dream. Cheers for watching Carl!

[@tusharkanchipurambphc]

The scenery is just unbelievable! The Olgas looked unreal, absolutely stunning. Awesome work capturing your experience and sharing it with us

[@JoshCarrHikes]

The Olgas are next level hey. People rave about Uluru but the Olgas are on a whole different level imo

[@delphinelesterlost3285]

Uluru and Kings Canyon are amazing , I definitely want to go back there again and do some hiking

[@mickbeckers]

Bloody awesome Josh. Was thinking the same... is it worth the time & money for Giles alone but like your thinking on adding Ularu and Kata Tjuta. Now on my bucket list.

[@danielrowe308]

So beautiful, thank you for this one josh and for adding to my bucket list. Amazing!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Dan!

[@megansaussey7065]

Great work Josh! Just beautiful and you capture it so well.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Megan! 😊

[@ianturner6220]

Honestly josh the best video I’ve watched in a long time on yt I feel inspired by you, and want to start doing this, can you suggest a easier walk potentially with kids, I want to show them the world

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Ian glad you enjoyed it. Where are you based, are you after multi day or day hikes?

[@ianturner6220]

@@JoshCarrHikes Perth like you josh, probably a bit of both

[@johndelaney2957]

Stunningly beautiful josh, good on for getting out there looking at these amazing places. I don't blame you for wanting to absorb the views, i clearly understand what you were feeling spiritually, not everyone feels it..

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers John! It’s a weird feeling but you know when it hits you

[@PetrichorWeaves]

One of the best yet, loved it.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers!

[@youreworthyourweightinavoc7189]

I remember doing this track. I only went one way tho and then tried to hitch back to my car at Kings Canyon but no-one would pick me up. Walked for a few hours in the afternoon and into the night via the highway. Had a dingo following me for ages which made me a bit uncomfortable. Eventually got picked up by a local Aboriginal family and driven back to my car :) So kind of them.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Haha what a story. That would have made doing the Giles Track even more worthwhile!

[@ethanjenik8502]

feels good seeing your videos about the NT. Just finished a week long hike at the larapinta trail today, beautiful place with the flowers and birds on full swing. Just wondering if your goin to do the larapinta trail in the future??? great video 👍

[@JoshCarrHikes]

That’s awesome, did you do the whole track? Sure am, if all goes to plan it’ll be all done & dusted in a couple months time

[@ethanjenik8502]

@@JoshCarrHikes didn't complete all of the trails (due to doing the hike with some mates) but i did manage to do 124km and keen to finish it of later on in the year.

[@calmauric8218]

Not bad mate. What a vast landscape! I bet you felt small in the scheme of things looking out into the gorge

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Yep it’s crazy how vast it is. Mine was moreso when I was flying in to Alice over Ayers Rock & the Olgas. Apart from a few mounds here and there it’s basically just a big flat red piece of land with bugger all in between. Would have been hard yakka back in the day traversing that by foot

[@fayleya3865]

I’m looking up the Olga’s. The NT website says it has a number of trails - which one did you do?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Pretty sure it’s just got two. I did both, Valley of the Winds & Walpa Gorge Walk. Walpa Gorge is just a 30-45min trek but still worth checking out

[@peterzimmermann3133]

Track was hard to see, how did you manage that?. Stunning to say the least

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Super easy trail to see & navigate

[@speedgull2612]

Thanks for sharing, got to put that on my bucket list. If you don't mind me asking how much did you spend on air fares, car hire and accommodations and what was overall duration of trip Ex Perth. Did you get a chance to look at any of the Larapinta trail? See you out there some time maybe!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

It wasn’t cheap. Flights return were ~$900. Could have got it a lot cheaper if I didn’t book so late but had to cancel last time around because of covid. Car hire was about $850 & $150-200 for fuel. Accomm for 3 nights (2x Uluru & 1x Alice) was around $110 as I was just camping in non powered sites. If all things go to plan I’ll hopefully have ticked the Larapinta off in a couple months time. I went and checked out the trail head for it while I was in Alice so that was pretty cool to see! Edit: Oh and the overall trip time was 5 days. Flew out of Perth on Saturday and was back by Wednesday night

[@speedgull2612]

@@JoshCarrHikes Thanks for the reply. I've got the Larapimta on the list. Just need to work out if I can spare more than 7 days but the good thing about that trail is like the Bib it is good for section hiking!

[@chrismcdonnell1695]

Its a bit tick from me Josh.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Chris

[@jacobthomson9562]

How did you have enough water for all that time

[@youreworthyourweightinavoc7189]

Have you done the Larapinta yet Josh? The Giles is good but the Larapinta is way way better. I hear the Jatbula is even better than that.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Not yet but that will be changing soon. I’ve been looking at doing the Jatbula for over a year now but it’s always booked out due to the limited number of people allowed on the trail per day. Seems as though certain companies book the spots at first availability and jack up the price for their tours.

[@youreworthyourweightinavoc7189]

@@JoshCarrHikes ah bummer re: the Jatbula. You will LOVE the Larapinta. The walk in Section 3 down into Standley Chasm is A-mazing. Also, take enough water to camp overnight at a few of the choice 'undesignated' campsites - Brinkley Bluff, Hugh Gorge and that ridgeline (forget its name) around Section 8-9. Make sure to the little side trips: around Ormiston Gorge and up to Redbank Gorge :)

[@xl20051]

Your video is good, just because the views of oz is not good enough.

[@Accolades70]

Noice Vid...

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Mark

[@brisbaneriver-thewholejour2600]

Beautiful - thank you for creating this gem of a video

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers for watching!