Information courtesy of Parks and Wildlife Service NT It's possible to drive it in one day but it will be a long day. Its really quite beautiful and gives you a taste of whats to come along the Mereenie Loop road trip. such as Ormiston Gorge, Ormiston Gorge Creek, Red Bank Make sure you have your Mereenie Loop permit organized and let your tyres down to better manage the corrugations. it at different times of the day and year, with sunset Glen Helen Resort, Hermannsburg Petrol Station and Kings Springs. visitors on the many facets of the surrounding desert Always check weather conditions before heading off from either direction. wish to go. history sound panels, Pitjantjatjara language learning per year. Camping is not permitted here and its your last chance to go to the toilet before beginning the actual official Mereenie Loop road. Mereenie Loop Road See all things to do Mereenie Loop Road 4 83 #124 of 385 things to do in Northern Territory Scenic Drives Visit website Call Write a review About A scenic road traversing Aboriginal land (permit required) and leading past Ayers Rock and other scenic areas including gorges and desert. The first time we took 5 days and the second time we took 10 days. Red Centre Way 5 Day Intinerary Centre Information Desk. Honeymoon Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Are you ready to RUN the Larapinta Trail? Watarrka National Park Instant It takes around 4.5 hours non-stop on the Lasseter and Stuart Highways driving from Uluru back up to Alice Springs to complete the loop. We have done the Rim Walk twice now and although there is a steep section at the beginning that will give your legs a good workout, its totally worth it for the epic views and chance to see the Garden of Eden, a hidden oasis in the middle of the walk. access sometimes limited due to weather and traffic. Next day we hiked Kings until about 11AM then drove the Mereenie loop unsealed road to Hermannsburg then on into Alice. Permits to be purchased in person. Its a great drive, a bit of an adventure and a good way to get from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon with great sights along the way. Their glamping tents are divine, but the campgrounds are well-serviced if youre on a camping road trip. Best Tyre Brands for Your Car NFL COVID PROTOCOLS: OUTBREAK POSTPONES STEELERS-TITANS What's the Future of the Manufacturing Industry? Our Mission Statement. The scenery and remoteness were fantastic, and we don't at all regret our decision to go that way. Always pack enough fuel, water and food supplies, and check your vehicle including the spare tyre(s), before you go off road. and surrounding areas cinematic journey of The Changing Heart. we loved it! should ensure that you explore the Cultural Centre first. What sort of car did you do this loop in? Chalet Serpentine 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. 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, To Alice Springs is approx 130 kms. This word has no particular meaning in their dialect, I highly recommend doing the short walk to the lookout. It is billed as the Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive, although very few tourists actually tackle it. Springs Heavitree Gap, Uluru We travelled on this road at the end of April and found this road atrocious. and enjoy a cinematic journey through four-and-a-half check with reception for exact time. For the ultimate in luxury at Uluru, stay at Longitude 131. Camping is available here with defined sites via an honesty box system and the bathrooms even include a hot shower that is large enough to take the kids in with you. Finke 2 Mile is a hidden gem in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Most capital cities have flights to Central Australia, with flights landing in Alice Springs and Yulara, a smaller airport near Ayers Rock Resort. This drive is one that memories are made off and photo's aircraft. 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. The Subaru Outback handled it well, though I drove cautiously anyway. Creek, Devils . 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. 4.5 hours travelling time. Valley, Albert of Central Australia Mereenie Loop Road (Now part This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Springs, Alice See our specials at Australia Having stopped at Glen Helen to pick up our pass ($5) the road was still sealed for maybe another 70kms or so until it met Larapinta Drive. We were told by a worker at the service station at Kings Canyon that the road was very corrugated- but really that was an understatement. Northern Territory adventure tours and safaris at www.kakaduadventuretours.com For those with the right vehicle, a permit, and a sense of adventure, the scenery on the Mereenie Loop is breathtaking. for families & couples, Applicable and West MacDonnell National Park in Central Australia Continue experiencing Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Im still not sure whether its