Track between Marble Bar and Grt Northern Hwy
Submitted: Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 20:27
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Dirt Princess
Evening All
Can someone please tell me the name of the track that goes from
Marble Bar to the Grt Northern Hwy just north of the Karijini NP. I'm thinking of diverting from my initial plan of heading straight to
Newman from M/Bar. Is this track generally maintained?? In other words how rough is does it get?
Cheers
Deb
Reply By: Ron N - Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 22:50
Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 22:50
Dirt Princess - The road you want is the
Marble Bar-Hillside Road, it runs SW out of
Marble Bar, passes the
Comet Gold
Mine, and crosses the Coongan and Shaw Rivers (along with quite a few big creeks in between).
The river crossings are O.K if it hasn't rained in recent times - and remember that an out-of season widespread thunderstorm can get them running.
You can keep up 80-90 kmh on most of the road. Watch out for livestock, this is station country, and it's unfenced, and there's wild donkeys in that area, too.
It's a basic dirt station road, and it can get windy and twisty in a number of
places. It's on Google Maps, but the "Map" part of Google is way out on where the actual road is.
Go to Google, type in "Marble Bar", then click on "Satellite" and zoom in, and you can follow the road, it's clearly seen. You can also see where the "mapped" road and the actual road are often way out.
Some good pics here from other travellers -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northern_wanderer/5086631298/http://www.flickr.com/photos/86978295@N00/4799416502/in/photostream
Cheers - Ron.
AnswerID:
485753
Reply By: Member - Lee & Arrabella A'Van - Monday, May 14, 2012 at 03:31
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 03:31
We travelled the
Marble Bar-Hillside Road last year and it was in good order and it appeared to be graded on a regular basis.
It took us around 3 hours to get from
Marble Bar to the Grt Northern Hwy just north of
Auski Roadhouse. We did stop along the way to take photos and grab a snack.
It had some great scenery along the way too. I just love it up that way.
AnswerID:
485758
Follow Up By: Dirt Princess - Monday, May 14, 2012 at 15:55
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 15:55
Lee
I just read your blog. So sorry to hear the news. I hope all things will go
well in your solo journey. It is one of life's big adjustments and it takes time for your head to get grounded again. I'll remember you in my prayers.
And thanks for the info.
God Bless
Deb
FollowupID:
761037
Follow Up By: Member - Lee & Arrabella A'Van - Monday, May 14, 2012 at 20:25
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 20:25
Thanks Deb,
It is a huge adjustment...going from being a wife, nurse and carer 24/7 to my time being my own 24/7.
That's why my first trip 'up north' to the
pilbara in a couple of weeks will my time to wind down and come to terms with this solo living thing. or as you say ...get grounded...can't wait to find a little bit of water and shade to
camp by for a few weeks.
Thanks for the kind thoughts...lovely to catch up on our travels one day.
You should love the country up there...one of my favourite
places and i live in another of my most favourite placse.. the margaret river wine region.
Have fun
Lee
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Dirt Princess - Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 11:38
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 11:38
Lee I'm just up the road a few ks N of Bunbury. It's a small world. And you're right the Southwest is my fav place to live too.
bye for now
Deb
FollowupID:
761100
Reply By: Dirt Princess - Monday, May 14, 2012 at 15:15
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 15:15
Thanks everyone
Your responses are fantastic as always. I knew I would get the right answers here. I have the Camps 6 Astralia Wide,
Gregory WA road map and Roads and Tracks Australia 2009 of which the latter seemed to be the better. It showed the road however not the ks or the corrigations etc. So your answers have been helpful. I will
check with the locals when we arrive but just for the planning stage I have checked in with my team - you guys and girls out there who know this country through and through. And it's unanimous it is a good idea to do this track/road. I will update on the
forum once I have completed the drive.
Cheers
Deb:)
PS. I will get a Hema map as this also seems to have the thumbs up with most people to. Thanks again.
AnswerID:
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