Great Central Road WA - NT

[pearlie Member Find all posts View Profile Close pearlie]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has any travel hints and tips for the trip from Perth to Uluru. We are going in July to meet up with another tour starting in Alice. I have the necessary permits with 4 days to complete the trip through the Aboriginal owned sections of the trip. Besides a suspension upgrade and the purchase of a second spare wheel, was just wondering what else to prepare. I have a UHF radio and air compressor, will be carrying plenty of water and food, maps, a handheld GPS unit, extensive first aid kit (I am a nurse) and have plenty of enthusiasm!


Has anyone done this trip around this time of year? I note that conventional cars have made the trip but really want to be prepared in case of any emergencies. Would really like to hear of previous experiences, especially with regards to camping and sights to see. Have ventured upon a great web site called www.exploroz.com but nothing beats word of mouth.

What sort of spares should I be carrying? Can anyone recommend an on the roof type box for storage? I will be carrying the spare wheel, shovel and tent up there also so cannot be too large. Also need to know the best way to lash down roof rack items.

Looking forward to replies.. :P
Pearlie

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

I’ve done the GCR twice, once heading east and once heading west. The road conditions will vary depending on when the grader last went through, but I think the general rule of thumb is the corrugations get worse on the Northern Territory side.

I don’t think a suspension upgrade is really necessary (depending on what your load is) as long as you drive to the conditions. We saw a Jayco caravan lose its entire axle just west of Docker River in the Northern Territory, it wasn’t an off road van and the driver was going like the clappers. They had to head back into Docker for help.

The GCR is a bit of a time warp with all sorts of vehicle wrecks, you’ll find cars dating back to the 60s and 70s (and earlier) if you look hard enough, just left where they stopped.

The more experienced traveller takes his own tool kit and never misses an opportunity to strip some part off a recently abandoned vehicle. We saw many a trucky heading off to a wreck with a tool box in hand.

We could also tell which wine cask was on special as they littered the road every few kilometres. Most of the local aboriginal communities are dry, so the locals drive many kilometres to get a drink. It was most disturbing to see how much was being consumed.

Apparently there are some water holes around Tjukayirla roadhouse worth seeing, but we never stopped to look. Giles Weather station is another place worth stopping at, they release a weather balloon twice a day, so try and get there when that happens. It also has some space junk from the rocket testing at Woomera in the 60s and Len Beadells grader.

Lasseters Cave is an interesting stop as well. He stayed there for several days hoping to be rescued before wandering off to die of thirst down the track. He buried his diary in the sand of the cave before leaving and it was found several years later.

Docker River is an eye opener. It’s an aboriginal settlement just over the Northern Territory border, the general store will test the olfactory senses to their utmost and I still wonder how the bloke with the Jayco got on.

Heres a tip for visiting Ayers Rock and the Olgas if you are heading east. You have to camp at Yulara which means you have to pay to go back into the national park to see the rock and the Olgas. When heading east, we camped just west of the national park boundary and got up early in the morning and visited both on the way through.

We did one of the walks at the Olgas and then climbed the rock all in one day. We then went through to Yulara tourist village and camped there to clean ourselves up before heading to Alice Springs. Make sure you stay for the sunset over Ayers Rock though, it’s worth seeing. You’ve got to get there early.

When we were heading west on another trip, we had to pay to get into the park which was a bit of a bummer, as all we were doing was heading home, so it felt like we had to pay to get back into Western Australia.

[prado4x4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado4x4]

Hey there,

I last drove over that way last year at around the same time (early August). The road itself was pretty much a dirt highway. Nice and easy drive. The only bad corrugations we came across were on the stretch from the NT border into Ayers Rock.

There are a few sights to see on the way, but mainly it's just a drive;
- There is Empress Springs (about 60km one way diversion north from Tjukayirla). It's an underground spring, in a cave you can climb a steel cahin ladder into.
- There is the Giles meteorological station at Warakurna. Need to be here first thing in the morning (7am from memory - best check it out). It's when they release the weather balloon, and give a tour, etc.
- Lasseters Cave, between Docker River and the Olgas. The cave where Lasseter (of Lasseters Gold Reef fame) tried to survive for a while.

As for camping, you are only legally allowed to camp at the roadhouses. We found Tjukayirla very good, Warburton a rubbish dump and Warakurna OK. Others ignore the legallities and bush camp.

Having seen the "sites" on my first run over, now we just cross over in two days, with one overnight stop en-route.

Hope the info helps.

[pearlie Member Find all posts View Profile Close pearlie]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Having never been this way, it is reassuring to know that it can be done in 2 days and that there are a couple of sites to see along the way.

The suspension upgrade is mainly for the trip to follow this one. We will be doing the Tanami, the Gibb River Road and up to Kulumburu (weather permitting) with a tag along tour.

There is so much out there to see. This is the real reason I bought Pearlie. I love the real outback, the red dirt and the heat, and, at a push, I don't really mind the flies, after all, they were there first..

