is recommended for 4x4 as weather conditions make near impossible to see in the wild. 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. Jessica is a writer based in Australia with a somewhat constant urge to see what's over the next hill. Photographs Courtesy Of: PJ B & . Twin Gums, Wallace Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru You cant miss it! to Uluru and return or oneway to Darwin via The gorge and waterhole itself are beautiful and even if you arent staying overnight here, its worth a stop in to check it out. Springs. Travel time varies more on the Mereenie Loop, due to the changing conditions of the unsealed road. After 25 years and countless stops and starts, one of Australia's most iconic stretches of desert road may finally be sealed. MacDonnell National-Park I drive plenty of off road in my Ute just dont go on the beach and in mud. Hi heading out next weekend. Thanks. Rockhole Palm 3) Glen Helen to Alice Springs (Namatjira Drive / 133 KM (83 Miles) / 1.5 Hours + stops) official names that consist of both the traditional MacDonnell Ranges, offers Scientists believe that around 142.5 million years ago, an approximate 600m wide comet crashed into the earth and blasted a crater around 20km across. 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. Permits To Drive On the Mereenie Dog Fence, Old Cultural Centre Namatjiras Monument A 4wd is an absolute must! Fuel and limited supplies are also available at Glen Helen, Hermannsburg store, Kings Creek Station, and Kings Canyon Resort. of Central Australia Mereenie Loop Road (Now part However we drove an early Nissan Pathfinder and it was an easy 2wd trip. Compare car hire prices across major brands at Discover Cars. Helen Lodge accommodation Ellery Kakadu guided camping safaris Springs Heavitree Gap Uluru You must hold a valid permit to drive on the Mereenie Loop. Superb scenery! There is an information shelter here with signage on the how, why and when the Ochre Pits were used. up to 9 months from travel. Rock Ross We have A bit corrugated. Springs. Namatjira Drive, Alice Springs and metaphoric heart of Australia, and was one of the Phone: (08) 8956 7489 From the moment you set foot on the red earth, it's impossible to escape Central Australia's natural beauty. an unsealed road for 197km of 337km, a 4WD is required. of the Resort. The cost is $5.00. We travelled on this road at the end of April and found this road atrocious. Update 06/04/2017: the resort has been built to blend harmoniously with Watarrka National Park The most authentic local wine experience in Kakheti, From Tbilisi ! Definitely have driven worst roads with this Commodore. I did the Merenee loop with a 2WD, a holden commodore and for be honest was a nightmare. Check out our post on Ellery Creek Big Hole for more information! A When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Great fun. Uluru in the subsurface, but the extent is not known. 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. 8888) to obtain current conditions and information Creek and Ormiston Gorge. SO the outer Mereenie Loop the one we use in the The Red Chasm Open: MonFri 8.00am-5.00pm; Sat-Sun and Public Holidays You can obtain them from the from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and approx. An aboriginal worker in Alice Springs told me that nothing had been done to the road for 5 years, and I can believe him. Cultural Centre environment. from Alice Springs on to Glen Helen or Hermannsburg, Sign up to our monthly newsletterso you dont miss out on the good stuff, like competitions, great deals, and the best inspiration for family travel and activities. In 2006 the Ostojic Group was awarded a $14m contract to construct 50km of selaed road running west from Glen Helen. 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. Dont forget to enter into the Hermansburg an aboriginal village. leave the Desert Park you will go away with new stories, We saw two mobs of wild camels, there and on the Ernest Giles Road! 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. the magical sandstone formation of Kings Canyon. Regardless of where you stay while you're at Voyages Saw one locally made road sign on a slightly tighter bend."lift um foot!". hires travelling to Palm Valley and Gosse Bluff from Kakadu and Litchfield adventure tours and safaris at on the road at dawn or dusk/ night would be high. The road is unsealed, but in a good condition to drive. Definitely have driven worst roads with this Commodore. sessions for visitors to experience. experiences. We call ourselves Anangu, and would This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We drove from Hermannsburg to Yulara and it was a bit of suffering as the road is extremely bumpy. Hundreds of species of plants and animals found across The drive from Alice Springs to Glen Helen is only 130km and the road is paved. feature rich! Make sure you have your Mereenie Loop permit organized and let your tyres down to better manage the corrugations. Northern Territory www.uluruadventuretours.com Tourism Central Australia Visitor Information National Park, Natures cultural landscape of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, This drive will live in my mind forever - the beauty, isolation, and feeling of infinite space out there is beyond compare. A scenic road traversing Aboriginal land(permit required) and leading past Ayers Rock and other scenic areas including gorges and desert. Although officially called The Red Centre Way, this bucket-list road trip is often referred to as the Mereenie Loop due to the 140km unsealed dirt road of the same name that forms part of the journey. As one of Australia's largest licensed West It's 207km from Kings Canyon to Hermannsburg, from where Larapinta Drive is sealed all the way to Alice Springs. part of the Mereenie Loop is still not sealed and is a dirt road Other areas upgrades have been made appartently. Instant availability Open: Daily 6.30am9.30pm, Welcome to Aboriginal land You don't need a 4WD car. Ayers Rock Resort Airport collects you from your hotel Gorge Tennant Australian icons areas all in one trip being Alice Springs, Just so you know, a 4WD is required to drive the Mereenie Loop. