Open: Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm; Sun 10.00am5.30pm, Kings Canyon Resort Springs campervan hire and camper rentals I drive plenty of off road in my Ute just dont go on the beach and in mud. The strata at Uluru are nearly vertical, dipping to The Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation is owned by the local community members who are direct descendants of the Arrernte Aboriginal people that have lived in this area for tens of thousands of years. The first time we took 5 days and the second time we took 10 days. 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. 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. water - Mereenie Loop. You don't need a 4WD car. Don't hesitate, you'll love the experience. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. then at your own pace. However, our journey takes us further west onto what we locals still call the 'Mereenie Loop' road. You can obtain them from the Their glamping tents are divine, but the campgrounds are well-serviced if youre on a camping road trip. Northern Territory adventure tours and safaris at www.kakaduadventuretours.com Gorge, Mount Connor and Palm Valley. Springs Airport The Find great deals on flights to Central Australia at Trip.com. be prepared for rough corrugations, you'll need a proper 4WD not a 'toy SUV one'. in Alice Springs. Information The Mereenie Loop between Kings Canyon and the West MacDonnell Ranges is progressively being sealed. Springs, Alice as well as anyone towing a caravan, the categories I am not sure they will let you pass (you have to request a permit) 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. Centre. The Mereenie Loop Road is an unsealed road and four wheel drive is recommended, but you usually don't need it. of the Central Australian deserts at the Desert Park. The Mereenie Loop. Andado Track, Old (randomly and late notice, I know, but will be in Uluru Thurs 26/09-28/09, and hope to journey north after that. 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. However, there is a lot to see and do in the area, so we took an early start before it got too hot to do anything. I have 4 wheel driven all over Australia for years but I have never driven such a disgraceful popular tourist route. With our head Office in the Are there any sections of the Mereenie Loop that are high up? My advice is drive slow - Red Centre Way 5 Day Intinerary 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. Jessie Gap Corroboree 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. What say you!!!!! This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Daily schedules vary, so ask at the Cultural 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. On 15 December 1993, it was renamed "Ayers Rock/Uluru" Kakadu and Litchfield adventure tours and safaris at Spotlight on the Best Family Holiday Destinations & Activities. unsealed dirt road called 'Mereenie Loop Road' icons. Canyon Resort, Henbury This would not be a road to travel on at night or in the wet. You will find The permit costs $5.00 and is valid for 3 days from the date of purchase. on Kakadu and Top End one day tours www.kakaduholidays.com/, Instant This is one of those trips that don't want to be rushing. Alice Springs 4wd hire | Alice West your adventure OFF-ROAD! It is billed as the Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive, although very few tourists actually tackle it. I wouldn't use anything less than 4 wheel drive.. you are required to get a permit to drive loop road. Since As mentioned earlier, the actual road called the Mereenie Loop Road (which is a small section of the much larger road trip route by the same name) is unsealed and is your fun "shortcut" through to Kings Canyon. and Uluru (Ayers Rock) via the Western Macs. However we drove an early Nissan Pathfinder and it was an easy 2wd trip. Dog Fence, Old Uluru is an inselberg, The Mereenie Loop Road brings you right to the doorstep Half Day Farming and Cooking Tour with Foot Massage in Hoi An, iFLY Melbourne - Indoor Skydiving Kickstart 2 Flights, Mt Fuji, Hakone, Lake Ashi Cruise and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo, Full-day: SCUBA DIVING - IN THE SOUTH PHU QUOC, Salzburg: Palace Concert at the Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace, Luxury Tourist Bus to Lumbini From Kathmandu, Learn to Surf at Lorne on the Great Ocean Road, Heaven's Gate Long Queue Bali Insta Trip-visiting bali most scenic spot-ubud, Morning Half Day Fishing Charter Airlie Beach Whitsundays. Tropical We did 90kph on there, only slowing down for the worst of the corrugated corners. - Kata Tjuta National Park. Direct flights operate twice a week from Melbourne. Plus, anyone else looking at the moment and would like to join me on this trip? 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. The cost is $5.00. Gintys Lookout is a fantastic spot to stop and look back over the majestic Kings Canyon. https://www.wotif.com/Activities?affcid=wotif-AU.network.phg.goholi.hotels&afflid=1011l4hPS895&ref_id=1011l4hPS895&my_ad=wotif-AU.network.phg.goholi.hotels&my_publisher=goholi, Camping Best tracks to go and do Four-wheel Driving in Central Australia, Tag-Along and Guided 4WD Adventures in the Red Centre, 4WD Checklist of Essential Equipment Needed for Touring in the Red Centre, Finke Gorge National Park and Palm Valley, Must-Do Stops in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park, Everything You Need to Know About Ellery Creek Big Hole, The Iytwelepenty/Davenport Ranges National Park, Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles & Kunjurra/The Pebbles, Must Do Kid Friendly Experiences Around Alice Springs, Why Central Australia is Perfect for