Mereenie Loop permit and hire cars
The Mereenie Loop is an unsealed road of about 332 km between Alice Springs and Kings Canyon that crosses Aboriginal land, so you need a permit and it is recommended for four-wheel drives only. Cars should be 4WD, or all-wheel drives that are permitted off road. The thing people get wrong is thinking the permit settles it: the permit covers the land, not your rental agreement.
Updated
Key facts
- Road surface
- Unsealed, often corrugated, about 332 km between Alice Springs and Kings Canyon; the unsealed stretch has no facilities or fuel stops
- Vehicle
- Cars should be four-wheel drive, or off-road permitted all-wheel drives; caravans and camper trailers must be off-road permitted
- Permit cost and validity
- Roughly $5 per vehicle, valid for three days from the time of purchase
- Free option
- The Central Land Council gives the pass free from its reception at 27 Stuart Highway, Alice Springs; other sellers charge a small fee
- Where to buy
- Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre, Standley Chasm shop, Hermannsburg General Store, Kings Canyon Resort, Kings Creek Station and the Central Land Council office
- Not sold online
- The Mereenie pass is not available online and combines a transit permit with a visitor booklet and map
- Rules on the road
- No camping (stopping for breaks is allowed) and no drinking alcohol; sealed alcohol may be carried
- Sealed alternative
- A fully sealed route to Kings Canyon via the Stuart Highway, Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road takes approximately 5 hours without stops
Can you drive the Mereenie Loop in a hire car?
Only if the rental company allows it. The drive is recommended for four-wheel drive vehicles only, and cars should be four-wheel drive or off-road permitted all-wheel drives. If you are hiring, check that the vehicle is permitted on the Mereenie Loop before you book. The Northern Territory's Red Centre Way guide also calls the loop unsealed and recommended for 4WD only.
A standard 2WD hire car is the wrong car for it. Rental agreements differ, so read yours. For example, Hertz's Australian terms list driving on unsealed roads as a prohibited use, and separately name roads that must not be driven without a 4WD. The Mereenie Loop is not on that named list, but the general unsealed rule still applies, so it does not clear the loop for a sedan. If you want to do it, ask the company in writing whether that exact car may use the Mereenie Loop, and keep the answer.
Where do you buy a Mereenie Loop permit, and how much is it?
The permit is roughly $5 per vehicle, valid for three days from the time of purchase, and bought in person. Sales points are the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre, Standley Chasm shop, Hermannsburg General Store, Kings Canyon Resort reception, Kings Creek Station reception and the Central Land Council office in Alice Springs.
The Central Land Council says the pass is free from its own reception at 27 Stuart Highway, Alice Springs, and that other providers charge a small fee. The pass is not sold online, so buy it before you leave the town or resort at either end. It combines a transit permit with a visitor booklet and map, and you must carry your permit at all times when on Aboriginal land.
Is the Mereenie Loop road sealed, and what is it like to drive?
No. It is unsealed and often corrugated, and the stretch has no facilities or fuel stops. Fill up at Alice Springs or Kings Canyon first, and carry enough water and food. Check your vehicle, including the spare tyre, before you go off road.
Dust and wet weather on unsealed roads can hide ruts, potholes and oncoming vehicles, so reduce speed. Carry 4 to 6 litres of water per person per day in remote areas, and stay with the vehicle if you break down.
Is the Mereenie Loop open today?
Check Road Report NT (roadreport.nt.gov.au, or freecall 1800 246 199) before and during your trip, as conditions on the unsealed road change. It covers roads on Aboriginal land. Wet season flooding from November to April can close roads, and heavy fines apply for driving a closed one.
What is the sealed way from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon?
The sealed route via the Stuart Highway, Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road takes approximately five hours without stops, and the Red Centre Way itinerary sends 2WD cars back through Alice Springs and along the sealed road through Watarrka National Park. That is the route to plan for a standard hire car.
The Alice Springs to Uluru drive uses the sealed Lasseter Highway and does not touch the Mereenie Loop.
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Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for the Mereenie Loop?
Yes. The road crosses Aboriginal land. The pass costs roughly $5 per vehicle and is valid for three days, although the Central Land Council gives it free from its Alice Springs reception.
Where do I buy a Mereenie Loop permit?
In person at the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre, Standley Chasm shop, Hermannsburg General Store, Kings Canyon Resort, Kings Creek Station or the Central Land Council office. It is not sold online.
Can I drive the Mereenie Loop in a 2WD?
It is not recommended. Cars should be four-wheel drive or off-road permitted all-wheel drives. A hire car also needs the rental company's permission.
Is the Mereenie Loop sealed?
No. It is unsealed and often corrugated over about 332 km, and the unsealed stretch has no facilities or fuel stops. The sealed alternative to Kings Canyon takes about five hours.
Can you take a rental car on the Mereenie Loop?
Only if the rental agreement allows it. Some agreements bar unsealed roads, so get written confirmation from the company for that car before you go.
How do I check Mereenie Loop road conditions?
Use Road Report NT at roadreport.nt.gov.au or freecall 1800 246 199. Check before and during your trip.