The Mereenie Loop is an unsealed section of the Red Centre that connects Kings Canyon and the West MacDonnell National Park. It is the shortest route between this two places but it is also an adventure drive by itself.
What is the road like?
At the time of writing (2025) it is unsealed road, which is recommended for 4WD only. It took us about 5 hours to travel 155km due to corrugation, but we stopped a few times. Technically it is possible to use 2WD there if you travel slowly.
The scenery at the Mereenie Loop is quite interesting and unique. We were lucky to see wild brumbies, as well as camels.
You can see some wildflowers there too.
It is a great outback experience for anyone with a sense of adventure and the right vehicle. We enjoyed the remoteness and quietness of this route.
It is not a free drive
Mereenie Loop Road passes through the Aboriginal land, so the permit to travel is required. We obtained ours for $6.50 at Kings Canyon Resort while paying for the fuel there. There are no facilities at all and no camping is allowed along this route.
Ginty’s Lookout – the only camping place on Mereenie Loop
Located roughly 40km north of Kings Canyon is Ginty’s Lookout. It is a beautiful place to stop when starting your journey on the Mereenie Loop in the Red Centre, NT. From the lookout you can see the canyon and the diverse landscape. This is 24-hour rest stop with fire pits but no other facilities. This is the only place where you can camp while travelling on the Mereenie Loop. It would be a great place to watch the sun go down but our time at Ginty’s Lookout was short so we just admired the views for a while before hitting the road.
