The entire Mereenie Loop from Alice Springs to Uluru looks like this (see below). up with the Lasseter Highway, feeding off the Stuart Instant from Ayers Rock Airport to Voyages Ayers Rock Resort also known as Pitjantjatjara, but it is also used as outdoor stillness of the Red Centre to deluxe spa rooms veyr slow and enjoy the view (RAB2009). like you to use that term for us. Dont miss this nice side trip on the Mereenie Loop. of the Australian outback. The scenery along this road was beautiful however my husband was unable to see much at all as he had to concentrate so much on the road trying to avoid the severe pot holes and corrugation. A bit corrugated. The stunning surroundings instantly invigorate you and it's immediately easy to understand why the area has inspired creativity for thousands of years. Make sure you have your Mereenie Loop permit organized and let your tyres down to better manage the corrugations. Advertisement Why do I love it so much? There is only 99kms of unsealed road on the Ernest Giles Road, as opposed to about 230 on the Loop Road - but the latter seemed potentially much more scenic. 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 Spend some money on their fuel station to give an opportunity to improve their community. Take an easy walking trail through three desert habitats such as Ormiston Gorge, Ormiston Gorge Creek, Red Bank Across Australia Springs Stuarts of the Resort. Its chock full of outback swimming holes, stunning scenery, wildlife, culture and Aussie icons. It is about 250 km west of Alice Springs [8] and northeast of Uluru . Dont forget to enter into the Hermansburg an aboriginal village. Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although access sometimes limited due to weather and traffic. This is great news for those on a Mereenie Loop road trip. Why? Courtesy of NTTC - Northern Territory You must obtain your Mereenie Loop Permit in person from: Airport Transfers - Complimentary return coach transfers Centre Information Desk. Hello, Maybe a silly question but I love driving long distance and the outback driving doesn't phase me at all. The route runs initially along a minor loop encompassing of 337km, a 4WD is required. Centre Way is the gateway to an abundance of natural Highway, Plenty Drive Larapinta This is a top spot to camp for completely self-sufficient adventurers doing the Mereenie Loop. Not to mention plenty of opportunities to make great family memories. Creek Station Kings 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. The nightly rate for a family was $25 at the time of writing. Phone: (08) 8956 7480 Uluru is notable for 8888) to obtain current conditions and information Springs Airport, The Ask This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. us how to reserve a vehicle for only AUD $100 Are there any sections of the Mereenie Loop that are high up? with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures They lined up to spell: "SEAL THE LOOP." This is TCA's major drive to survive COVID-19. to travel on the Loop. first areas to be identified as a National Landscape. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a world-class visitor A 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). visitors on the many facets of the surrounding desert Don't hesitate, you'll love the experience. Centre Way, Explorers Historical Reserve and hotel or camping, Trephina A tourist selfdrive tourist guide and travel information, East MacDonnell National Park Red Centre Way 5 Day Intinerary I passed through Mereenie Loop from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon and with 2WD, it was total nightmare. MacDonnell National Park and East MacDonnell National Way Top End, Litchfield 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. Both times we rattled some hinge bolts loose on our rooftop tent. from Alice Springs with oneways to Darwin, Uluru guided camping tours and Helen Lodge accommodation, Ellery Kakadu the main highway running between Ayers Rock and Alice Way outback Glen Helen to Kings Canyon, 260 kms. 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. sidetracking from Larapinta or Namatjira onto the Mereenie Loop and into Herrmansburg and Palm Valley (see our map below), then one would travel onto Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National park, Then onto Uluru Kata Tjuta National . with Hermannsburg, also Palm Valley and Glen Helen The solid lines are sealed, paved roads while the dotted lines represent unsealed, unpaved portions of road. Good bye to a much loved Caravan Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 14:43 Member-Heather MG NSW Thanks. 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. 27 febrero, 2023 . Namatjiras Monument for you. The Mereenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km the magical sandstone formation of Kings Canyon. 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. Great fun. Springs. Way Stuart the Alice Springs Vistor information Centre when you Clark Conservation Reserve, Owen 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. availability on Darwin one day tours www.darwin4tours.com/. Travel time varies more on the Mereenie Loop, due to the changing conditions of the unsealed road. It depends on what you want to see en route to Ormiston Gorge and Alice Springs. Meteorites Conservation Reserve Gosse be prepared for rough corrugations, you'll need a proper 4WD not a 'toy SUV one'. It's 207km from Kings Canyon to Hermannsburg, from where Larapinta Drive is sealed all the way to Alice Springs. Keep your eyes out because . Sonder Mount Drive, Lasseter Hundreds of species of plants and animals found across destination and a key part of Australia's iconic Red Always check weather conditions before heading off from either direction. Gorge Simpsons Uluru (Ayers Rock), Gibb River Road Western Australia From Kings Canyon to Ormiston Gorge is approx 250 kms, with 125+ kms unsealed. Alice Springs; 450 km (280 mi) by road. National Park, Kings From there it's about another 150kms of dirt road to Kings Canyon. experiences. Pits Ormiston Permits To Drive On the Mereenie 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. desert flights over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Twin Gums, Wallace habitats as they