Mereenie Loop
Mereenie Loop (Red Centre Way)
A red dirt track linking Kings Canyon with the West MacDonnell Ranges, part of the Red Centre Way that requires a permit.
The Mereenie Loop is the most remote stretch of the Red Centre Way. From Kings Canyon it runs north for about 200 km, passing the Mereenie oil and gas fields to Hermannsburg before linking to the West MacDonnell Ranges, which avoids doubling back to Alice Springs. Most of the road is unsealed red dirt and corrugated track, and it passes through Aboriginal land.
You must buy a Mereenie Tour Pass in advance. It is inexpensive and can be obtained at Kings Canyon Resort, Glen Helen or through the Central Land Council website. Camping or leaving the main road along the way is not allowed. A 4WD is recommended, as many rental companies prohibit standard 2WD vehicles; check your rental contract and road conditions before departure. There are no petrol stations along the entire route, so fill up your tank and carry plenty of drinking water.
Opening hours
All day (may close after rain)
Nearby sights
- Garden of Eden
- Cotterill's Lookout
- Lost City (Kings Canyon)
- Kings Creek Walk
- Kings Canyon Sunset Viewing Area
- Giles Track
- Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park)
- Reedy Rockhole