Red Centre Way: the full drive guide

The stops, in driving order

1. 01

   Alice Springs

   0 km in · Start

   Critical supply point — The only full-service town on this loop. Tyres, servicing, supermarket, medical.

   Full services, and the place to sort a Mereenie Loop permit if you're taking the unsealed route — available free from the Central Land Council office, or for a small fee from Tourism Central Australia and other outlets.

   Tip: Also collect your Mereenie permit here if you haven't already — it's sold along the route too (Glen Helen, Hermannsburg, Kings Canyon), but sorting it in Alice removes one thing to plan around later.

2. 02

   Simpsons Gap & Standley Chasm

   50 km in · 45m

   The closest West MacDonnell highlights to Alice Springs — two short, easy gorge walks. Standley Chasm's walls light up around midday, the one time of day it's worth timing a visit for.

   Tip: Both are 2WD accessible and make a good half-day if you're easing into the trip rather than driving straight through.

3. 03

   Ormiston Gorge & Glen Helen

   135 km in · 1h

   The deeper, better West MacDonnell gorges — Ellery Creek Big Hole and Serpentine Gorge en route, then Ormiston Gorge itself. This is also the jumping-off point for the Mereenie Loop.

   Tip: The Ormiston Pound Walk (7.5 km, 3–4 hours) is one of the best half-day walks in central Australia and most Uluru-focused visitors skip it entirely.

4. 04

   Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop

   332 km in · ~3h, partly unsealed

   Critical supply point — No fuel on the unsealed section itself — fill at Glen Helen or Alice Springs before you start it, and at Kings Canyon Resort at the other end.

   The unsealed link that makes this a loop rather than a there-and-back. The Mereenie Loop Road itself is around 160 km, of which roughly 126 km is unsealed and can be heavily corrugated. Camping isn't permitted anywhere along it.

   Tip: Ask locally about current Mereenie conditions before you commit — corrugations vary and conditions change fast after rain. 4WD is recommended, and most standard hire-car agreements exclude unsealed roads outright — check yours.

5. 05

   Uluru

   632 km in · 3h 30m via the sealed Lasseter Highway

   Critical supply point — Yulara has fuel but it's the most expensive on the loop. Curtin Springs, back on the Lasseter Highway, is usually cheaper.

   The base walk — 10.6 km, about 3.5 hours, flat — is the way to actually see Uluru rather than the drive-by view most people settle for.

   Tip: Start the base walk at sunrise in the warmer months. Rangers close the longer walks from 11am when the forecast exceeds 36°C.

6. 06

   Kata Tjuta

   682 km in · 45m

   The Valley of the Winds walk — 7.4 km full circuit — through the domes, with the same heat-closure rule as Uluru.

   Tip: The sunrise viewing platform, done first, is worth the early start on its own even if you don't have time for the full circuit walk.

7. 07

   Return to Alice Springs via Erldunda

   1127 km in · 5h

   The sealed Lasseter and Stuart Highways close the loop back to Alice Springs — the same road used by anyone driving in from Adelaide or Darwin.

   Tip: This is a genuine full driving day. Leave Yulara early rather than trying to fit in one more Uluru sunrise and still make Alice Springs by evening.

Drive planning: legs, fuel and conditions

Three paces, same road: highway pace, a towing or 4WD rig, and what the day actually takes once fatigue and photo stops are in it.

What can go wrong

• The Mereenie Loop needs a permit — it crosses Aboriginal land under the Central Land Council. It's free from the CLC office in Alice Springs or a small fee elsewhere; sort it before you rely on being able to buy one on the day.
• Most standard rental car agreements exclude unsealed roads, including the Mereenie Loop. Check your hire agreement before committing to this route — insurance may not cover you if something goes wrong on an excluded road.
• The Mereenie Loop Road's unsealed ~126 km can be heavily corrugated. 4WD is recommended, and conditions can deteriorate quickly after rain.
• Camping is not permitted anywhere along the Mereenie Loop. Plan your overnight stops at Glen Helen or Kings Canyon, not on the unsealed section itself.
• Do not drive the Stuart or Lasseter Highways at dawn, dusk or after dark. Kangaroos and feral camels are a real hazard, and triple road trains need well over a kilometre to stop.
• Carry more water than feels necessary. Desert heat and genuine distance between services both apply on every leg of this loop, sealed or not.

Conditions change seasonally and after storms. Check current conditions with the road authority before relying on any of this.

Common questions