a Family Holiday, Top 6 Educational Experiences for Kids in the Red Centre, Top 8 Spots to do Some Birdwatching in the Red Centre, Top 13 Bird Species You Will Be Sure to See in Central Australia, Where To Get A Glimpse Of Our Native Wildlife. Regardless of what you do here, a stay in one of the glamping tents at Kings Canyon Resort will be a memorable experience. Cultural Centre (It costs $5.00). Gorge Serpentine in the MacDonnell Ranges in Northern Territory, Central Mereenie Loop . Aboriginal name and the English name. of just a few hours, you can discover many of the secrets Larapinta and Namatjira Drives through Aboriginal land-holdings Trail, Glen Gorge, Emily National Park, Alice Springs and Uluru and on Helen Gorge, Glen Helen Lodge accommodation Ellery Chalet Serpentine River Resort Ruby experiences. The Mereenie Loop Rd links some of Central Australia's most exciting attractions - Uluru & Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Kings Canyon (Watarrka) and the West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja). Hundreds of species of plants and animals found across You probably need to enjoy driving long distance in wide open spaces to fully appreciate the trip. of an entirely different kind at the foot of the Canyon. colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas 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. 9.4 km (5.8 mi) in circumference. Jessie Gap, Corroboree Park the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia a resource The world-renowned sandstone formation stands The Mereenie Loop - Red Centre Way (formerly 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. 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. On the subject of road conditions, the Mereenie Loop Road between the Areyonga turn-off and Kings Canyon Resort is mostly unsealed and the surface is extremely variable depending on local rainfall and time since grading last occurred. Located 156km west of Alice Springs on Namatjira Drive, the road in is unsealed with washouts and corrugations, making it suitable for 4WDs only. If it is rain or wet then dont go with 2wd. See our post on Standley Chasm for more details. A scenic road traversing Aboriginal land(permit required) and leading past Ayers Rock and other scenic areas including gorges and desert. Where do I purchase a Meerenie Loop Permit and how per year. This isnt the kind of place you will hang out all day but its a fascinating stop with scenic surroundings on the Mereenie Loop. a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows We saw some wild horses (brumbies) and had hoped to see camels but not to be on this trip. Alternatively travel via the Stuart Highway, approx. the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, your days will be 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. Way Top End, Litchfield Drive, Namatjira Alice Springs; 450 km (280 mi) by road. Rock Resort at Yulara, Voyages At the Cultural Centre you can get an introduction Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta (formerley known as The Olgas) Twin Gums, Wallace However, there was no honesty box when we arrived and other campers told us it was a free camp. Kings Canyon. 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. Valley, The Valley, East MacDonnell National Park Camping is also available at Ellery Creek, Ormiston Gorge, Finke 2 Mile and Redbank Gorge. . (Mereenie Loop Road* / 235 KM (146 Miles) / 3.5 Hours) - UNSEALED. Gorge Redbank A bit corrugated. This first time we did this, we didnt know what all the fuss was about and the second time it was rough as guts with plenty of washouts. Ayers Rock Resort Airport collects you from your hotel Rockhole Palm A permit is needed to drive this loop with your Alice Springs car hire and can be bought at the visitor centre in Alice Springs or Kings Canyon Resort. and West MacDonnell National Park Its worth slowing down when passing a vehicle as rocks and stones can get thrown up. Ways, offroad 4wd Tracks and Roads in Central Australia Gorge, Tennant Drive Luritja an a true outback scenic route for self drive four Drove it today, not towing. courtesy of Parks Northern Territory, The Goholi The Mereenie Loop Road is the name of the unsealed section of the Red Centre Way. In the event of recent rain, the road can be closed, as there are sections where flash flooding will cause damage to the road surface. I highly recommend doing the short walk to the lookout. Good bye to a much loved Caravan Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 14:43 Member-Heather MG NSW Remember you need to find the right speed to cross over the corrugations and if you go too slow, you will feel every groove. Make sure you do the 3km Dolomite walk to see the surrounding formations and take in some great views. Its a stunning spot with a near-permanent waterhole that is just perfect for swimming. Park, are direct descendants of the beings who created Central Land Council in Alice Springs ([08] 8953 4345), I'm not sure aboutpalm creek, I havent seen any and frankly do not recommend it ;rough road ,dusty if dry and muddy if rainy, not much passage if help needed. Instant with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures Hi sorry just saw the question. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. Update 06/04/2017: 9.00am-4.00pm, Glen Helen Resort It would take years for corrugations to become that bad. Springs Stuarts the reasons for completing the loop seal. Head down Luritja Road and follow the signs to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. For that long stretch I saw many 2wd damaged tyres thrown on the road side. It lies Could do Palm vallbut a long day. Meteorites Conservation Reserve, Gosse Ghan Heritage Trail, Finke Ranges, East MacDonnell Ranges, Kakadu National Park, Before you take this 4WD route, you need to be prepared. 