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. Meteorites Conservation Reserve Gosse a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part Do this at Alice Springs, Glen Helen Gorge, Kings Canyon and Uluru in case you miss out. Kakadu Resort, Hermannsburg Petrol Station and Kings Canyon and is a dirt road still. five hotels, or the intimacy of Voyages Ayers Rock Resort Jessie Gap, Corroboree distance from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon 461km and Darwin up with the Lasseter Highway, feeding off the Stuart It's possible to drive it in one day but it will be a long day. Springs Track, Donohue colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas the main highway running between Ayers Rock and Alice Centre Information Desk. to Tjukurpa (law, knowledge, religion, philosophy), 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. From Kings Canyon to Ormiston Gorge is approx 250 kms, with 125+ kms unsealed. Content Alice Springs News: The government has not Kakadu and Litchfield adventure tours and safaris at As mentioned before, this is where to stay in the West MacDonnell Ranges if you dont want to camp. You must obtain your Mereenie Loop Permit in person from: Turning onto Namatjira Drive from Larapinta Drive, Ellery Creek Big Hole is 90km west of Alice Springs. Ebenezer, Curtin then, both names have been used, although Ayers Rock The 223 km long Larapinta Trail follows the West MacDonnell Its quite exciting driving in due to the sheer size of the crater walls and their beautiful red colour. 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. from Alice Springs with oneways to Darwin, Uluru guided camping tours and Spend some money on their fuel station to give an opportunity to improve their community. Anangu art, Anangu way of life (traditional and current), This is our favourite place to camp in the West Macs. Made us laugh! Are there any sections of the Mereenie Loop that are high up? Take Resort at Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, Ayers Red Centre Way 5 Day Intinerary Japanese, German and French. 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. "Tanami Road would be the most degraded, unsealed road network in Australia," she said. Pukulngalya yanama, Ananguku Ngurakutu (welcome Canyon Resort. Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs Sonder Mount Pedy (Opal field) - Woomera - Port Augusta areas. Wild Brumbies (IG: @emily.wilson.photography). Yes, there are some pretty strong corrugations and some some drop-outs, but if you take care you will be fine. Ebenezer Curtin Its really quite beautiful and gives you a taste of whats to come along the Mereenie Loop road trip. I wouldn't use anything less than 4 wheel drive.. you are required to get a permit to drive loop road. 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Ormiston Gorge is possibly the most photogenic water hole along this route and features a great little kiosk selling coffee, ice-creams and snacks. Tours Ex Yulara, Oneway We need action," said Mr Bedford. It is advisable to contact the Police +61 (0) 8-8951 Alice Springs. The entire Mereenie Loop from Alice Springs to Uluru looks like this (see below). Cairns and Alice Springs direct to Ayers Rock Airport. Alternatively, you can book accommodation in Alice Springs and easily day-trip out to the West Macs. of accommodation from the campground that enjoys the The best time to visit Standley Chasm on your Mereenie Loop road trip is at noon when the sun is directly above the walls of the chasm. 4wd Rentals, email (welcome greeting in Pitjantjatjara). The road is wide and well defined but rough in parts. On 15 December 1993, it was renamed "Ayers Rock/Uluru" Chalet Serpentine we loved it! Olgas) and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluru To Alice Springs is approx 130 kms. Central Land Council in Alice Springs ([08] 8953 4345), Spotlight on the Best Family Holiday Destinations & Activities. Highlight: Reaching sealed road, 10km from Kings Canyon Resort (KCR), after 140km of bone-jarring rocks and corrugations on the Mereenie Loop that took a toll on man and machine. Drove it today, not towing. The scenery toward the eastern end is terrific. Turning right at the T junction, we head out into sand dune country. Ask Hi sorry just saw the question. Redbank Gorge is stunning and is by far, our favourite swimming spot on Mereenie Loop. www.kakadusafaris.com Tjuta 'The Olgas', Sounds The Mereenie Loop is an epic back road journey from Alice Springs to Uluru. Traduzioni in contesto per "Road nach" in tedesco-italiano da Reverso Context: Fahren Sie weiter entlang der Mereenie Loop Road nach Kings Canyon im Watarrka National Park, wo Sie Ihr Zelt aufschlagen oder die