4WD Driving the Kings Canyon Loop from Alice Springs
The Red Centre is a natural wonderland unlike anywhere else on Earth. With ancient and sacred natural landmarks like Uluru and the Olgas, fresh water gorges and red desert, this is the real Australian 4WD Hire experience – A MUST FOR EVERYONE!
Kings Canyon Loop Fee (Kimberleys Fee) is $200. Includes access to unsealed roads surrounding Alice Springs. National Park Fees not included.
The MacDonnell Ranges
4WD Ayers Rock Adventure
Pick up your 4WD in the morning and hit the road. It’s up to you from here – you can cruise straight on down to Ayers Rock (about 460km) or you can make for the West Macdonnell National Park. Let’s pretend you’re gonna start there…
Follow all signs outta town towards Glen Helen Gorge. Make sure you got your swimmers cos’ there’s some kickass creeks and waterholes you can swim in! The water’s cold though, so be prepared to watch your balls shrink to the size of tic tacs. Ok so you’re on Namitijira Drive / Red Centre Way. Check out Standley Chasm – it’s a big impressive rock thingy that’s got a big cut through the middle. From here stop off in Ellery Creek and go for a swim – there’s no crocodiles but there may be perverted rock wallabies watching you.
Only a hop away from this is Serpentine Gorge – it may have water to swim in or it may be dry. Don’t try and swim if it’s dry. The Ochre Pits are pretty cool – for thousnds of years local indigenous people have used this site for it’s supply of ochre. Kind of like a corner shop for Ochre.
Ormiston Gorge is very rad. There’s a crystal clear water hole and numerous caves to explore. There’s a nice little camping area here, so if you’re tired, set up camp and take it easy man. Or you can go another 10 minutes drive and camp out at Glen Helen Gorge – there’s a little shop here and campground. Best thing is – they sell beer!!!
The Mereeny Loop
4WD Ayers Rock Adventure
Cruise up towards Mt Zeil and the turnoff to the Mereeny Loop (this is for 4WD / AWD customers only!). Cruise down towards Kings Canyon and marvel at the bizarre sub-tropical rainforest growing at the base of the Canyon!
The best thing about hiring a 4WD or AWD vehicle from Alice Springs, is you can see all of the surrounding desert beauty – including Finke Gorge National Park & Palm Valley. Finke Gorge National Park covers an area of 46,000 hectares, and includes the awesome Palm Valley. Home to a diverse range of rare plant species, including the Red Cabbage Palm, Palm Valley is holds cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people as well as displaying evidence of early European settlement of central Australia.
The Park is 138km (about 2 hours drive) west of Alice Springs. Turn south off Larapinta Drive just west of Hermannsburg. Access along the last 16km of road, which follows the sandy bed of the Finke River, is limited to high clearance 4WD vehicle only. Heavy rains may cause this section of the road to be impassable.
Onwards to Ayers Rock & Kata Tjuta National Park
4WD Ayers Rock Adventure
Once you’ve checked out Kings Canyon and the surrounding awesomeness in your Wicked 4WD vehicle, cruise on down to the Lasseter Hwy / Red Centre Way and onwards towards Curtain Springs. There’s some freakin’ randy emus wandering the petrol station here so watch yo ass! It’s a nice place for lunch and overlooks Mt Conner – that bastard mountain that everyone mistakes for Uluru. After lunch keep going another 102km to Kata Tjuta National Park. Watch out for dumb ass camels walking this stretch of highway. Once here, pay the nice ladies your $25 entry fee to the park and get on in – you’re here!
Reserve a spot in the campgrounds at Ayers Rock Resort, then get on out to view the amazing sunset at Uluru! Cook up some dinner and watch the stars – you’ll probably never see as many stars anywhere else. Make out for a little while, then go to sleep.
Ayers Rock and the Olgas
4WD Ayers Rock Adventure
Get up before dawn and get down to the viewing area at Uluru. Watch the sunrise – it’s truly amazing watching the colours of the Rock change through the day.
If the wind is light, you’ll be able to climb Ayers Rock. So get your shoes on baby! It is a sacred area, so respect the locals and the land! After your climb (if you wanna do it!), head on out to the Olgas – a rock formation easily as impressive and big as Ayers Rock, but without the rockstar reputation. Hike around the area – it really is massive!
As it nears lunch you’ll wanna start making a move back to Alice Springs to drop your vehicle off. If you’re having heaps of fun and wanna extend your stay – no worries – just call our sexy sales team on 1800 24 68 69.
For more information about hiring a campervan or 4WD from Alice Springs or Ayers Rock – be sure to call our Sales team on 1800 24 68 69!
