The Mac and Rose Chalmers Conservation Reserve (NT)
Submitted: Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 12:29
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ChrisVal7
I wonder if anyone has in recent times visited or stayed at
Tower Rock, NT. It's full name is the Mac and Rose Chalmers Conservation Reserve, and is located about 70 kms North of the
Plenty Highway.
The Reserve can be seen on this link:
https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/268869/mac-and-rose-chalmers-conservation-reserve-fact-sheet-and-map.pdf
We are planning to travel on the Plenty later this year and due to a past association with the region and the Chalmers we would like to drive in and stay. Obviously weather would be a major factor in accessibility of
the spot.
It would be good to have direct knowledge of the road in. (In the past we always visited from Utopia in the North).
Reply By: Member - JOHN C16 - Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 14:35
Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 14:35
I camped at
Tower Rock in July 2014 and June 2015. It is a wonderful place and a magnificent legacy from the Chalmers family.
The road from the
Plenty Highway to Mount Swan and the reserve is a typical outback dirt road that is graded occasionally. Conditions will vary but were good both times I visited. The road was in similar condition to the
Plenty Highway until the final 7 km to the reserve
gate. This final stretch was narrower and eroded in
places but not difficult. I towed an off road camper trailer.
John
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 17:10
Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 17:10
Thanks
John, helpful advice. We will have an off-road caravan ( 19 foot internal dimensions) so am hoping the track will not narrow too much for the van?
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Follow Up By: Member - JOHN C16 - Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 21:52
Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 21:52
The track narrows to the width of a single vehicle. I recall seeing a small off road caravan in the
camping area. WikiCamps suggests
off road caravans are suitable. However the track goes through mulga
woodlands which tend to retain water and erode. The Bureau of Meteorology website shows that the relatively nearby Jervois recorded rainfall 146mm in Sep 2016 and 159mm in Jan 2017. It is quite possible the track has changed since I was last there. Terryt's advice to contact Gemtree is a good idea.
John
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Reply By: Member - Robert1660 - Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 17:09
Wednesday, May 03, 2017 at 17:09
Hi Chris,
We camped there in July 2016. Great place, excellent
views from the
Tower Rock.
The Rock is a relatively easy climb with a little more drama to get to the trig station at the very top; you need to jump a bit of a chasm. The road in was OK, Our group of 15 were towing Tvans. We all managed to easily get a camping spot. Unfortunately it started to rain overnight. Although never very heavy it was steady and continued throughout the next day as we left to travel north along the Binns Track. This turned out to be a epic 250km mud trip. The road which would have been very good in the dry turned into slush. Thus if it rains best not head that way.
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Follow Up By: terryt - Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 07:49
Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 07:49
For very up to date info
check with Gemtree. 70ks in from stuart hwaý on the plenty. They are related and have an affinity to the place.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 18:44
Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 18:44
I recall there was mention here, a year or two ago, of a mudmap available at Gem Tree for the trip to
Tower Rock.
Bob
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 19:58
Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 19:58
That would be good if we were going from West to East....but maybe not so good from the other direction. We would be calling in to Gemtree after the diversion to
Tower Rock.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, May 05, 2017 at 05:28
Friday, May 05, 2017 at 05:28
OK. Some interesting bird life at Gem Tree.
Shower early! The
grey nomads pinch all the hot water otherwise. :-)
Bob
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Follow Up By: terryt - Friday, May 05, 2017 at 07:32
Friday, May 05, 2017 at 07:32
Gemtree does have a telephone. The hot water doesn't rely on a donkey ànymore. We showered at all hours and hot water was fine.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Saturday, May 06, 2017 at 14:44
Saturday, May 06, 2017 at 14:44
We stayed there in 2011, Terry, and the water was definitely cold around 9pm. Recall it may have had a solar HWS? Otherwise it was a delightful place to stay, and we may have stayed longer if we weren't on a "mission".
Bob
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