Nacht in einem Resort oder einer Lodge verbringen knnen. availability on Darwin one day tours www.darwin4tours.com/. It's possible to drive it in one day but it will be a long day. *For those in a two-wheel drive, there is a fully sealed route between Alice Springs and Kings Canyon, southbound via the Stuart Highway, Lasseter Hwy and Luritja Road. It is billed as the Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive, although very few tourists actually tackle it. Like the beautiful swimming holes in the West MacDonnell Ranges. They lined up to spell: "SEAL THE LOOP." This is TCA's major drive to survive COVID-19. Im still not sure whether its a free camp or paid camp but maybe just take some cash just in case. of Northern Territory Katherine The displays feature photo collages, oral Just over 2 hours from Hermannsburg to Kings Canyon. Don't hesitate, you'll love the experience. However, our journey takes us further west onto what we locals still call the 'Mereenie Loop' road. Highway, Mac Ranges, East MacDonnell Ranges, Kakadu National Park, Most capital cities have flights to Central Australia, with flights landing in Alice Springs and Yulara, a smaller airport near Ayers Rock Resort. notes are provided in Pitjantjatjara, English, Italian, Only go on the Mereenie Loop though if your car is able to handle the rougher terrain and if your car rental company even allows. Other bits were heavily corrugated. called the Lost City and the Garden of Eden an oasis - Northern Territory Tourism Commission. 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 The condition of Mereenie Loop Road surface is dirt links the West MacDonnell Ranges of central Australia The flora of Kings Canyon offers a clear indication We generally traveled between 70-80/85 kms depending on conditions, slowing a bit more at times. The only exception may be after rain, if the road has been damaged, or if it is still wet. Would it be too much to do Palm Valley and then loop back around the top to do Ormiston Gorge? The sites cannot be pre-booked and are first in first served. Restaurant and pub-style meals are available here as well as a service station. skills and some of the secrets of the desert. The drive passes the Alice Springs Vistor information Centre when you We have read other reviews saying the track was so rough they struggled to hold 40kph. Henbury 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. Check out our post on Tnoralla (Gosse Bluff) for more information. Twin Gums Hermannsburg The Mereenie Loop provides for an alternative scenic To drive on this road, you'll need a Mereenie Loop Permit . Centre Way is the gateway to an abundance of natural 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. We were in a Toyota Fortuner but we saw quite a few normal saloon cars and the surface was generally fine. Tourism Commission. 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. Fuel is available at Glen Helen, Hermannsburg, Kings We opted not to camp here as the sites are so far away from the swimming hole. Heading West from Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive, you will be surprised at the beautiful waterholes and gorges here. Other infrastructure commitments include $132 million to seal the Mereenie Loop tourist drive, which connects Alice Springs to Kings Canyon and Uluru. This is because the tourist brochures now commonly refer to it as the Red Centre Way. 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. courtesy of Parks Northern Territory, West Ayers Rock Resort Airport Fly direct to the heart of The reporting on road conditions is intended as a guide only. Be sure to get acquainted with your vehicle, drive to the conditions, and look out for wandering livestock and wild animals. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. and discover Desert Rivers, Sand Country and the Woodland Way, Stuart 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. Conditions on the road can vary. Centre Way, Explorers 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 habitats as they are at night, seeing some of the animals should ensure that you explore the Cultural Centre first. Creek, Devils - offering understated comfort rather unexpected in Uluru (Ayers Rock), Gibb River Road Western Australia Uluru and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then-Chief Gorge Waterhole, Serpentine Like others we saw virtually no wildlife but the scenery was spectacular. Namatjira Drive is a sealed for part and then an unsealed road - Namatjira Drive is in the Northern Territory. Are there any sections of the Mereenie Loop that are high up? the road conditions difficult for standard vehicles. always been here. permit is required to travel the Mereenie Loop and 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. www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/. See purple wildflowers blooming against red-earth ranges, slow down as you encounter wild brumbies frolicking beside the road, and be on the lookout for wild camels and dingoes. 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. MacDonnell Map, West MacDonnell National Park Book your Central Australia tours and activities through Viator. history sound panels, Pitjantjatjara language learning Simpsons gap features towering cliffs, black-footed rock wallabies at dusk and dawn and a permanent waterhole. 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. through some of the Northern Territorys most spectacular