Plenty Highway

Planning a big trip thru Alice next year, and was trying to find relevant info on travel times:
Tobemorey to Jervois Roadhouse,
Jervois to Alice Springs
We will be towing caravans, and am well equipped and experienced in dirt travel.
Thanks in advance for feedback
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Reply By: Member - Jim S1 - Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 08:58

Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 08:58
Plenty Highway can be pretty rough , especially on the QLD side. Wouldn't expect to average much more than 70 kph.
You may be lucky and travel just after a grader has been working.
Cheers
Jim
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Follow Up By: Briste - Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 10:41

Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 10:41
I found the exact opposite last year. The Qld side was a dream run, partly because a large part of it was sealed, and the dirt had just been graded. The NT side was average ok, manageable by airing down and driving to conditions. But if course that was over 12 months ago.
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Reply By: Jason M29 - Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 18:18

Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 18:18
Tobemorey to Jervois Roadhouse:
Distance: Approximately 520 kilometers
Estimated travel time: 6-7 hours, depending on driving conditions and breaks
Road conditions: The road is mostly sealed, with some unsealed sections. It's generally in good block blast condition, but can be affected by weather conditions.
Happy travels!
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Follow Up By: Zippo - Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 19:26

Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at 19:26
"Tobemorey to Jervois Roadhouse: Distance: Approximately 520 kilometers"

Really? Strewth, what route does that? Google shows it as 264km.

We have done Gemtree to Tobermorey more that once inside six hours comfortably (Google reports that as 471km), and no bitumen except the first bit leaving Gemtree. They *may* have sealed some now, which would make it even quicker/easier.
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Reply By: qldcamper - Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 06:43

Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 06:43
In my opinion you won't be missing anything if you pushed through to gemtree.
We found Jervious run down and no care given. Things might have changed since we wrre there just before the rock climb was closed.
Tobermorey was newly reopened to campers after the floods so that was a bit of an ordinary experience too.
Gemtree on the other hand was outstanding, glad we spent a few nights there.
On the way home used the sandover highway, camping almost non-existent but its there if you look hard enough but free camping would be hard for vans. They have very little traffic so the road conditions are generally far better than the plenty.
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Follow Up By: TonyR4346 - Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 08:23

Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 08:23
Thanks to all. for the feedback.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 21:10

Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 21:10
Tony,

FYI, only 69kms of gravel left on the Donohue! Info from a reliable source.

Bob
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Can't remember most of it.

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Reply By: Member - Warren H - Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 08:26

Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 08:26
We travelled this route in July 2021, so a while ago. I expect travel time will vary with conditions. There was a section with lots of deep bulldust patches spanning the width of the road and a kilometre or more long. Corrugations weren't anything out of the ordinary. Note at that time Jervois was closed for fuel on Sundays with a surcharge to open the bowser.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 11:52

Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 11:52
I last travelled the Plenty in June 2021, and after leaving Boulia about 2pm, camped that night about 80kms west of Tobermory. The Donohue is bitumen all the way to Georgina River crossing, plus a couple of sections towards the border.
It rained substantially that night & a section west of Jervious was particularly heavy going. Some of the detours further on resembled rice paddys & ended up driving, with permission, along the formation.
Made it to Kulgera that afternoon, to meet up with friends for a Simpson Crossing.



Bob

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Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 14:37

Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 14:37
I was there on July 22 and 23, 2021 on the way to the Hay River Track. So went from a paddy field to deep bulldust patches in not many weeks.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 15:03

Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 at 15:03
.
Yep, my observations have been that the Plenty closes pretty quickly if there is rain.
Cheers
Allan

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