Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Valley from Alice Springs. The turn-off to Palm Valley starts about 1km west of the Her-
mannsburg turn-off on Larapinta Dr.
If you are well-prepared there's a challenging route through the national park along the
sandy bed of the Finke River. This is a remote and scenic drive to the Ernest Giles Rd,
from where you can continue west to Kings Canyon (and Uluru) or east back to the Stu-
art Hwy. It pays to travel in a convoy (getting bogged is part of the adventure) and get a
copy of the
Finke River 4WD Route
notes (
www.nretas.nt.gov.au
).
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Mereenie Loop Road
From Hermannsburg you can continue west to the turn-off to Areyonga (no visitors) and
then take the Mereenie Loop Rd to Kings Canyon. This is an alternative route from Alice
to Kings Canyon. The NT Government is planning to seal the road but locals say they'll
believe it when they see it. There are deep sandy patches and countless corrugations (call
1800 246 199 for latest road conditions) and it's best travelled in a high-clearance
4WD. Be aware that 2WD hire vehicles will not be covered by insurance on this road.
To travel along this route, which passes through Aboriginal land, you need a Mereenie
Tour Pass ($3.50), which is valid for one day and includes a booklet with details about
the local Aboriginal culture and a route map. The pass is issued on the spot (usually only
on the day of travel) at the visitor information centre in Alice Springs, Glen Helen Re-
sort, Kings Canyon Resort and Hermannsburg service station.
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Kings Canyon & Watarrka National Park
The main attraction along this route is one of the most spectacular sights in central Aus-
tralia − the yawning chasm of
Kings Canyon
in Watarrka National Park. The other ways
to get here include the unsealed Ernest Giles Rd which heads west off the Stuart High-
way 140km south of Alice Springs, and the sealed Luritja Rd which detours off the Las-
seter Hwy on the way to Uluru. The latter is the longest route but easily the most popular
and comfortable.
Whichever way you get here you will want to spend some time shaking off the road
miles and taking in the scenery. Walkers are rewarded with awesome views on the
Kings
Canyon Rim Walk
(6km loop, four hours), which many travellers rate as a highlight of
their trip to the Centre. After a short but steep climb (the only 'difficult' part of the trail),