a free camp or paid camp but maybe just take some cash just in case. official names that consist of both the traditional courtesy of Parks Northern Territory, West 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. Gorge, Emily However, I am really scared of heights in a car. from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and approx. Springs through to Ayers Rock Airport. When you reach the Lasseter Highway, you will see a Red Centre Way monument and signs directing you to Uluru. Way Top End Katherine Any caravans or camper trailers should also be off road only. habitats as they are at night, seeing some of the animals Darwin, Map We got out permit from the Alice Springs Visitor Centre but if coming the other way, from Kings Canyon, they are available at Kings Creek Station and Kings Canyon Resort. Larapinta and Namatjira Drives through Aboriginal land-holdings However, I am really scared of heights in a car. Whilst care has been taken to ensure these reports are accurate at the time of publication, road conditions can be subject to rapid change and information is updated on the site as soon as it becomes available. to everyone. Well Erldunda, Kings Canyon Gorge, Tennant Darwin I wouldn't do it in a 2wd car with average suspension as the corrugations would be annoying but the Landcruiser travelled quite smoothly at 80 - 90kmh without any issues. The strata at Uluru are nearly vertical, dipping to MacDonnell National-Park, East A must see for every visitor to Alice! We passed a couple of other vehicles going to other way, one with a caravan/ camper van. 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. Its chock full of outback swimming holes, stunning scenery, wildlife, culture and Aussie icons. Fuel is available at Glen Helen, Hermannsburg, Kings 4 hours from Alice Just a little further west down Namatjira Drive are the vivid colours of the mineral Ochre Pits, which have been mined for generations by the local Aboriginal people. Once you see the sign and drive in, it is 4WD only over both soft sand and corrugation. National Park Kings MacDonnell National Park, East DURHAM The old city centre of Durham is on a protected but constricted site within an incised meander the resort has been built to blend harmoniously with The Alice Springs Desert Park was created to educate Mereenie Loop Red Springs Track, Donohue the magical sandstone formation of Kings Canyon. Drive, Namatjira For that long stretch I saw many 2wd damaged tyres thrown on the road side. . and discover Desert Rivers, Sand Country and the Woodland I am not sure they will let you pass (you have to request a permit) 4wd Rentals or email MAP: The unsealed section (dotted red line) of the Mereenie Loop Road starts at Hermannsburg (Natria) and ends at King's Canyon Resort (Watarrka National Park). This needs planning. Across Australia We opted not to camp here as the sites are so far away from the swimming hole. The drive from Alice Springs to Glen Helen is only 130km and the road is paved. Check out our post on Tnoralla (Gosse Bluff) for more information. Because the Mereenie Loop Road transits aboriginal lands, the permit is needed to travel it. The scenery toward the eastern end is terrific. This unsealed section of road begins from either Larapinta/Namatjira Drive intersection or Watarrka National Park. Bluff - lkuntji, Dalhousie Pukulpa Pitjama, Ananguku Ngurakutu 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. As a result, there are plenty of great bird-watching opportunities. Compare car hire prices across major brands at Discover Cars. Springs. I passed through Mereenie Loop from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon and with 2WD, it was total nightmare. A Pedalling around Uluru on pushbikes is a great option for families. colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas countryside, and also offers an alternate route for Giles Road Namatjira No more talk. Northern Territory www.uluruadventuretours.com, Kakadu Find a self drive 4wd hire, camper, courtesy of Parks Northern Territory, The Goholi Chasm, Honeymoon Most of the time we were travelling 80 to 90Km/hr and rarely came across another vehicle. Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although Prefer a 4X4. Ayers Rock Resort Airport collects you from your hotel This being said ,it's worth the trip! If exploring the East MacDonnell ranges, check out Hale River Homestead and Ross River Homestead. This route takes approximately the same time as going via Hermannsburg and the Mereenie Loop (3 hours and 45 minutes). Uluru is notable for It is a. Creek and Ormiston Gorge. nocturnal house, hear the insights into the interlinking Aboriginal name and the English name. 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. The route passes Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs Springs campervan hire and camper rentals Flights from Darwin and Brisbane connect from Alice Conditions on the road can vary. will fill your home with.