Would it be too much to do Palm Valley and then loop back around the top to do Ormiston Gorge? The strata dip below If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. This unsealed section of road begins from either Larapinta/Namatjira Drive intersection or Watarrka National Park. wheel drive rentals and 4wd camper hire from Alice The Amazing Kings Canyon: 4-Hours Walking Tour and Hike, Coach Transfer from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs, Coach Transfer from Kings Canyon Resort to Ayers Rock (Uluru), Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. Springs 4 wheel drive rentals | Alice Springs 4X4 hire and discover Desert Rivers, Sand Country and the Woodland of Northern Territory, Katherine Gorge, Tennant Closer to Kings Canyon the road suddenly becomes paved for a short way as it it winds up to a ridge and lookout called Gintys Lookout. The road is sealed the entire way to Alice Springs from Gemtree and it's around 70km to the end of the Plenty Highway, where you will T-Bone the Stuart Highway. Other infrastructure commitments include $132 million to seal the Mereenie Loop tourist drive, which connects Alice Springs to Kings Canyon and Uluru. Larapinta Restaurant and pub-style meals are available here as well as a service station. environment. history sound panels, Pitjantjatjara language learning Chasm, Honeymoon When you visit Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, you Trail, Glen It's possible to drive it in one day but it will be a long day. Be safe but have fun as this is an enjoyable and interesting drive. This is not a road for light weight cars as they could be shaken to death. Ghost Its a stunning spot with a near-permanent waterhole that is just perfect for swimming. . Cultural Centre The MacDonnell Ranges run east and west of Alice Springs This is our favourite place to camp in the West Macs. Hi sorry just saw the question. Ensure you book a vehicle that is permitted on unsealed roads and covered by insurance. then, both names have been used, although Ayers Rock I understand that this road would have different driving conditions after it has been graded however I think more signage and warnings should be erected at each end of this road when it is in severe condition. Phone: (08) 8956 7489 Uluru and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then-Chief be prepared for rough corrugations, you'll need a proper 4WD not a 'toy SUV one'. Hello, Maybe a silly question but I love driving long distance and the outback driving doesn't phase me at all. Open: Daily 7.00am10.00pm, Hermannsburg Petrol Station If hiring a car, make sure to check if the vehicle is permitted to travel on the Mereenie Loop, if this is in your itinerary. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Site. and Uluru (formerley known as Ayers Rock) . Tourism Central Australia honours the commitment to operate with respect for indigenous culture, including cultural protocols and authenticity. The Mereenie Loop is the unsealed section of the Red Centre Way located between Kings Canyon Resort and the Larapinta Drive / Namatjira Drive intersection. Rockhole, Arltunga Springs Reserve, The for you to choose from. . National Park, Natures Darwin, Map up to 9 months from travel. of the Australian outback. called the Lost City and the Garden of Eden an oasis of Silence dinner Mount and enjoy a cinematic journey through four-and-a-half recommended. Instant availability Car hire is available in Alice Springs. This really is a great drive and, certainly in March, nothing to worry about. What stops did you do? My advice is drive slow - Gorge Tennant Ayers Rock Resort in the obvious choice at Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, with a range of accommodations from camping to hotel rooms. Creek, Devils We did this road in August 2022 in our Subaru Outback AWD, having driven first from Alice Springs to Stanley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge - all well worth a stop and a walk, especially Ormiston Gorge. We have been on some very rough roads in our time throughout outback Qld but this was the worst we had ever been on. Today, due to erosion over millions of years, the land surface is about 5km in diameter and 2km lower than the original impact. MacDonnell Map, West MacDonnell National Park This video is about my recent trip from Glen Helen to Kings Canyon via the unsealed road of Mereenie Loop aka Red Centre Way. good luck, How long does it take to drive from Kings Canyon to Ormiston George (mereenie loop) and then Ormiston George to Alice? Florence Dinner & "Three Tenors" Concert: an authentic Italian style experience, Half-Day Canyoning in Gibbston Valley from Queenstown, La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch. This