Kidson track

Thanks for that, after a google of the track and its 4 different names, i discovered that a permit is required to use it which costs $55, not the end of the world, it went on to say that it was the longest private road in the world. Cheers, Kanga.

No there is no permit requirement for the Telfer road. We travelled the real Kidson Track in 2022 (after being closed for 4 years) and yes that requires a $55 permit. But that is this trek - Kidson Track

Thanks for clearing that up! I just found another name for it, Punmu access Rd.
Hema maps call it the Kidson track/ Wapet road from Kunawarritji west to Lake Auld where a 3 way intersection is shown on their map so i hope you can understand the confusion. Based on Hema maps it is necessary to drive approximately 113kms of the Kidson/wapet track. So I'll check that no permit is needed for this part.

There are no restrictions for travellers using the Punmu Road enroute between Kunawarritji and the Telfer Road to the Great Northern Highway. Did you read the link in the Trek that I gave for permits? It will take you here - Nyangumarta Highway Permit - as I said, you are not doing that section. The Telfer Road is full accessible no permits through to Marble Bar. We were here in 2022 when this was all new changed conditions.

I noticed that you updated your notes today on the Kidson track, that it runs between 80 mile Beach ( where it has yet another name) and Kunawarritji. Hema maps and Google earth both call the section between Kunawarritji and Lake Auld the Kidson /Wapet track, not the Telfer road not the Punmu access road or any other name for that matter.
What the information found online and in your notes did not say, is that you don't need to pay for a permit to travel the 113kms of the Kidson/Wapet track between Kunawarritji and the lake Auld intersection with the Punmu access road.

So who is the authority for road names?
Here is a map published by the Shire of East Pilbara.
Nice map too :)

Shire of East Pilbara
ps... Check the current road conditions.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

That looks really nice, we haven't been any further west than the Sandy Blight Junction track intersection on the Gary Junction road, that was a long time ago but my memory of the Gary Junction was that it was in really good condition. Looking forward to it. Cheers.

Just for fun.... A story from 2008.
We were heading west from Alice, on the way to Kalumburu towing a boat. We stopped for the night on the top of the hill before the Telfer turn off to check emails. In the morning, we heard the bloke on the Telfer gate chatting on the UHF, so gave him a call and told him we were we were heading.
He totally misunderstood and insisted that we needed to call into the gate. We argued, but eventually gave up. It would be a 50km+ diversion.
When we arrived at the gate, he rushed out to meet us, full of apologies. He was new on the job and had not understood where we were. He asked us to wait.
Shortly, his boss arrived and asked us to follow his blue flashing light.
We followed him into the plant and 2 or 3km later, pulled up to a diesel bowser. We were advised to help ourselves to 100L of diesel as compensation for the inconvenience.
He then escorted us back to the gate.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome