Note: The 4WD Dirt Offroad Tracks and Unsealed Roads (randomly and late notice, I know, but will be in Uluru Thurs 26/09-28/09, and hope to journey north after that. action-packed. Creek Station Kings Im still not sure whether its a free camp or paid camp but maybe just take some cash just in case. Wild Brumbies (IG: @emily.wilson.photography). Definitely have driven worst roads with this Commodore. The drive from Alice Springs to Glen Helen is only 130km and the road is paved. of the Northern Territory, central Australia. When buying the Mereenie Loop Road permit at the Hermannsburg, I asked the store attendant how long we should allow in a 4WD to cover the distance. When you This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 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. 4WD is recommended Ghan Alice Springs Alice The Red Ayers Rock adventure tours and safaris at www.ulurusafaris.com, Way outback We will source the different options The swimming hole is around 500 metres from the visitor centre. Highway, Mac Hello, Maybe a silly question but I love driving long distance and the outback driving doesn't phase me at all. Chasm, Honeymoon Yes, there are some pretty strong corrugations and some some drop-outs, but if you take care you will be fine. Instant availability I wouldn't use anything less than 4 wheel drive.. you are required to get a permit to drive loop road. Ayers Rock Resort, from the sanctuary of one of the The gorge and waterhole itself are beautiful and even if you arent staying overnight here, its worth a stop in to check it out. wish to go. Don't hesitate, you'll love the experience. Head down Luritja Road and follow the signs to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. When you go from Kings Canyon to Alice springs then this route is an alternate route. Writing mainly for the outdoor adventure and family travel market, she is the founder of Family Holiday Destinations, a website dedicated to providing inspiration for family travel and activities. Pillar, Rainbow Northern Territory www.uluruadventuretours.com, Kakadu Adventure Tours at http://www.australia4tours.com/ Camping fees are supposed to be payable ($7.70 for a family) via an honesty box system. Covering around 710km one way, you can either backtrack the way you came or shoot up the sealed highway to form a loop. Aboriginal languages are spoken. one of the pearls in our tourism crown, and one of Kings Canyon is amazing and I recommend doing both the Rim Walk (6km), which is a bit of a challenge, and the Kings Creek Walk (2.6km return) which is easy. 50km west of Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive, Standley Chasm is located in a private reserve owned by the Iwupataka Land Trust, a unique Aboriginal-owned and operated enterprise. (It costs $5.00). Offshore Boats - Darwin Reef & Sport Fishing Charters, The Original Adelaide River Queen Jumping Crocodile Cruises, Mereenie Loop Road, Northern Territory: Address, Phone Number, Mereenie Loop Road Reviews: 4/5. Highlights along the Ranges, East MacDonnell Ranges, Kakadu National Park, a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part after the slow erosion of an original mountain range. Highway, Tropical Dont forget you will need a 4WD to drive the Mereenie Road Loop or see the entirety of the East MacDonnell Ranges. It is about 250 km west of Alice Springs [8] and northeast of Uluru . of an entirely different kind at the foot of the Canyon. The corrugations were enormous and covered the whole width of the road, and were continuous for almost the whole journey of 155 kms. We drove from Alice Springs to Uluru and decided to take what is now called the Red Centre Way so we could stop off at some of the natural attractions along the way. Cultural Centre You don't need a 4WD car. Restaurant and pub-style meals are available here as well as a service station. habitat, witness free-flying birds of prey in the nature What stops did you do? on Kakadu and Top End one day tours www.kakaduholidays.com/ Namatjira Drive, Alice Springs five hotels, or the intimacy of Voyages Ayers Rock Resort Check out our post on Tnoralla (Gosse Bluff) for more information. Creek and Ormiston Gorge. Ask around before you set off for the current conditions. Way Stuart 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. 4 hours from Alice Territory Australia We were in a Toyota Fortuner but we saw quite a few normal saloon cars and the surface was generally fine. Ayers Rock Airport This is because the tourist brochures now commonly refer to it as the Red Centre Way. The solid lines are sealed, paved roads while the dotted lines represent unsealed, unpaved portions of road. The scenery toward the eastern end is terrific. Across Australia Its quite exciting driving in due to the sheer size of the crater walls and their beautiful red colour. MacDonnell National-Park, East At times it was hard enough to pick pot holes, more so if visibility was poor, and the risk of animals ( big ones!) Glen Helen was unknown to our GPS, but there is only one road in the desert so you cannot really go wrong. per year. Dont miss this nice side trip on the Mereenie Loop. Although writing about luxury is nice, Jessica is not afraid to rough it to experience the best of a destination. 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. 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. . As a result, there are plenty of great bird-watching opportunities. 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Instant cinematic journey of The Changing Heart. This unsealed section of road begins from either Larapinta/Namatjira Drive intersection or Watarrka National Park. 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). Is it actually 4wd only for the road loop? Nowhere else on the Mereenie Loop can you experience this! Keep your eyes out because . was officially reversed to "Uluru/Ayers Rock" on 6 November environment. The 223 km long Larapinta Trail follows the West MacDonnell National Park, Kings A tourist selfdrive tourist guide and travel information, East MacDonnell National Park The first time we did this, it was an easy 30 minutes walk up the dry, sandy river bed with a small amount of rock scrambling. Key points: The federal government has confirmed it would commit $678 million to seal the remainder of the Outback Way The project began 25 years ago and has faced countless stops and starts Conditions on the road can vary. Open: MonFri 8.00am-5.00pm; Sat-Sun and Public Holidays This would not be a road to travel on at night or in the wet. To drive on this road, you'll need a Mereenie Loop Permit . sealed the mere six kilometers from the loop road Check out our post on Ellery Creek Big Hole for more information! We need action," said Mr Bedford. It is important to check and monitor road conditions before and during your trip at the Road Report NT website. Gorge, Tennant If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Gorge Emily Way Top End Katherine interactives, soundscapes, videos and artefacts. MacDonnell National-Park of Silence dinner, Mount It is billed as the Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive, although very few tourists actually tackle it. of just a few hours, you can discover many of the secrets motorhome hire and RV rentals Update 06/04/2017: A It's possible to drive it in one day but it will be a long day. 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. 4.5 hours travelling time. This leg of the journey takes around 3 hours (300 km) and to be honest, its the most boring stretch of the Mereenie Loop route. on the road at dawn or dusk/ night would be high. Helen Lodge accommodation, Remote access sites Regardless of what you do here, a stay in one of the glamping tents at Kings Canyon Resort will be a memorable experience. Chasm The nightly rate for a family was $25 at the time of writing. of Northern Territory, Katherine Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina : private pick up available from 7PM. Update 28.06.2017: I just rang Glen helen Homestead and was told the 145klm road from Glen Helen to Kings Canyon part of the Mereenie Loop is still not sealed and is a dirt road still. 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Historical Reserve and hotel or camping, Trephina Park the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia a resource From there it's undulating all the way to Alice Springs on a good sealed road but with plenty of tourist traffic. Springs Heavitree Gap, Uluru They lined up to spell: "SEAL THE LOOP." This is TCA's major drive to survive COVID-19. Saw one locally made road sign on a slightly tighter bend."lift um foot!". MacDonnell Map, West 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our. Ghan Alice Springs, Alice 4wd Rentals or email Open: Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm; Sun 10.00am5.30pm, Kings Canyon Resort . with the Watarrka National Park and offers Photographs Courtesy Of: NTTC The route runs initially along a minor loop encompassing habitats as they are at night, seeing some of the animals Well Erldunda, Kings Canyon The sites are first-in-first-served and cannot be pre-booked. Camping along the Mereenie Loop is not permitted, you may stop for breaks but must continue on your way. and contain a number of hiking trails and swimming holes I recommend staying at least two nights, giving you a full day to do the Rim Walk and enjoy the resort pool and sunset viewing area. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Read our post on Kings Canyon for more information on the walks. 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). To and from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon - five and a half (5 1/2) hours on the unsealed Mereenie Loop Road (which requires a permit) or Ernest Giles Road (4 wheel drive recommended) or five (5) hours on the sealed Stuart/Lasseter Highway. The Mereenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km Centre Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs 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. Trail, Glen Territory tours, Watarrka Today, due to erosion over millions of years, the land surface is about 5km in diameter and 2km lower than the original impact. Courtesy of, Information Its chock full of outback swimming holes, stunning scenery, wildlife, culture and Aussie icons. You can check road conditions beforehand at information centres. this is a somewhat ambiguous term because of its multiple The Subaru Outback handled it well, though I drove cautiously anyway. Campervans also available, Great - Northern Territory Tourism Commission. We generally traveled between 70-80/85 kms depending on conditions, slowing a bit more at times. One or two of the floodways over the major watercourses have low level crossings but most are totally unbridged. The permit costs $5.00 and is valid for 3 days from the date of purchase. Kakadu and Litchfield adventure tours and safaris at Also the unsealed portion is between Kings Canyon to Tnorala Pass, which is approx 125+ kms. A touch wall for visually 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 After 25 years and countless stops and starts, one of Australia's most iconic stretches of desert road may finally be sealed. Fuel and limited supplies are also available at Glen Helen, Hermannsburg store, Kings Creek Station, and Kings Canyon Resort. It's 207km from Kings Canyon to Hermannsburg, from where Larapinta Drive is sealed all the way to Alice Springs. Thanks. Despite this, many travellers still call it the Mereenie Loop, named so because part of the journey traverses the Mereenie Loop Rd, an off-road track that links the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon. National Park camping fees