Hopefully this won't be the only time I go this way. Have some friends in Queensland that may need a visit. :lol:

[pearlie Member Find all posts View Profile Close pearlie]

Re: Great Central Road WA - NT

Hello again,

Well the big trip has come and gone. The GCR was a doddle!
We counted 177 dead cars on the sides of the road, 2 caravan/trailer wrecks and only 37 live cars. The road itself was wide and well graded. The NT side lived up to it's reputation of being rougher than the WA side, but it was still comfortable, I think partly due to the Bilstein units.
It was a trip to remember, particularly meeting up with friends (very unexpectedly!!) at Warakurna, of all places! :shock: The route was alive with camels, emus, birdlife, lizards and snakes but some of the scenery left us in awe. It's a beautiful place out there in our own back yard... :wink:
I have many, many photos of our great epic journey but sadly lack the time to 'play' with photobucket to write up a trip report. Suffice to say, I would do it again without hesitation.
Pearlie had a fantastic run, never missed a beat. Not even so much as a flat tyre throughout the whole of the trip up the Tanami, Kimberley, Kalumburu, Gibb River Road, Cape Leveque, Broome, back up the Gibb and across the Savannah way to Innisfail. 7 weeks of utter bliss 17,000 kms made it a very bad case of Mondayitis when I had to go back to w.. wor... wor.... worrrkkkkk.....
5 weeks to go until we get going again over Christmas and New Year.

Cheers and thanks PP

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Great Central Road WA - NT

I have many, many photos of our great epic journey but sadly lack the time to 'play' with photobucket to write up a trip report. Suffice to say, I would do it again without hesitation.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Ah, c'mon pearlie. :? I am sure many others, including myself, would truly appreicate your time and effort for a few pics and a trip report of your travels. :wink:

Surely you can post a few pics, even if its just some special highlights! 8)

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

bump: Anyone else done this track?
I have a case of NT Paul's iced coffee addiction, and this is the quickest way there (besides flying, but thats boring)

[Noobie Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Noobie]

Piggy made me

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

I'm up and down this road almost on a monthly basis. There are now parking areas set of the main road so you can now camp if you wish. The Chooky Roadhouse, a little more than half way between Laverton and Warburton is a good place to stop and have a drink. From here on it's a no go for grog. Warbo has a camping spot behind the roadhouse which has basic features. Warakurna (Giles) has a nice roadhouse and situated just off the road and out away from the community. That's it until Docker River. The road is corrugated, but you can still sit on 100 - 110 easily. Be advised that there is limited mechanical facilities at Warbo and that's it. Nothing bewteen Laverton and Uluru. Laverton and Warbo has mobile phone coverage (Telstra only). There's plenty of gnamma holes and rock formations along the way to camp by but not much else of interest. I've towed trailers and caravans along the road with no issues. That is, when it's dry.

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

Being my car is petrol, any issues with range? whats the distance between fuel stops?
and whats the end / start of bitumen?
Thanks guys

[bgreeni Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgreeni]

Will be driving GCR and Plenty Highway (if its open) to Townsville departing Perth 5 Jan, back on 24th Jan. Not sight seeing, just looking for quickest way to Townsville.

Any recent road reports welcome.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Your game driving that route during at this time of year. 38 degree days in very remote areas. However, it is the quickest. Call these guys for up to date road conditions information I doubt anybody on here would've driven those roads within the last 2 months:
Warburton Road House: 8956 7656
Jarvois Service Station: (08) 8956 6307
Boulia Police Station: (07) 4746 3120

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Your game driving that route during at this time of year. 38 degree days in very remote areas. However, it is the quickest. Call these guys for up to date road conditions information I doubt anybody on here would've driven those roads within the last 2 months:
Warburton Road House: 8956 7656
Jarvois Service Station: (08) 8956 6307
Boulia Police Station: (07) 4746 3120

I would think bushbasher has and would have an idea on the conditions

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

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[img=http://s10.postimage.org/sl8wfq1b9/IMG_0121.jpg]
As a matter of fact only got back from a trip to Blackstone, Wingellina, Surveyor generals corner, and Kintore (via Sandy Blight track) last Sunday 18/12. The road is very good. Graders have just done Tjukirlya Road House through to Warakurna (Giles). Past that it is great all the way through to Docker River, best I've seen in years. We managed an easy 100 - 110km/hr in V8 troopy diesel. Others have told me of doing upwards of 140! Mind you, at over $2.35 litre they are either mad or just want to get back to civilization in a hurry. Plenty of travellers still going both ways including many towing vans and trailers. Watch out for camels. A couple of the creek crossings east of Warakurna have had a bit of water going over them but watch the signs and slow down for the dips.

We had a mammoth 16hr drive out of Kintore following 2 days of thunderstorms that saw us driving along a flooded Sandy Blight track. Some sections went for over a kilometre at about a metre deep. Certainly tested man vs machine vs nature. Only had to pull out the winch once when I got wedged in a deep hole coming over a sand dune. Huge fun.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Hey, BGreeni, I'll be in Mandurah Boxing day. Give me a call 0407198129 if you like to discuss the trip further and see my recent photos.