Hi, one and all We are in Tassie at present, cool but pleasant. What a place absolutely love the scenery. Lived in New Zealand (Blenheim) for 20 years, so being here is like being back in NZ in some ways. Weather is about the same as well I would think. Loving it.
However some information, thoughts, experience, from the forum.
We are thinking about Having a look at Alice Springs and travelling the Great Central Road via Laverton, on our way back to Perth. This will be with the diesel Xtrail and towing the Avan Cruiseliner. Planning at present for the last week of March or early April.
Any information you can give us would be appreciated. We realise that permits are required for this area. We have done a reasonable ammount of travel in W.A. possibly on simmilar type roads/tracks in the Xtrail and our Hiace.
Has anyone been through there recently.
Are there any authorities that can be contacted re current road condition etc.
Regards Mike and Ellie
Oops 5:30 PM and I see the wine is poured by our neighbours.
Contact the council and tourist office at Alice Springs as soon as you get to town. You may need to modify your equipment or make some plans to traverse that country. You would be wise to hire the Royal Flying Doctor Radio, get an EPIRB and do what you can to keep people informed of where you are and your welfare. I don't know how much traffic that road gets, but the isolation means you may be out there all on your own for a few days. It will probably be a slow trip depending on the condition of the road/track. There may be washouts as that part of the country has had some big storms, and I don't know how that road is maintained, nor how well. National Parks in Alice may be able to fill you in on some details as well. You could try Googling Earth to zoom in on the terrain you're likely to encounter. I don't know if the A Van would be up to trip if the track is corrugated and washed out. If you check out Alice, you may be able to tagalong with other travellers doing the same trip when you're ready to go. You will need extra water and fuel, and maybe some spares like hoses and belts. I don't think there are roadhouses out there every 300kms. Take care, ask questions along the way whenever you meet travellers from the opposite direction. Safe and happy travels. It sounds like a good trip.
-- Edited by Cruising Granny on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 05:55:01 PM
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Hi ,came across on that road bout 3 yr. ago ,patrol/off road camper.at the time it was real good,BUT like all gravel roads they change with the weather, i think u need 2 permits? jus let ya tires down [20psi ] about, saves punctures,I take it easy its really great country,watch out for the BIG camels!! I think i saw 3 or 4 cars on the trip [2 days ] I THINK there was 2 diesel servos, restricted hours... take care..
Alice to Laverton. Up 'til recently it was always known as the Warburton track. Back in the 60's, me and a mob of other young blokes were moving oil rigs all over that country. The road was reasonably well maintained as there were/ are several Aboriginal communities aolng the road. I travelled it again in the 70's 80's 90's and 2000 plus. These days it is a very well maintained, wide road. All the communities are off limits to travellers, unless you have a valid reason to go in there. (You wouldn't want people walking around your home, a!?) Across from the communities there are very well stocked roadhouses and caravan parks. Fuel is also readily available. Unless you intend wandering off into the bloody desert, you will NOT need a RFDS radio, as the road is always busy. However, a 40 channel UHF is essential to contact other travellers. I use the transport channel, 40, plus an EPIRB. It is now almost officially known as the Great Desert Road, and once it is official, you will not need a permit. However, as a matter of courtesy, get a permit from the Aboriginal Legal Service.. There is an office on the Stuart Highway in Alice Springs. Recently there has been a lot of rain around Warburton and Laverton, so check with reliable authorities as to road conditions. Even better, ring the cops at Warburton, etc. "Traditionally", the section of road from the Olgas to the WA, NT Border is rough. (Seems that the mob at Docker River Comm. don't want to pay for a grader !? At this point, let me advise you to understand related tyre pressures for corrugated roads. (No offence intended) Everyone who leaves the sealed road should carry spare belts, hoses, puncture repair kit and just one "jerry can of fuel extra. I towed my ten foot 'van throgh there with tyre pressures at 15 pounds for 100 K's only.The rest of the road is usually very easy to drive. Apart from the 'van parks, there are well marked camping areas along the way. In Alice, you can obtain a really good map listing the entire "new road" from Winton (Qld) to Laverton WA. Historically, you will be travelling on part of the original, "GunbarrelHighway", which was put in by Len Bedell. Take time to stop at "Giles" weather station. Regards. Pipes
-- Edited by pipes on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:24:06 PM
-- Edited by pipes on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:27:50 PM
-- Edited by pipes on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:30:15 PM
Wow Pipes, that is fantastic information given from first hand experience! Local knowledge is the best knowledge. It seems "civilisation" has crept into the desert. It also sounds like a great trip. Safe and happy travels.
