Mereenie Loop travel times

Submitted: Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 20:17
ThreadID: 55642 Views:1976 Replies:11 FollowUps:10
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G'Day All,

Can't find this in the TREK notes or the archive.

How long is a reasonable time to plan to travel between Palm Valley and Kings Canyon Resort via the Mereenie Loop?

Have seen anywhere from 325km to 445km and 4 hours to 7 hours.

Any help appreciated

Regards

Rolande
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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 20:31

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 20:31
As I recall, we dawdled out of the Palm Valley over about 45 minutes to the Hermannsburg supermarket - topped up on the essentials and then spent about 4 hours max cruising around
to Kings. We like to have a look at anything that pops up on the way - we find it easy to have a stop or two on such treks but of course the locals don't permit campers there - the road can vary of course between smooth as, down the rough as hell - depends. BTW - if you haven't been to Kings, making time for the rim walk (3 hours maybe) is worth every minute on a lovely morning IMO - the Valley walk is only a taste. Have a good'n.
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Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 20:35

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 20:35
2nd that, for the travel time (roughly), and the rim walk at Kings.
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Reply By: Tim Owen - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:11

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:11
We left Kings in the morning, drove the loop (watch out for camels) went to the Hermansberg Supermarket, out to Palm Valley, pegged a camp site, drove out to Valley itself, did the walk through the valley and back over the ridge, and back to camp site with plenty of time for a coldy and watch the sunset. I don't remember it being a rush. No idea about the actual times of course - I was on holidays!
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Reply By: Tim Owen - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:11

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:11
We left Kings in the morning, drove the loop (watch out for camels) went to the Hermansberg Supermarket, out to Palm Valley, pegged a camp site, drove out to Valley itself, did the walk through the valley and back over the ridge, and back to camp site with plenty of time for a coldy and watch the sunset. I don't remember it being a rush. No idea about the actual times of course - I was on holidays!
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Follow Up By: Tim Owen - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:13

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:13
sorry bout that
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Reply By: Tim Owen - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:12

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:12
We left Kings in the morning, drove the loop (watch out for camels) went to the Hermansberg Supermarket, out to Palm Valley, pegged a camp site, drove out to Valley itself, did the walk through the valley and back over the ridge, and back to camp site with plenty of time for a coldy and watch the sunset. I don't remember it being a rush. No idea about the actual times of course - I was on holidays!
AnswerID: 293218

Follow Up By: Tim Owen - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:13

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:13
and that
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Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:25

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:25
The road is as rough as guts at the moment. (Loop road)
AnswerID: 293222

Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 00:39

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 00:39
Its on the list for being bitumenised.....when? is the question...lol

Last time we went that way me mate Noel said ...This is where the German Tourists come unstuck. A little way on and there was a hired Landcruiser with multiple dents all over and a missing windscreen as it had gone for a roll in a creek crossing. Ya can't take those crossings at 120kmh.....lol. We got out and then found that the occupants were OK(slightly white around the gills though) and that they were French...so much for statistics...lol

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Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 18:32

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 18:32
Gday Willem,
"Its on the list for being bitumenised.....when?" Never ...I hope!
I reckon its just a big waist of money...there is nothing wrong with the road...Its just the peanuts who drive on it..

LOL

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 20:26

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 20:26
Willem.. Since the French drive on the other side of the road, the passenger probably forgot he had the steering wheel!!! Michael
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Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 22:28

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 22:28
Hairy

Have a gander at this. I couldn't get the link to work so copy and paste it must be

MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT
22 October 2007
Red Centre Way Moving Ahead

The Northern Territory Government is continuing to ‘Move Alice Ahead’ with the Red Centre Way project well under way.

Chief Minister Clare Martin and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Delia Lawrie, today inspected the $68 million dollar project.
“By April next year tourists will be able to drive on the inner loop along Namatjira Road and back to Hermannsburg on a sealed road for 85 percent of the 325 kilometre journey,” she said.
“The inner loop of the Red Centre Way is a spectacular drive weaving through the West MacDonnell Ranges past Ellery, Ormiston and Redbank Gorges.
“This project will help build the tourism industry in central Australia and is consistent with the Government’s vision for the region – ‘Moving Alice Ahead’.”
Ms Lawrie said although negotiations with stakeholders had been complicated the project was now well under way.
“237 kilometres of road has now been sealed on the Red Centre Way,” said Ms Lawrie.
“Government is committed to the completion of the project with an additional 38 kilometres of road to be sealed on Namatjira Drive by April – leaving just 50 kms to be finished.”
Ms Martin said the Government would be urgently seeking to regain permission from the
Central Land Council to access gravel needed to seal 43 kilometres along the Larapinta Drive section of the inner loop west of Hermannsburg.
“This access is crucial in finishing this 43 kilometre section of the loop.
“We are also continuing to work with the Central Land Council to ensure the project linking through to Kings Canyon is completed as quickly as possible.”
Ms Martin said she was pleased a lot of the work had been done by local companies, providing real jobs for central Australia.
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Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 23:07

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 23:07
Willem,
AHhhh...Yes, lets not forget good old Clare!
Who would have thought one woman could do so much damage!!!
And why would CLC want to let some one bitumise their road?
Might make the permit thing a bit obvious for the tourists?

LOL
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Reply By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:53

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 21:53
Gosse Bluff [tnorala con res] is a good look but no camping.Its a huge meteor creator the size of the MCG in Melb.Turn off is 43k from Hermannsburg then 12k up road to Glen Helen
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Reply By: Benno4 - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 22:16

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 22:16
We did that trip last July and it was rough rough rough, it took us close to six hours. Don't know what road conditions are like now, we also came across lots of Camels on the way!! Fun though!!
AnswerID: 293239

Reply By: Member - Phillip S (WA) - Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 23:21

Monday, Mar 17, 2008 at 23:21
Road very rough....you have to get a day pass ON THE DAY YOU TRAVEL IT...forgot the cost
AnswerID: 293251

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 20:22

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 20:22
$2 in1999.. probably the same now. Michael
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Reply By: HGMonaro - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 20:58

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 20:58
the pass was $2.20 last year

we went from Kings Canyon resort to Glen Helen (with side trip into Gosse Bluff) in 4.2hrs for the 234km travelled. Didn't see any camels, just a couple of wild horses!

The 20 or so kms from Kings Canyon Resort to the lookout was the rough bit. The rest was fine after that!

Nige.
AnswerID: 293447

Reply By:- Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 21:01

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 21:01
G'Day All,

Thanks for the replies.

I think we will plan on 6 hours, just in case.

Regards

Rolande
AnswerID: 293449

Reply By: PCCM - Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008 at 21:38

Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008 at 21:38
I get the impression you wouldn't want to be towing a pop-top along here - would that be right?
AnswerID: 296036

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008 at 22:31

Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008 at 22:31
ATM that would be the situation for a on-road popper.

But that road is sometimes great and sometimes attrocious...

You can always go the long way around... or enjoy the bulldust of the Ernest Giles Road - that is probably no good for the interior of the popper.
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