Kings Canyon to Alice

Going that way in May this year......can let you know.......I'm leaving Perth going via great central ( have my permits already) to Ayres Rock then on to Kings canyon then Alice then on up to Kathrine etc....regards Phil

Try Boggy Hole of the Ernest Giles Rd (I think) but this is a 2 day trip if you want to stay at Boggy Hole. You've got to go see Palm Valley so you may as well go up the Finke (boggy Hole).

Hi bockstar1. Mereenie is scenic but will take 8 hours to do the325km with a lunch stop, getting bogged in a sand drift, involvement in some one elses accident and a flat tyre on the van. The 500km of tar will take less than 6 hours and you won't have to visit Bob Janes in the Alice. Or try the 99km dirt section of the Ernest Giles Rd across to the Henbury Craters to give a 332km trip. The 11km section from the Stuart Hwy was OK when we did it and the craters are worth a look. See pix in Places section. Cheers, Warrie

Bockstar1,

We travelled from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop in August last year. We were lucky as the grader had not long been over the road and it was in very good condition. We left Alice mid morning, stopped at Hermannsberg for about an hour, had a lunch stop and one more stop at a look out not far from Kings Canyon. We arrived at the campground there about 4.30.

Probably the best bet for you is to ask questions at Kings Canyon Resort campground from people who had come that way...and make your decision then.

You need to get a permit to use Mereenie Loop and you can do this from Kings Canyon Resort.

When we were there the resort had nightly entertainment that was very kid friendly...got them up, joining in and having a ball.

All the best

Viv

For the interest of others lookng at this post, you can get the Mereenie Loop permits at the Alice Springs Tourist Info Centre if you are going A/S to Kings Canyon, rather than South to North. My vague recollection was that you have to get them the day before you travel (or the same day), as they are only valid for a day or so. That is, you cannot purchase them 3 or 4 days (or longer) in advance.
Someone with local knowlege may be able to clarify that.

I did the the loop late last year and in comparison to the barely maintained desert tracks i had just been driving for the previous 3 months i was amazed at how badly corrugated it was. I was in an 80 series and gald i wasnt towing. The canyon was worth the trip though. I would recommend staying down at Kings Creek Station just down the road to enjoy the sectioned off little campsites and to avoid the circus that is any Voyages resort.

There are signs saying no caravans on the road - there for a reason.

I agree with advice to check conditions at the time.

When we went through, I'd just come off the Great Central Road and the Mereenie Loop was worse, tho not as long obviously. We came across a borrowed camper trailer that had flipped over after a spring hanger broke due to going down a big hole. Tow car was a Paj I think, fortunately heavy enough to not roll it over too. Driver was stunned for hours. It was a hot and dusty place to be stuck with kids and wondering how you're going to tell your mate his camper is in pieces 300ks west of Alice.

Also agree with staying at the station for a more low key stay rather than the neat organisation of a normal caravan park.

Tim

We did the loop late last June just after the rains. Track was corrugated the worst being around Hermensberg. Drive to the conditions and you should be ok. Other option is to take the Giles Rd which is between the Canyon and Lasseter HWY. Never done that road but have heard that the river crossing can be deep after rains.

Would anyone recommend a flight over this area

ric