Permits etc

G'day everyone,
We're planning a trip next July (2018) with 2 well prepared 4WD's and off road camper trailers and I'm looking for some information on permits, Fuel options and camper trailer accessibility.
The trip we are planning ex Adelaide will be to Warburton via the Great Central Rd then the Gunbarrel to Wiluna. We then will travel via the blacktop to Newman and traverse the Talawana Tk to Kunawartji then the Gary Junction Rd back to the Tanami Rd and home via Alice Springs on the black top again.
We are allowing 4 weeks to do this trip and any information or insights would be appreciated.
Cheers Scott
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 18:56

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 18:56
The Gunbarrel is a goat track with a lot of erosion. The Great Central and Gunbarrel are one permit available online at no cost. The only other permit I think you need is Kunawartji to The Tanimi but not sure whats involved in that one

AnswerID: 611992

Follow Up By: Member - Scott & Sally - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 19:01

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 19:01
Thanks for that Ivan. We are expecting some heavy work out there and are both set up for it.
0
FollowupID: 882053

Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 19:07

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 19:07
Tanimi. Good dirt road
Great Central. Good dirt road.
Kunawaartji. Seemed a good road but we only went as far as The Gary Highway
1
FollowupID: 882055

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:08

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:08
All those roads are easy to get permits. Gunbarrell is badly corrugated from Warburton to Wiluna but the other roads are usually maintained and in good nick
The Gunbarrell corrugations can test your camper trailers - they can rattle to pieces but I find driving slower with low pressures in the tyres helps a lot.
AnswerID: 611993

Follow Up By: Member - Scott & Sally - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 22:04

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 22:04
Good advice Phil thanks. Have you done the Gary Junction Rd ?
0
FollowupID: 882063

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 22:16

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 22:16
Yes, a couple of times.Gary Junction Rd is the best way from Alice Springs to the Kimberley - well maintained gravel most of the way. Plenty of fuel at the communities - We usually fill at Papunya, Kintore (check the times you can get it). and Punmu (need to find the shop up the back of the community).Well 33 is more expensive than these.
1
FollowupID: 882064

Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 23:15

Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 23:15
I have blogs here on the Gary Junction Road and the Great Central Road Scott, but have not been on the Gunbarrel or Talawana tracks. Follow links in the blogs for distances, fuel and permits.
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 611999

Follow Up By: Member - Scott & Sally - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 at 12:28

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 at 12:28
Thanks for the info and links. Helpful
1
FollowupID: 882068

Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 at 10:56

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 at 10:56
.
The Talawana Track is reasonable at the east and west sections but deteriorates in the centre section. It has corrugations, rocky outcrops and soft sand sections. Passable but not comfortable, at least not in my Troopy.

I assume you are going via Windy Corner and up the Gary Hwy, not up the CSR to Kunawartji.
A permit is not required for the Talawana, but one short section of the track actually doubles as the Canning Stock Route where a permit is prescribed. Did not seem reasonable to obtain a full CSR permit for just a few kilometres so I proceeded on the basis that I was on the Talawana not the CSR. Hoped that I would be able to satisfy an authority requesting me to show a CSR permit though.

Great Central and Gary Junction Rds are 'unsealed highways'. No problems at all.
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 612003

Reply By: Member BarryG - Thursday, Jun 22, 2017 at 14:13

Thursday, Jun 22, 2017 at 14:13
The Gary Highway is very overgrown. We drove from the bottom to the top last month. At times, it was difficult to even see the track between the huge spinifex along each side and down the middle. Also, lots of acacia "scratchidoorus". When we passed Windy Corner, what we could see of the Tallawana Track looked worse.

Diesel at Kunawarritji was $3.40, so be prepared for a large bill there.

We then drove the Gary Junction Hwy from Kunawarritji to Kintore - great road! Stop at Jupiter Well - excellent water from the well and great camp area.

Barry
AnswerID: 612032

Follow Up By: Member - Scott & Sally - Thursday, Jun 22, 2017 at 15:12

Thursday, Jun 22, 2017 at 15:12
Thanks for the pointers Barry. Jupiter well is on our list of places to camp. How long did it take you from Windy Cnr to Gary jct ?
0
FollowupID: 882103

Reply By: Member BarryG - Thursday, Jun 22, 2017 at 18:07

Thursday, Jun 22, 2017 at 18:07
Scott & Sally,

From my logs, it looks like 3 hours for 56km from Windy Corner to Wormy Whau Whau Well, then another 4 hours for 119km the next day to Kunawarritji. Pretty slow going, eh?

Hope this is what you were after.

Barry
AnswerID: 612034

Follow Up By: Member - Scott & Sally - Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 22:21

Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 22:21
Thanks for the info Barry . Good thing we wont be in a hurry.
0
FollowupID: 882132

Sponsored Links