He was referring to the 125 kilometre unsealed section between King’s Canyon and Hermannsburg. When overtaking always allow at least one kilometre of clear road ahead and plenty of room before you overtake as they may sway side-to-side. If you are planning to hire a four-wheel drive and have not previously driven one, ensure you are familiar with how to operate the vehicle and know when and where to use the accessories such as tyre changing and engaging four-wheel drive. Think about 2 hours to traverse the 13 km each way. From here, it is 244km to Uluru. See our Mereenie Loop post for more information! Alternatively, you can book accommodation in Alice Springs and easily day trip out to the West Macs. Opening hours: click here. We have the perfect infrastructure to create the next big thing for Central Australia which is the Red Centre Way, once it’s fully sealed. It’s best to wait for it to settle and travel carefully with headlights on. All visitors who plan to drive the Mereenie Loop Road will need to obtain a permit first. An honesty box system is available at Ellery Creek, Ormiston Gorge, Finke 2 Mile and Redbank Gorge. You may see large trucks known as road trains. The road is sealed and less dramatic than the Mereenie Loop, but there are still several points of interest - a dead tree decorated with underwear, as well as the Curtin Springs Roadhouse, which boasts a very charismatic emu, but don't bother asking for a cappuccino. From here, you have the option to back-track along the bitumen or, if you're up for a few corrugations, you can continue along the old Mereenie Loop Road through Aboriginal lands to the western end of the MacDonnell Ranges. Presumably the Commonwealth is … more cautious about building high cost roads in remote regions to no particular place or for no particular purpose. There are many stops along the way to enjoy. The default speed limit in built-up areas is either 50km/hour or 60km/hour unless sign posted otherwise. A permit is required to visit any Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory. Formally known as the Mereenie Loop road, the Red Centre Way is unsealed for the most part requiring a 4WD. The Northern Territory boasts some of the best road conditions in Australia, with most roads sealed with bitumen. var addy_texta303c49dfe4ec6a7d0ccb243f5506371 = 'info' + '@' + 'discoverca' + '.' + 'com' + '.' + 'au';document.getElementById('cloaka303c49dfe4ec6a7d0ccb243f5506371').innerHTML += ''+addy_texta303c49dfe4ec6a7d0ccb243f5506371+'<\/a>'; General Road Conditions. The alternative is the shorter and slower route through the West MacDonnell Ranges to Glen Helen and then . 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 . Asked whether there are negotiations with the Aboriginal owners of the national park for substantial private investment in resorts, including long-time security of land leases, Mr Bedford said this is “definitely” on the agenda: “There needs to be more capacity out there.”, Mr Rochford says: “Everything has to be done in co-operation with Aboriginal people. @ Frank Baarda: Ah yes, and with official ribbon-cutting ceremonies for each stage, too! You can travel via the Mereenie Loop Road, the Ernest Giles Road (both dirt and approximately 300kms from Alice Springs), or the Luritja Road via Lasseter Highway (sealed and 450kms from Alice Springs). It’s basically a ”back route” from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon with a lot more fun features than if you were to take the highway route. Includes: -TWO complete, detailed driving itineraries - Alice Springs to Uluru via the West MacDonnell Ranges & Kings Canyon - Uluru to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon & the West MacDonnell Ranges - Detailed sightseeing, accommodation, trip ... We want it in the CBD area to reinvigorate it.”. The wildlife would not be as visible as it currently is. You will definitely want to let some pressure out of your tyres for this road! Mereenie is a locality in the Northern Territory of Australia. The permit system helps to protect and preserve the privacy and culture of Aboriginal communities, look after the natural environment and keep visitors safe. This is the heart of the Australian Outback. Animals - such as kangaroos, dingos, horses, eagles, sheep and cows - are most active at sunrise, sunset or at night. We drove the Mereenie Loop Road from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon Resort and then on to Uluru on 2-4th November 2018 . Yes. Be careful to also not overload the roof rack. We have made it easy to stay updated with the latest information online, via free call or through Facebook Road condition information is . Driving through Australia's vast Northern Territory is a fascinating and rewarding experience. Option 2: 4WD ONLY head west of Alice Springs and onto the unsealed Mereenie Loop (you will need a permit). 1) Yulara to Kings Canyon Resort (Lasseter Highway to Luritja Road / 300 KM (186 Miles) / 3.5 Hours) The Mereenie Loop. Found insideAfter the first 30km of sealed road, the Sandover is a dirt track for the remaining 520km with only one fuel supply en route ... via a rough 4WD route and linked to the yawning chasm of Kings Canyon via a dirt track, the Mereenie Loop. The Luritja Road will take you to Kings Canyon and Kings Creek Station. East MacDonnell Ranges & The Plenty Region. For grey nomads happy to spend an hour or two cruising unsealed roads, the Northern Territory's magnificent Mereenie Loop Road is surely a must-drive adventure. @ Alex Nelson. We want promises!) Fuel starts to get a little more expensive in this area, so make sure you fill up before leaving Yulara. The Mereenie Loop section is a 155 km dirt track. Car hire is available in Alice Springs. The Ostojic Group has delivered over 60km of sealed road construction on the Mereenie Loop road west of Alice Springs. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Personalised travel advice and inspiration from local experts, Free booking service – online, over the phone and in-person, Visitor Information Centres in It's usually in pretty good condition with some corrugations. 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. Found inside – Page 193A combination of smooth sealed roads and dirt tracks. A 4WD is required if attempting the Mereenie Loop (see p199). All roads are subject to flooding and closure during the wet season (Oct–Apr). Check conditions on 1800246 199 or ... The objective is to entice tourists, after visiting The Rock, to stay in the western Alice region for five to seven days. 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. Perhaps we should have stood in line with single letter placards spelling: “THE TANAMI”. This Road is unsealed, and you are certainly not allowed to use it with a conventional hired car. Alice Springs to Watarrka National Park via Erldunda Roadhouse: 473km or 5-hour drive. From here, there's a smorgasbord of gorges to choose from as you head east towards Alice Springs. In some cases, multiple permits are required when travelling one road that passes through more than one council region. Found this beauty i, My most favourite @hipcampau campsite yet! I tried to manage YMC for over four decades. Please see the Kings Canyon page. Due to the closure of Glen Helen Lodge, there is only camping available in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Mereenie Loop. The permit costs $5.00 and is valid for 3 days from the date of purchase. On our trip, we encountered wild dingos, kangaroos, camels and even brumbies (wild horses). Found inside – Page 201The road is not recommended for 8956 7442 ) , which has up - market hotel rooms with private facilities from $ 240 for a To travel on this route you need a permit double . Four - bed rooms with shared facilicalled the Mereenie Tour Pass ... We reserve the right at sole discretion to restrict movement in certain areas due to adverse road or weather conditions. You should always drive at a speed that suits the road, the vehicle and the weather conditions. To travel Alice Springs to Kings Canyon via West Macdonnells and Mereenie Loop is 356 kilometres with the time estimate of 5.5 hours, and includes 153 kilometres of unsealed road (Mereenie Loop). Travelling from Alice Springs you have 3 options. It represents businesses including in Standley Chasm, Hermannsburg (where a $3m upgrade is under way) and Glen Helen. This is your only option if your driving around in a 2 wheel drive vehicle. The first local politician I know of to call for the sealing of the Tanami Road (and also the Plenty Highway) was Tony Greatorex, the Member for Stuart, in 1966. So, drive back to Alice Springs the day before to spend the night and make sure you get up early. It is about 250 km west of Alice Springs and northeast of Uluru. West of Namatjira drive turn off, the road conditions are suitable to four-wheel drive vehicles as it is a dirt track and it is advisable to check road conditions before travel. BEDFORD: If we can get them to come through the Mereenie Loop – two nights at Uluru, down into King’s Canyon, which is just as spectacular in my opinion, then into Hermannsburg and Palm Valley. Both are line-ball with their earnings from tourism yet Alice Springs has a population of 25,000 while the resort has around 350, is owned by an interstate company that repatriates its profits. As the “primary tour operator” in the West Macs he is well-placed to have an overview of these issues. You can get to the West Macs from either Alice Springs on a sealed road or you can drive the Mereenie Loop Road that takes you from Kings Canyon out to the West Macs. Always check and understand the road conditions prior to your journey. He was soon joined by Danial Rochford as the CEO, a newcomer to the region, from Queensland, here on a three year contract. Over half of the land in the Northern Territory is owned by Aboriginal people and a permit system regulates entry. It was admitted that tourism was (at the time) a minor consideration as far as the Tanami Road was concerned, but in all other aspects the Tanami Road offered the greatest potential. var addya303c49dfe4ec6a7d0ccb243f5506371 = 'info' + '@'; Kings Canyon is in the Watarraka National Park and the road in and out of the area is the Luritja Road, a very good sealed road. There has been research about a hotel at Hermannsburg. Travelling from Alice Springs you have 3 options. Such is . We need action,” said Mr Bedford. Found insideThe route initially follows the sealed Larapinta and Namatjira Drives skirting the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges to Glen Helen Gorge. Beyond Glen Helen the route meets the Mereenie Loop Rd, which requires a permit ($5) and is usually ... It's an entire outback adventure (including about 200kms of dirt road) all in one go. Permanent water at Eringa waterhole where there is a good campsite. NT Road Report provides the most up to date information on all Government controlled roads. Found insideMereenie Loop Road Starting in Alice Springs this well-used track is an alternative route to the big attractions of the Red Centre. The route initially follows the sealed Larapinta and Namatjira Drives skirting the magnificent ... Writing mainly for the family travel market, she is the founder of Family Holiday Destinations, a website dedicated to providing inspiration for family travel. BEDFORD: Once there is an announcement of the Loop being sealed, indicating the volume of people coming through there, we will need to work out what infrastructure is needed. He is a member of the West MacDonnell Ranges and Hermannsburg Tourism Action Committee. The actually Mereenie Loop is only around 140km and forms part of the amazing Red Centre Way road trip when you take the ”4WD version” of the trip. The unsealed Mereenie Loop Road lets you drive directly from Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park) to the West MacDonnell Ranges - or the other way round - without backtracking..