The Great Central Road

Have you had a look at the Related Page that your post has generated? Heaps of info there.

It is definitely a "road" these days, not a "track".
The western end is geologically interesting, the rest less so.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I heard google is a fantastic resource

kerbarb9, fuel is plentiful along the road and available at all the community road houses. If you need ULP expect to get Opal. Best to phone ahead as things do happen. On one trip we did the browser at Warakurna had broken down so depending on what direction you were travelling it was either Docker River or Warburton for a fill up.

Last year in early July it was like a highway and in excellent condition so much so that we traveled from Warakurna to Laverton easily in the day.

If you are not bothered about the "rock" an alternative route is via the Sandy Blight Junction Road and the Gary Junction Rd (Kintor Rd) into or out of Alice Springs and this is an excellent drive and easily done in a couple of days.

I doubt anyone here (except Greg maybe) has travelled it recently enough to give you a meaningful road conditions report, particularly as the border opening is some time away.

When the BORDER opens, and when PERMITS are being issued, may well be separate dates.

I just noticed today's WA travel restrictions update says the following:

From Friday 29 May 2020 regional travel restrictions will be lifted, excluding travel to biosecurity zones within the Kimberley region, parts of Shire of East Pilbara and the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and remote Aboriginal communities. Restrictions on entering 274 remote Aboriginal communities will remain in place. For more details see regional travel information.

So the Great Central Rd being in the Ngaanyatjarraku shire is unlikely to be open anytime soon.

Did the entire GCR July '19, from Winton to Laverton, then up to Wiluna. Took 5 full days, sitting on 80-90 clicks, & quicker on the black stuff. Camped first night about 50kms west of Tobermorey, then Erldunda Roadhouse, WA-NT border, between Tjukayirla & Laverton & final night at Gunbarrel Laager, just east of Wiluna.

Used 2 jerrycans at Harts Range, then fuelled up in The Alice, Warakurna, Leonarra & Wiluna. Road was variable, bit corrugated here 'n there, graders working near Sandy Blight turn off & 2 reasonably new bitumen sections between Warburton & Tjukayirla.

It's a great drive, but not one to do in a hurry if you carry a camera. Some of the scenery is spectacular. There's phone service at Harts Range, Erldunda, Yulara, Docker River, Warakurna, Yarla Kutjarra rest stop & Warburton. No big deal to some, but handy when you're travelling by yourself, & keeping friends 'n rellies full of envy as you post photos regularly.

Bob

Hi kerbarb9, my 2 cents worth after our Sep 2018 trip going E to W from Uluru to Warburton
1. Permit was online and easy as to get. Girl at Uluru entry did not even look at it! I just said we were going thru to WA.
2. Two vehicles had destroyed all spare tyres so were in the doodle. A long days wait for wife and kids while hubby got lift 140 km back to Uluru.
3. 50 km west of Olgas a rock came out of nowhere on a sandy section and smashed tailgate glass. Covered it up with used winecask boxes - among other cardboard LOL.
4. This bit's totally non PC. Since tourists not wanted in remote communities, then if you stick to the GCR what would be the problem? COVID or not I don't particularly want to go in them anyway. Tons of bush camping in scenic spots.............W

We did the GCR in September last year. Towing a 3.5 tonne off roster. Fuel is no problem. Road is just that, not a track, but it is hard on the car and van with the lengthy sections of corrugations. If you are towing you simply should not drive to make the corrugations smooth out in your car, in your van at that speed everything is being hammered. There is simply no caravan suspension as good as your car, unless you are still driving the fb Holden, lol. It is a desert crossing, but not like the Simpson, this one has trees, shrubs etc. It really is a fantastic trip that should be enjoyed for the starry, starry nights, the solitude and the scenery.