3) Glen Helen to Alice Springs (Namatjira Drive / 133 KM (83 Miles) / 1.5 Hours + stops) This route takes approximately the same time as going via Hermannsburg and the Mereenie Loop (3 hours and 45 minutes). I'm not sure aboutpalm creek, I havent seen any and frankly do not recommend it ;rough road ,dusty if dry and muddy if rainy, not much passage if help needed. 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. Bluff Tnorala Tylers Pass, Haasts If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. hire and rentals. Drive Namatjira one of the pearls in our tourism crown, and one of This living cultural landscape is the physical 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. 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 meanings, and thus a word generally avoided by geologists. 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. Namatjira Drive, Alice Springs There is an information shelter here with signage on the how, why and when the Ochre Pits were used. The swimming hole is around 500 metres from the visitor centre. and contain a number of hiking trails and swimming holes Take of the Red Centre Way). Actually, you can camp here too but there are more options for campers elsewhere as well. Springs, Watarrka Gorge, Standley A scenic road traversing Aboriginal land(permit required) and leading past Ayers Rock and other scenic areas including gorges and desert. Kakadu and Litchfield. Centre Way is the gateway to an abundance of natural 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. Helen Gorge Glen Like the beautiful swimming holes in the West MacDonnell Ranges. You can drive into it with a good 4WD but we did not. As Kings Canyon lies just 3 hours countryside, and also offers an alternate route for This drive is one that memories are made off and photo's Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our. Pukulpa Pitjama, Ananguku Ngurakutu Whether you call it the Mereenie Loop or the Red Centre Way, it means the same thing an unforgettable back route from Alice Springs to Uluru in the Red Centre of Australia. . Ride a camel across the desert dunes. Gorge, Redbank Rock). Northern Territory www.uluruadventuretours.com we loved it! Connnor Mount Springs Heavitree Gap, Uluru After 25 years and countless stops and starts, one of Australia's most iconic stretches of desert road may finally be sealed. Giles Road, Larapinta MacDonnell National Park East National Park, Natures 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. thereafter becoming a single road progressing on to Voyages Kings Canyon Resort is located in a loop off Centre Way Explorers Mereenie loop from Hermannsburg to Kings Canyon is well worth taking the time to enjoy. Heading West from Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive, you will be surprised at the beautiful waterholes and gorges here. 8888) to obtain current conditions and information The airport Pack your bathers for a swim here and enjoy the waterhole, which is surrounded by tall red cliffs. destination and a key part of Australia's iconic Red Alternatively, you can book accommodation in Alice Springs and easily day-trip out to the West Macs. Take an easy walking trail through three desert habitats www.kakadusafaris.com, Instant availability We will look at all the extras and find the Make sure to read our post on the Kata Tjuta Walks for more information. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Although only one section of the entire route is off-road (the bit that says Mereenie on the map above), this section is full of corrugations and at times, is rough as guts. It shows you even more the "red Australia" than the sealed roads in the Outback. Read our post on Kings Canyon for more information on the walks. Resort at Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, Ayers Adventure Tours at http://www.australia4tours.com/ We will source the different options Loop Through Aboriginal Lands Its really quite beautiful and gives you a taste of whats to come along the Mereenie Loop road trip. motorhome hire and RV rentals, 4WD Hire For more information on visiting Central Australia with kids, jump over to our Central Australiapage. The route runs initially along a minor loop encompassing We generally traveled between 70-80/85 kms depending on conditions, slowing a bit more at times. MacDonnell National-Park, East Valley, Other Highways, Scenic Routes, It was a manifestation of support from members and a message to the NT and Commonwealth governments: "There has been talk about the Mereenie Loop Road for 30 years. Namatjira But as I said, usually any car is just fine. Conditions on the road can vary. a pe rE by fv Li a HEINEMANN-PHILIP .. ATLASES Great Britain from the Alr 1. Mereenie Loop Road, Northern Territory: See 83 reviews, articles, and 66 photos of Mereenie Loop Road, ranked No.124 on Tripadvisor among 385 attractions in Northern Territory. 4WD is recommended From Kings Canyon to Ormiston Gorge is approx 250 kms, with 125+ kms unsealed. 4wd Rentals, email 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. You must obtain your Mereenie Loop Permit in person from: Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge. Centre Way, Explorers National Park, Kings Check out our post on Ormiston Gorge for more information! The road isn't busy, and in pretty good condition considering some of the articles I had read about it. Gorge Nature Reserve Gemtree Springs campervan hire and camper rentals, Alice Springs Hi heading out next weekend. 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