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I did the gunbarrel in 2009 and ventured onto the Great Central Road a couple of times, 2 permits are required and available off the net. The only bad bit I seen was on one section there was a section of road washed away , about foot deep and covered half the road. It was at the bottom of a gully and signs warned of water ways, there was no signage to indicate it was there and there had been no rain for sometime so it had been there a while. UHF would be the very least I would carry but I am set up for remote travel. I helped an aborinal family that had 2 puntures (backtracked about 80km for them), he was telling me that they had their second punture at 7 am and I picked them up at 2 pm. I had passed about 25 vans and 20 cars on that section of road and none of them stopped. If in remote areas I believe how ever frightening it may be, it is our duty to help straned motorist in remote areas (there was a young girl about very (extremely) ill with dibetis and all these others drove by. Please find it in your heart to stop, it may save a life Enjoy the journey, I will be doing it late october with an old 16 foot millard. cheers blaze
We did it with the van, 6 years ago, August. Was rather corrugated in some stretches, rest was fine. We came from WA end - Laverton. Had a night at Warburton, so had two long days of travel, to Ayers Rock. Would have been better to have broken the trip into shorter sections. Permit needed for WA section. Another permit needed for NT section. We were able to get the WA one online, easily. At that stage, had to send away for the NT one - we are still waiting to hear back!!!! We went through anyway, on the basis that we had tried to do the right thing. There are roadhouses, with diesel (and Opal, I think), at Warakurna, Warburton,Tjukayurla, so fuel is not really an issue. We encountered a few vehicles on each of the days, predominantly people from the local communities. We did come across three separate lots of local people broken down. Having travelled previously up north, we stopped to check each lot was ok - but made sure our rig was locked, first. Each group asked for drink and cigarettes - they were not interested in receiving any bottles of water, or trail bars or fruit, even where there were little kids with the group. We did offer to pass on messages at the next roadhouse/community. If you will be carrying any alcohol with you, make sure it is securely away out of sight. We travel with an HF radio; strongly suggest that you have one of these or a satphone, in case of mechanical problems. It is a very scenic route, especially away from the Laverton end.
Thanks for all this very informative info from all of you.
Our Avan is the off road model ( well they are just "off bitumen" roadrealy) Heavier chassis etc. We have done a reasonable ammount of unsealed road travel in it, and of course previous other vehicles. So we are aware of the possible dangers and mechanical mishaps that can happen, dont take chances when in remote areas. Being prepared is the name of the game.
Not certain if we will go that way yet ? but we would both like to do it if the conditions are right. I will keep you informed of our progress if we decide to head of thaqt way.
Thanks Mike and Ellie
pipes wrote:
Alice to Laverton. Up 'til recently it was always known as the Warburton track. Back in the 60's, me and a mob of other young blokes were moving oil rigs all over that country. The road was reasonably well maintained as there were/ are several Aboriginal communities aolng the road. I travelled it again in the 70's 80's 90's and 2000 plus. These days it is a very well maintained, wide road. All the communities are off limits to travellers, unless you have a valid reason to go in there. (You wouldn't want people walking around your home, a!?) Across from the communities there are very well stocked roadhouses and caravan parks. Fuel is also readily available. Unless you intend wandering off into the bloody desert, you will NOT need a RFDS radio, as the road is always busy. However, a 40 channel UHF is essential to contact other travellers. I use the transport channel, 40, plus an EPIRB. It is now almost officially known as the Great Desert Road, and once it is official, you will not need a permit. However, as a matter of courtesy, get a permit from the Aboriginal Legal Service.. There is an office on the Stuart Highway in Alice Springs. Recently there has been a lot of rain around Warburton and Laverton, so check with reliable authorities as to road conditions. Even better, ring the cops at Warburton, etc. "Traditionally", the section of road from the Olgas to the WA, NT Border is rough. (Seems that the mob at Docker River Comm. don't want to pay for a grader !? At this point, let me advise you to understand related tyre pressures for corrugated roads. (No offence intended) Everyone who leaves the sealed road should carry spare belts, hoses, puncture repair kit and just one "jerry can of fuel extra. I towed my ten foot 'van throgh there with tyre pressures at 15 pounds for 100 K's only.The rest of the road is usually very easy to drive. Apart from the 'van parks, there are well marked camping areas along the way. In Alice, you can obtain a really good map listing the entire "new road" from Winton (Qld) to Laverton WA. Historically, you will be travelling on part of the original, "GunbarrelHighway", which was put in by Len Bedell. Take time to stop at "Giles" weather station. Regards. Pipes
-- Edited by pipes on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:24:06 PM
-- Edited by pipes on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:27:50 PM
-- Edited by pipes on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:30:15 PM