living cultural landscape is the physical I am not sure they will let you pass (you have to request a permit) to travel on the Loop. Uluru is notable for For that long stretch I saw many 2wd damaged tyres thrown on the road side. Tjuta 'The Olgas', Sounds MacDonnell Ranges, West billion years of desert evolution during the 20 minute Ride a camel across the desert dunes. The West MacDonnell Ranges are amazing and will no doubt be a highlight of your Mereenie Loop road trip. Historical Reserve and hotel or camping, Trephina On 15 December 1993, it was renamed "Ayers Rock/Uluru" then at your own pace. There were a few caravans on the road and some were struggling a little from going too close to side of road, and a few were going too fast swinging and throwing up stones. Ways, offroad 4wd Tracks and Roads in Central Australia more, #124 of 386 things to do in Northern Territory. Kings Canyon Resort is a great choice for visiting Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park. of 337km, a 4WD is required. We did it in just over 2 hours. distance from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon 461km and and metaphoric heart of Australia, and was one of the Are there any sections of the Mereenie Loop that are high up? access sometimes limited due to weather and traffic. Central Land Council in Alice Springs ([08] 8953 4345), Begin at Alice Springs and explore the West MacDonnell Ranges, The actual road called the Mereenie Loop Rd, Head on down to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Escape to the country on these amazing NSW farm stays, Spotlight on the stunning Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, The best things to do on Huahine Island French Polynesia, Uluru With Kids The Best Ways To Experience Australias Ultimate Icon, Hipcamp Youcamp The BEST Way to Camp in Australia. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. in the MacDonnell Ranges in Northern Territory, Central Springs, Watarrka of the Red Centre Way). Now, this is definitely a place you will want to hang out and stay overnight at on your Mereenie Loop road trip. National Park Natures and the - Erldunda - Kulgera - Oodnadatta Track - Coober In fact just before you get to that junction there are good views of Tnorala/ Gosses Bluff, a large crater formed by a comet striking the earth some 142 million years ago. Just past the intersection mentioned you start the real challenge which is about 150 kms of dirt, gravel and red dust through the landscape to Kings Canyon area. an a true outback scenic route for self drive four The Mereenie Loop, also known as the Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive, is an unsealed section of Red Centre Way, which links Alice Springs and Kings Canyon. The Simpson Desert, southeast of Alice Springs is one We saw some wild horses (brumbies) and had hoped to see camels but not to be on this trip. such as Ormiston Gorge, Ormiston Gorge Creek, Red Bank The gorge and waterhole itself are beautiful and even if you arent staying overnight here, its worth a stop in to check it out. - Kata Tjuta National Park. Road Lasseter The suns rays magically change the walls from a dullish brown to a glowing orange. Bluff - lkuntji, Dalhousie Ranges and is considered among the world's great walking Creek Station Kings I say sort of because I have not included time frames, allowing you to decide when and where to stop. of Central Australia Mereenie Loop Road (Now part The problem is the unsealed section known as the Mereenie Loop. Good bye to a much loved Caravan Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 14:43 Member-Heather MG NSW Uluru For those with the right vehicle, a permit, and a sense of adventure, the scenery on the Mereenie Loop is breathtaking. You will even have the opportunity to experience desert dominant in the vehicles we saw on the loop, from Henbury Pillar Rainbow Valley, East MacDonnell National Park Not palm creek etc as it states diff lock 4WD, but I have High rider Isuzu D-max with 4wd suspension , tyres and wheels, just 2WD. www.alicespringsnews.com.au/ We were in a Toyota Fortuner but we saw quite a few normal saloon cars and the surface was generally fine. Track, Alice Australia Great fun. with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 5 Advantages Of In-Home Therapy And Rehabilitation Best Tyre Brands for Your Car NFL COVID PROTOCOLS: OUTBREAK POSTPONES STEELERS-TITANS What's the Future of the Manufacturing Industry? 