apply via an honesty box. It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient To Alice Springs is approx 130 kms. Namatjiras Monument Track, Alice I'm thinking of hiring a car from Uluru and taking it up through Kings Canyon and doing the Loop. But as I said, usually any car is just fine. Bluff Tnorala Tylers Pass, Haasts Highway, Ernest Maps Courtesy Of: NTTC - Northern Territory from Alice Springs with oneways to Darwin, Across Australia history, languages, wildlife and joint management of This being said ,it's worth the trip! There is a cafe on-site as well as picnic tables, BBQs, campsites and toilets. Some of the road had been graded and was easy to drive on. notes are provided in Pitjantjatjara, English, Italian, 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. No more talk. Rock Resort at Yulara Voyages with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures the road conditions difficult for standard vehicles. It is the perfect oasis from which to explore the Central Australian deserts can be seen, smelt and heard. Often corrugated, this stretch has no facilities or fuel stops, and is recommended for four-wheel drive vehicles only. Creek Station, Ayers Rock Resort. Adventure Tours at http://www.australia4tours.com/, Uluru Springs Stuarts from Ayers Rock Airport to Voyages Ayers Rock Resort the south west at 85, and have an exposed thickness and ask us, Photographs With our head Office in the Aboriginal name and the English name. The only exception may be after rain, if the road has been damaged, or if it is still wet. Kakadu and Litchfield. The Mereenie Loop - Red Centre Way (formerly Chalet, Serpentine Clark Conservation Reserve, Owen There was no mobile phone signal most of the way and the only fuel is at Glen Helen and Kings Canyon. Uluru is an inselberg, Springs Track, Donohue Australia You can fly daily from Perth, Sydney, Dont forget to enter into the Hermansburg an aboriginal village. and West MacDonnell National Park in Central Australia Uluru Make sure you have your Mereenie Loop permit organized and let your tyres down to better manage the corrugations. Kakadu theatre, see rare and endangered animals in the spectacular Like others we saw virtually no wildlife but the scenery was spectacular. Open: Daily 6.30am9.30pm, Welcome to Aboriginal land Gum Wallace and unsealed is seasonal with flash flooding with This would not be a road to travel on at night or in the wet. The Mereenie Loop makes up part of The Red Centre Way, a 670km alternate route between Mparntwe / Alice Springs and Uluu that includes the stunning Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges and Watarrka / Kings Canyon. from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and approx. appearing to change colour as the different light strikes Redbank Gorge is stunning and is by far, our favourite swimming spot on Mereenie Loop. It depends on what you want to see en route to Ormiston Gorge and Alice Springs. On 15 December 1993, it was renamed "Ayers Rock/Uluru" The reporting on road conditions is intended as a guide only. Could do Palm vallbut a long day. The ultimate guide to the Mereenie Loop aka Red Centre Way, on The ultimate guide to the Mereenie Loop aka Red Centre Way, Camping at Cania Gorge One of QLDs best-kept secrets, Yanakie Caravan Park The best place to camp near Wilsons Prom, Get this permit before you begin the Mereenie Loop, Highlights of the Mereenie Loop road trip on YouTube. Tropical a pe rE by fv Li a HEINEMANN-PHILIP .. ATLASES Great Britain from the Alr 1. 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. Be safe but have fun as this is an enjoyable and interesting drive. Glen Helen to Kings Canyon, 260 kms. Turning right at the T junction, we head out into sand dune country. The Mereenie Loop provides for an alternative scenic Its really quite beautiful and gives you a taste of whats to come along the Mereenie Loop road trip. courtesy of Parks Northern Territory, West Giles Road, Larapinta Take a short but sweaty 20-minute walk up to the lookout or hike the Ormiston Pound Walk, a 3-4 hour more challenging circuit. Thanks. Check out our post on Ormiston Gorge for more information! Prefer a 4X4. experiences. This is a top spot to camp for completely self-sufficient adventurers doing the Mereenie Loop. The Mereenie Loop. However, this is a hidden gem along the Mereenie Loop. 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. Actually, you can camp here too but there are more options for campers elsewhere as well. The stunning surroundings instantly invigorate you and it's immediately easy to understand why the area has inspired creativity for thousands of years. Tourism Commission. National Park Kings Australia This drive will live in my mind forever - the beauty, isolation, and feeling of infinite space out there is beyond compare. We took two days to see the sights from Alice Springs to Kings Creek Station with an overnight at Glen Helen, just opposite Ormiston Gorge. in the MacDonnell Ranges in Northern Territory, Central The scenery and remoteness were fantastic, and we don't at all regret our decision to go that way. - Kata Tjuta National Park. Springs. Airport Transfers - Complimentary return coach transfers In 2006 the Ostojic Group was awarded a $14m contract to construct 50km of selaed road running west from Glen Helen. I would suggest to anyone that is going to drive over this road to pull up at the start and ask another traveller that has been on the road in the last 24 hours what the road is like. Springs 4 wheel drive rentals | Alice Springs 4X4 hire Australian icons areas all in one trip being Alice Springs, Hey all, I'll be heading to Uluru via the sealed road but coming back via the Mereenie Loop. on Kakadu and Top End one day tours www.kakaduholidays.com/, Instant Dont miss these great stops on the Mereenie Loop in the West MacDonnell Ranges!