Tanami Track Condtion

[Jim1978 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jim1978]

Hi All, what a great forum with heaps of info, I am looking at traveling across the Tanami from Alice to Broome next month with my Prado 150 and Goldstream offroad camper, and another vehicle a F250 with a tandem off road van, has any one got any idea on the tracks condtion at the moment, we have limited time away and thought that is the quickest route, would we be able to travel from Alice - Halls Creek in 2 days? Thanks Jim

[JeffH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JeffH]

I can't speak for the conditions at the moment, from what I understand the track is getting better all the time as it gets graded more often with the increased mining traffic, I think it just depends on how soon you drive it after its been graded as to how rough you'll find it.

When I did it in 2009 the NT section was only mildly corrugated but the WA section was a bit average for most of it's length, not even close to being the worst corrugations I've had though.

Due to the time zone change it's possible to do it in 2 days if heading west. I camped at Renahans Bore and made Halls Creek the next day with a detour into Wolfes Creek crater. It does make for a bloody long day though. Just depends how fast your willing to push your speed too, some people I encountered seemed happy doing 120+, I stuck to around 80-90 and it was about 10hours from Renahans Bore to Halls Creek including stops and wolfes creek etc.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

When we went across the Tanami in 2008 (twice) the section from the WA border to Balgo turnoff hadn't been graded for over 2 years, 40 - 50km/hr was maximum on that section. I would think 2 days is a best case scenario to get across, we took 3 days both times, camped at Renehans bore and Wolfe Creek heading up, and Sturt Creek and just a random spot near yeundemu on the way home.

Cheers Andrew

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

I have been across 3 times in last 2 years and it has been ok each time.As with any outback road , rain changes everything. Set tyres at 28 psi and sit on about 80-90 and you wont notice the corrugations. 2 days with a van is doable but pushing it. Worth camping at Woolfe Creek to be there at a sunrise and sunset[ don't watch the movie first!] Neil;. just remembered there is an ok camp site just after Rabbit Flat on the LHS [south] of road and just before the road which heads off to the north.

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

I've done the Tanami 4 weeks ago.

See the following video for the conditions (pretty good) near Renahan's Bore (half way along) - we camped there.

...We sat on 100km/h for hours at a time... Did the entire trip (Alice to Halls Ck)in 1 1/2 days.

https://vimeo.com/45896164

Yes there are corrugations, and road trains, but with correct tyre pressures (28-32psi), and the correct speed for the corrugations (85-105km/h) we had no problems.

Rob

[Jim1978 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jim1978]

Thanks for the comments so far, can't wait for the trip!!!!!

[Jim1978 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jim1978]

Well only a few more sleeps and we are off, has anyone done the track in the last month, just after some current road conditions, thanks Jim

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

alice to Granites is good, after granites should much the same

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Has anyone done or know of someone that has travelled the Tanami lately?

We will finally be heading off again on our round OZ trip after a lengthy stay in Dongara. Be leaving mid April. Will be heading up to Yardie Creek - Exmouth, out to Karajini, up to Cape Leveque, Gibb River Road as far as Wandjina and then heading back down through Tunnel creek (have travelled the Gibb once before) and was then planning on doing the Tanami down to Alice - Uluru and then back up the Stuart into Darwin. Thats the plan thus far, but I'm sure it will change.

I'm towing a Jayco Swan Outback, with an V6 Prado auto, the wife and 4 tin lids. Are there fuel stops along the way (what is the distance of the Tanami?)

Cheers

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Its 1050kms from Halls Creek to Alice Springs. In years gone by Rabbit flat would have been your fuel stop; but I believe that is now closed. Fuel is available at Bililuna at the Northern end and Yuendemu, also at Tilmouth roadhouse toward the South. It pays to check with a phone call what each place has available, being Petrol and Bililuna and Yuendemu being Aboriginal communities they probably wont have unleaded only the opal alternative.

If you are going across the Tanami then a stop at Wolfe creek crater is worth while, but it adds another 50k to the trip. Its before Bililuna so if fuel is availble there it's not a big deal. Sturt Creek just South of Bililuna is a good camp spot as well as Renehans bore.

Cheers Andrew

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Cheers for the info Andrew

Ill give the roadhouses a call in the coming weeks. Ive never heard of Opal fuel,,,I take it that it doesnt have the kick (fumes) that regular ULP has.

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Well only a few more sleeps and we are off, has anyone done the track in the last month, just after some current road conditions, thanks Jim

Hey Jim,

Did you end up traversing the Tanami and if so, did you tow the Goldstream?? Interested to hear you reply

Craig

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Cheers for the info Andrew

Ill give the roadhouses a call in the coming weeks. Ive never heard of Opal fuel,,,I take it that it doesnt have the kick (fumes) that regular ULP has.

That's what I understand, being a diesel owner I don't take much notice of petrol in outback locations.

I know this thread is about the Tanami "track" but it's a road, parts are even bitumen, all depends how long since the grader as to how good it is.

Cheers Andrew

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

The track around Granites Gold mine is getting the odd storm at the moment, had 1 today, so parts of the track will be muddy.

Cheers Derek

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Im led to believe that Rabbit Flat Roadhouse was closed back in December 2010,, is this true???