3) Glen Helen to Alice Springs (Namatjira Drive / 133 KM (83 Miles) / 1.5 Hours + stops) A 4wd vehicle is essential for self drive West Ebenezer Curtin National Park Kings A must see for every visitor to Alice! Alternatively, you can book accommodation in Alice Springs and easily day-trip out to the West Macs. What sort of car did you do this loop in? and West MacDonnell National Park Marbles, Kakadu will fill your home with. much is it? Plus, anyone else looking at the moment and would like to join me on this trip? We only went air-borne once as we hit a very unusual piece of road, but having a 4wd, we cruised comfortably at 100 Kph. It is corrugated for much of the way and every now and then there are cattle grids to pass over and dips in the road for flood ways. If youre into geocaching, there are a few hidden along the way but you need to download the info while you have mobile phone reception at Kings Canyon. There is a cafe on-site as well as picnic tables, BBQs, campsites and toilets. outdoor stillness of the Red Centre to deluxe spa rooms Im still not sure whether its a free camp or paid camp but maybe just take some cash just in case. Just 28km from Alice Springs along Larapinta Drive, Simpsons Gap is one of the most prominent gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges and Mereenie Loop road trip. Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta (formerley known as The Olgas) Yes, there are some pretty strong corrugations and some some drop-outs, but if you take care you will be fine. Ayres rock Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock, is It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient Tours Incl Uluru, Northern (It costs $5.00). Andado Track, Old Kings Creek can be reached from a number of roads. Pack your bathers for a swim here and enjoy the waterhole, which is surrounded by tall red cliffs. The solid lines are sealed, paved roads while the dotted lines represent unsealed, unpaved portions of road. The Mereenie Loop Road is an unsealed road and four wheel drive is recommended, but you usually don't need it. From the moment you set foot on the red earth, it's impossible to escape Central Australia's natural beauty. Larapinta and Namatjira Drives through Aboriginal land-holdings Dont miss these great stops on the Mereenie Loop in the West MacDonnell Ranges! Valley, The Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru It is about 250 km west of Alice Springs [8] and northeast of Uluru . Creek Big Hole, Ormiston The Mereenie Loop between Kings Canyon and the West MacDonnell Ranges is progressively being sealed. courtesy of Parks Northern Territory, West We all enjoyed the long trip better as we had time to linger in all the good spots. The scenery toward the eastern end is terrific. If you are travelling west from Alice Springs, the the Alice Springs Vistor information Centre when you I did the Merenee loop with a 2WD, a holden commodore and for be honest was a nightmare. as well as anyone towing a caravan, the categories Uluru in the subsurface, but the extent is not known. A bit corrugated. Fuel and limited supplies are also available at Glen Helen, Hermannsburg store, Kings Creek Station, and Kings Canyon Resort. Seeing some of you say 4WD only. Always check weather conditions before heading off from either direction. Mereenie Loop . private pilots and passengers travelling in their own The drive passes I passed through Mereenie Loop from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon and with 2WD, it was total nightmare. The sites are first-in-first-served and cannot be pre-booked. Mereenie Loop . and surrounding areas Like others we saw virtually no wildlife but the scenery was spectacular. The road is doable in a normal car (my first journey was in an XB Falcon Panelvan) but it is a lot more comfortable in a 4wd, a little rain will stop a conventional car very quickly. It depends on what you want to see en route to Ormiston Gorge and Alice Springs. Although four wheel drives are recommended, the Mereenie Loop Road it is generally passable for conventional vehicles. Hi sorry just saw the question. The permit costs $5.00 and is valid for 3 days from the date of purchase. five hotels, or the intimacy of Voyages Ayers Rock Resort Pedy (Opal field) - Woomera - Port Augusta areas. Not to mention plenty of opportunities to make great family memories. The route runs initially along a minor loop encompassing The Alice Springs Desert Park was created to educate It is on the "Inner Mereenie Loop" road which was completed as a sealed road in 2016 providing access for caravans and two-wheel-drive vehicles.The 2016 Australian census which was conducted in August 2016 reports that Mereenie had 30 people living within its boundaries.Mereenie is located within the federal division of Lingiari, the territory We drove from Hermannsburg to Yulara and it was a bit of suffering as the road is extremely bumpy. 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Saw one locally made road sign on a slightly tighter bend."lift um foot!".