Road conditions from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon to Uluru to Kings Canyon

[swdke]

I am interested in doing a self drive between Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, then on to Uluru, and back to Alice Springs. Are these good roads to travel on, are they sealed/paved?

 

I read on the Voyages website:

"Please note: the Mareenie Loop Road is an unsealed road for 197km of 337km, a 4WD is required. Alternatively travel via the Stuart Highway"

 

I tried finding this "Mareenie Loop Road," and have not yet located it. So I am wondering, I plan to rent a intermediate size car, no 4x4, can I get by with this rental. I don't need a 4x4 do I?

 

Can anyone help with driving information, road conditions, drive times, etc.? Any information is appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[vozzie]

You have 2 options:

 

1. The sealed road... Alice-Uluru-Kings Canyon; or
   
2. The unsealed road ... Alice - Kings Canyon

The sealed is a very good road... the unsealed needs a 4WD

 

Here is some info:

 

 

http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/Northern_Territory_Outback_icons_take_centre_stage.htm

[MMDown Under]

As it is a long return drive from Alice Springs to Ayres Rock, suggest you fly into one and out of the other.

 

Note with our hire car, we weren't covered by insurance if we drove after dusk (that is when you are more likely to hit animals).

[susierailroad]

Our recent experience last month was that we flew into Ayers Rock, viewed the rock, rode a camel the next morning; then we took the ATA bus to Alice Springs, where we stayed at Lassiters Casino for two nights.

 

Had we wanted to go to Kings Canyon, we would have, indeed, rented a car. We rented cars in many places and my husband had no problems with driving on the left.

 

The road (Stuart Hwy, etc.) between Ayers Rock and Alice Springs were quite decent, although narrow. It is, however, a very long drive. The suggestion to fly into Ayers Rock and out of Alice Springs is a good one. As info, one night in Ayers is probably sufficient. They have camel rides in and around Alice Springs as well.

 

Be certain to check with your credit card company to see if they will pick up the excess deductible so you will not have to accept additional charges for the deductible from the car hire company. It is quite true you should not drive after dark due to many "roos" on the roads.

[MMDown Under]

Not just roos, a friend wrote her car off after hitting a cow en route from Ayres Rock to Alice Springs.

 

Just take it easy, and you'll love every minute of the one way drive.

 

If you are looking for a real taste of outback Australia, I recommend you stay 2 nights at the basic Curtin Springs working cattle station, 105 klm east of Ayres Rock.

 

That way you can spend 2 full days at expensive Ayres Rock, but only pay for 1 night, arriving at Curtin Springs before dusk.

 

Next day go on a full day tour with their stockman, who will show you things in the outback you'd never see in the bush yourself. A magical day.

 

If you don't have time, pop in for a meal and/or beer and meet the locals.

 

www.curtinsprings.com

[agabbymama]

We stayed in Alice Springs and took a bus tour to Ayers Rock, then we went out and stayed at Ross River Homestead (now called Ross River Resort). The highway between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock was totally paved, but we did see lots or Roos or Wallabys and dingos on the ride back after dark. The bus driver was really diligent not to hit any.

 

http://www.rossriverresort.com.au/about.htm

 

It is awesome scenery, but being from the U.S. I was too chicken to rent a car and try to drive it ourselves.

[MMDown Under]

Driving in the bush on the wrong side of the road is fine. It is driving in the city on one-way streets, which are the problem. Nasty shock when you turn the corner to discover the on-coming traffic on "your" side of the road. :)