Red Centre Way — Alice Springs to Uluru via the MereenieLoop.
Distance
750 km
Duration
3 days
Climb
2,000 m
Red Centre Way — Alice Springs to Uluru via the Mereenie Loop.
The definitive loop of Australia's Red Centre. From Alice Springs it threads the gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges, then takes the unsealed Mereenie Loop across desert-oak country to Kings Canyon before finishing at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Corrugated dirt, huge distances between fuel, and some of the most iconic landscapes on Earth. A Mereenie transit permit is required, and it is best ridden April–September to avoid extreme summer heat.
Quick facts
SurfaceMixed
Distance750 km
Days3
Total climb2,000 m
DifficultyChallenging
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3 days, 3 moods.
A suggested split across 3 days with 9 waypoints to discover along the way.
Alice SpringsStart · Start in Alice Springs, the outback hub. Top up fuel, water and tyres — the Mereenie Loop ahead is remote and partly unsealed. Buy a Mereenie transit permit in town before leaving.
Standley Chasm (Angkerle)Scenic Point · Narrow quartzite gorge on Arrernte land that glows fiery red when the midday sun strikes the walls. Short walk from the car park.
Ellery Creek Big HoleScenic Point · Permanent waterhole in a gap of the West MacDonnell Ranges, icy even in summer. A classic swim and camp spot on Namatjira Drive.
Glen Helen GorgeOvernight · Overnight at Glen Helen on the Finke River, one of the oldest rivers on Earth. Last reliable fuel before the unsealed Mereenie Loop.
Kings Canyon (Watarrka)Scenic Point · Reached via the unsealed Mereenie Loop — red dirt, corrugations and desert-oak country. The canyon's 100m sandstone walls are the highlight of the Red Centre.
Kings Canyon ResortOvernight · Overnight at Kings Canyon Resort. Ride the Rim Walk trailhead at dawn before the heat — a 6km loop around the canyon edge.
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)Scenic Point · 36 domed monoliths, several taller than Uluru. The Valley of the Winds road is best at sunrise for the light and the coolest air.
UluruPhoto Spot · The monolith at the heart of the continent. Ride the 10km base loop road; the climb is closed out of respect for the Anangu traditional owners.
YularaEnd · End at Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) — the only fuel and accommodation near Uluru. Stay for sunset over the rock.
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