Kings Canyon to Alice Springs: Mereenie Loop, Giles Road or Lasseter Highway?

Kings Canyon to Alice Springs via the Ernest Giles Road

The third option for driving from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs is to go along the Ernest Giles Road. This branches off the Luritja Road, about 94km south-east of Kings Canyon, and joins the Stuart Highway just south of the Finke River. Shortly before the end of the road, you’ll pass the Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve.

The Ernest Giles Road is unsealed, but generally kept in a better condition than the Mereenie Loop Road. It’s a 100km drive, and most of the time a conventional vehicle can just about manage it. A 4WD vehicle is still recommended, however, and anyone in a rental car should check they are insured to drive the Ernest Giles Road.

Road trip essentials that many travellers forget

Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.

Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.

There are some corrugations and the odd pothole. But again, much depends on the weather and how recently the Ernest Giles Road has been graded. Ask locals at Kings Canyon and check NT Road Report before departing.

Via the Ernest Giles Road, the Kings Canyon to Alice Springs drive is 328km long, with a driving time of around three hours and 40 minutes.