Karlamilyi ( Rudall River) National Park WA

In July last year we drove to Karlamilyi via GJH, Wapet Rd, Telfer Rd and Telfer to Desert Queen Baths and left the park driving south on Rudall River Rd to Talawanna track, then west to Newman.

It was all a doddle except for the park itself. Tracks in the park were rough, as you'd expect, but the worst was the main route south from Telfer mine to Talawanna Track via Rudall River Rd. It was heavily used last year as a bypass by CSR travellers avoiding the then closed (due flooding) section of the CSR north of Well 24. Corrugations and traffic were horrendous. They may have put a grader through it by now, but if not it won't be any better.

I guess if you've done the Canning you'll be ok and know what to expect.

We went into Rudall in June ‘18 from Telfer Road, via Telfer Mine, after travelling up the Connie Sue, Gary Highway & other desert tracks to Kunawiritji. Roads were as described by Frank, very corrugated in places. We probably missed the further destruction by travelling when we did?

Our exit from the Park was west from Watrara Pool, to Hanging Rock, then across top end of Balfour Downs to Skull Springs Road & then to Nullagine, before heading south to Newman.

Bob

G'day Robert

Not too sure if anything I say about the region or even Rudall River N/P will be valid as far as information goes, projected as far forward as June, as much can change in three months.

But as it has been aptly stated in a previous reply the track system inside the boundaries of the park are rough, very corrugated, sandy, rocky and deeply eroded in many places, especially the Desert Queen Baths track.

I came in from Newman ~ my home town, the Jigalong road was being touched up by a grader, on the Ethel Creek station proper, not sure if the grader will work it's way to the Jigalong boundary though.

The Balfour Downs portion of the track was quite washed out in places and all water courses that cut the Balfour track were vehicle wheel track width only, so there are deep erosion channels either side of the wheel width on the track.

The Talawana track right through to the Kintyre/Telfer access track was surprisingly good, and by good I mean 'bloody nice to drive' though sandy in the western end of the sand ridge country, the Talawana track is clay topped.

The South Bore/Pump water point is just a 'place' as the pump has been vandalized, so there is no way of bringing water to the surface.

The north bore/pump produced plenty of water, the first six or eight pumps gave plenty of foul smelling water and a few frogs, there after it just plain stank, but it's water!

The track right through to the north bore/hand pump ~ or the Telfer end entry is very rough, sandy, rocky and quite wet in places, the Rudall River watercourse is very loose but navigable in low range, the entire length of this track North to South is unmaintained and deeply corrugated.

I spent three days ~ two nights out there exactly one month ago, solo vehicle, two occupants, no major issues apart from a couple of staked tyres,and a few loose driving lights/etc.

Average day time temperature 45 degree C. nights got down to a chilly 33 degrees C ~ massive thunder storms but we had no rainfall at all, the Talawana was wet in patches but more so once we were west of the upper reaches of the Oakover River catchment.

Apart from that it's absolutely magnificent.

Safe travels : Joe Fury

Robert S1 wouldn't mind seeing myself last frontier really.Planned to go ladt year but didn't leave Adelaide. Been lucky saw amazing places when lived with Aboriginals they know the sweet country.Poor 60s Landcruiser took a hiding but survived and the Aboriginals appreciated me taking them out..Contacting Newman Tourist office might give u info before leaving. Cheers I could tagalong if timing right .

If all the planets align would you consider a tagalong.. Ta

We did this route in July '18 , Patrol towing a Tvan.
These 3 entries from our blog will give the flavour & some pics Covering from the West Macs to Newman. We went on to Mt Augustus, Kennedy Ranges & Milstream Chichester NP before coming back around to Skull Springs Rd/ Running Waters, via Marble Bar on our slightly convoluted route to the NW Kimberley.

http://cuppa500.com/Blog/2018/07/30/the-gary-junction-road/

http://cuppa500.com/Blog/2018/07/30/karlamilyi-national-park/

http://cuppa500.com/Blog/2018/07/31/kalgan-river/