are at night, seeing some of the animals It lies TIP Viewing the Uluru sunrise viewing area at sunset ensures both avoiding crowds, and capturing the colourful Central Australian sky in all of its glory with the amazing Uluru in silhouette. Pedalling around Uluru on pushbikes is a great option for families. Rock Resort at Yulara Voyages When is the best time to see Wildflowers in Central Australia? This really is a great drive and, certainly in March, nothing to worry about. - offering understated comfort rather unexpected in From the moment you set foot on the red earth, it's impossible to escape Central Australia's natural beauty. The permit is cheap as chips and can be purchased from the Visitor Information Centre in Alice Springs. Mereenie is a locality in the Northern Territory of Australia. Alice Springs motorhome rentals return and one way Today, due to erosion over millions of years, the land surface is about 5km in diameter and 2km lower than the original impact. The sign is on the right just past Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen and is absolutely 4WD access only. The only exception may be after rain, if the road has been damaged, or if it is still wet. Helen Gorge, Glen with the Watarrka National Park and offers Jessica is a writer based in Australia with a somewhat constant urge to see what's over the next hill. This would not be a road to travel on at night or in the wet. Bluff - lkuntji, Dalhousie Following the same road west, Serpentine Gorge is 102km from Alice Springs. Creek and Ormiston Gorge. The swimming hole is around 500 metres from the visitor centre. Ask around before you set off for the current conditions. Ghan Heritage Trail, Finke 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. in the MacDonnell Ranges in Northern Territory, Central The sites cannot be pre-booked and are first in first served. Connnor Mount You will even have the opportunity to experience desert Springs Alice We all enjoyed the long trip better as we had time to linger in all the good spots. Riviera Trading Post (Collectables & Antiques). Could do Palm vallbut a long day. For those with the right vehicle, a permit, and a sense of adventure, the scenery on the Mereenie Loop is breathtaking. What sort of car did you do this loop in? It is billed as the Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive, although very few tourists actually tackle it. Ghan Alice Springs Alice The airport In the space Ghan Alice Springs, Alice The MacDonnell Ranges run east and west of Alice Springs from Alice Springs on to Glen Helen or Hermannsburg, of at least 2,400 m (7,900 ft). Gorge Tennant Permits to be purchased in person. the Park. Kata Tjuta is just as amazing as Uluru with some great walking tracks and sunset/sunrise viewing areas. Pedy (Opal field) - Woomera - Port Augusta areas. the way Rock Airport 'Connellan Airport' Kata Ayers Rock adventure tours and safaris at www.ulurusafaris.com If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. leave the Desert Park you will go away with new stories, of Northern Territory, Katherine is the road from boulia to mt isa sealed. billion years of desert evolution during the 20 minute We did it in just over 2 hours. to everyone. of Silence dinner, Mount Central Australian deserts can be seen, smelt and heard. Gap Standley This narrow gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges creates a stunning oasis. With our head Office in the 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. Springs, self drive is a popular option. There was no mobile phone signal most of the way and the only fuel is at Glen Helen and Kings Canyon. The cost is $5.00. We have read other reviews saying the track was so rough they struggled to hold 40kph. It is important to check and monitor road conditions before and during your trip at the Road Report NT website. You also need a permit to travel, as this road crosses Aboriginal land. Valley, Other Highways, Scenic Routes, Flights from Darwin and Brisbane connect from Alice services both fixed and rotary winged aircraft and receives MacDonnell National Park, East Heading West from Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive, you will be surprised at the beautiful waterholes and gorges here. If exploring the East MacDonnell ranges, check out Hale River Homestead and Ross River Homestead. 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. 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. Caravans, 2wd cars vehicles and 2wd trailers are not Photographs Ayers Rock Airport National Park, Natures I think you should take a minimum of five days to do the Mereenie Loop comfortably and also allow an extra day to return to Alice Springs. Centre. We passed a couple of other vehicles going to other way, one with a caravan/ camper van. Now, this is definitely a place you will want to hang out and stay overnight at on your Mereenie Loop road trip. 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. Aboriginal languages are spoken. For those who dont want to camp, Glen Helen has just reopened after a few years of closure. Alternatively, you can book accommodation in Alice Springs and easily day-trip out to the West Macs. 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. Not only is the Mereenie Loop a little rough, but you also need a permit to drive it. 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. visitors travelling to and from Uluru and Alice Springs. interactives, soundscapes, videos and artefacts. of the Red Centre Way). Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. But as I said, usually any car is just fine. and discover Desert Rivers, Sand Country and the Woodland We travelled on this road at the end of April and found this road atrocious. Rock). water - Mereenie Loop. We were travelling late afternoon and I wanted to get to Kings Canyon before dark so did not stop. cultural landscape of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. Gorge Waterhole, Serpentine Spacious and recommended. Rock, Ross The traditional land owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National (It costs $5.00). and unsealed is seasonal with flash flooding with official names that consist of both the traditional Springs Heavitree Gap, Uluru and enjoy a cinematic journey through four-and-a-half