Proposed Trip - Gibb River Road / Gunbarrel Hwy / Anne Beadell Hwy

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

I am in the planning stages of a trip for next year involving as the title suggests - The Gibb River Road, then either the Gunbarrel to Yulara or Anne Beadell Hwy to Coober Pedy, then home.

The plan is Prado + Tvan, + 2 other vehicles.

Has anyone done these tracks recently?
What was the road conditions like?
How long did it take you to travel?
What permits are required?


Some websites I have come across, just mentions Permits required, but no link as to who or where.

Would appreciate some feedback if possible.

Stuart

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

The Gibb River road is a maintained road, so it all depends on how long since the grader went through as to the condition. When we did it a few years ago I considered it to be pretty good, chopped up in a few spots, a few corrugations but generally pretty good.

The Gunbarrell Highway and the Anne Beadell Hwy are not maintained, so plan for the worst. We went across the Gunbarrell earlier this year, its always hard to describe how bad a track is as it all depends on what you have experienced before. Its definitely a track and not a road or a Highway, it probably hasn't seen a graded in decades and sections of the track are completely washed away, there are bypasses around bypasses and all of them are rutted and corrugated. Having said all that it was in better condition than I expected, but I didn't expect much.

Have a read through my report here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...utback-Odyssey for some more info.

I haven't been on the Anne Beadell, but Anne Beadell her self told me a few years ago before she passed away that it was the worst of Lens tracks now!

Cheers Andrew

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

URGENT REPLY!!!! Possible Virus!!!!

Hi Andrew,

The automatic email message to me had the link highjacked.

Instead of

Have a read through my report here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...utback-Odyssey for some more info.

It directed me to a totally unrelated site - Not Porn. Something to do with Saddlebags.

Please check your computer for virus and get the Admin of Pradopoint to check the system.

I will also do same.

Stuart

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

No need to panic, I just put in the wrong link. Those saddle bags in the link are hopefully going on my new toy

If you look at the original post I put an edit note about it down the bottom.

Cheers Andrew

[Torrie 72 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Torrie 72]

Ha ha! That is hilarious!
Saddlebags.

When are you planning on going Stuart?

Cheers Ben.

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi Ben,

It depends on other family members who work F/T, and if they can get time off.
My plan is Middle May / June.

Also depends on which route we finally select, as Ground Zero isn't open until early June, as RAAF has use of it.

Stuart

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

There's a big hole between the Gibb and the Gun barrel/Annie B.

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

Just to fill you in, I have 4 planned routes, with only minor route changes.
Options 1 & 2 Are the Gunbarrel Track with the Oodnadatta Track included
Option 3 - Is the Anne Beadell Hwy with Oodnadatta Track included on the way up.
Option 4 - Is just the Anne Beadell Track, - Direct

Option 1 -
Lara to Alice Springs via Oodnadatta Track,
Alice Springs to Meekatharra via Tanami Track, Wyndham, Gibb River Road, Broome, Port Hedland & Marble Bar
Meekatharra to Coober Pedy via Gunbarrel Hwy, Jackie Junction, Giles, Docker River, Yulara & Kulgera
Coober Pedy to Lara via Port Augusta, Gawler, Hahndorf

Option 2
Lara to Alice Springs via Murray Bridge, Peterborough, Port Augusta then Direct
Alice Springs to Meekatharra via Tanami Track, Wyndham, Gibb River Road, Broome, Port Hedland & Marble Bar
Meekatharra to Marla via Gunbarrel Hwy, Jackie Junction, Giles, Docker River, Yulara & Kulgera
Marla to Lara via Oodnadatta Track, Maree, Hawker, Port Augusta, Gawler, Hahndorf

Option 3
Lara to Alice Springs via Oodnadatta Track,
Alice Springs to Meekatharra via Tanami Track, Wyndham, Gibb River Road, Broome, Port Hedland & Marble Bar
Meekatharra to Coober Pedy via Leonora, Laverton, Anne Beadell Hwy, Neale Junction, Voakes Hill Corner, Emu Junction
Coober Pedy to Lara via Port Augusta (Direct), Gawler, Hanhdorf

Option 4
Lara to Alice Springs via Murray Bridge, Peterborough, Port Augusta then Direct
Alice Springs to Meekatharra via Tanami Track, Wyndham, Gibb River Road, Broome, Port Hedland & Marble Bar
Meekatharra to Coober Pedy via Leonora, Laverton, Anne Beadell Hwy, Neale Junction, Voakes Hill Corner, Emu Junction
Coober Pedy to Lara via Port Augusta (Direct), Gawler, Hanhdorf

Each Trip is approx 10,000kms in Length.

I am unsure of Crossing times at this stage, but have worked on 3 Days for Gunbarrel and 4 Days for Anne Beadell Hwy.

Approx Trip Duration: 4-5 weeks, but as stated, depends on other family members.

If this trip does go ahead, then I will more than likely withdraw from the Cape York Trip.

Stuart

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

3 days from Wiluna to Warburton via the Gunbarrell is comfortable.

Cheers Andrew

[StuKlose Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close StuKlose]

Not sure if I understand your plan I.e. Alice to Meekathara via Tanami track. It's either a very long way round or you meant Great Central/Gunbarrel.

I'd pick option 1 and definitely book in a 3 night stay at Karijini.

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

StuKlose - If you read my posts, I thought I made it clear - The reason for the Proposed Trip is to do the Gibb River Road, North to South (Wydnham to Derby.) Once done, the travel home via EITHER the Gunbarrel OR Anne Beadell Hwy, depending on what available time other family members had from work.

I have broken the trip into stages, as that is how I have done my Distance table spreadsheet to share with family members.

Stuart

[StuKlose Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close StuKlose]

No probs.

I was only mentioning that "Alice Springs to Meekatharra via Tanami Track" may have been a typo thats all.

[nickchap Member Find all posts View Profile Close nickchap]

I did Anne Beadell July last Year. Coober Pedy to Laverton.
Very rough-1000ks of corrugation so bad that there was corrugated by passes around huge corrugations!
Broke off spotlights etc on 3 cars and I also did a front strut!
Would not recommend it if towing a trailer (although some have).
Be fully prepared if you are going to take it.

[JDecay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JDecay]

Anne Beadell section

Did Anne Beadell in Aug/Sept. Started from Cocklebiddy to Neale junction (Connie Sue). Then Anne Beadell. Okay to Ilkurlka Roadhouse, about 100km west of WA/SA border. Camp ground, supplies, fuel at Ilkurlkla.
Corrugations started about 10km east of roadhouse, then its 700km to Cobber Pedy (last 90km thru station country on 'made' road). Slow and steady does it. Much of it is 10-20km/hr unless you plan on breaking things. Trees/shrubs on edge or overhang parts of track limiting opportunity to speed. We planned on 120-150 km/day, which was comfortable.
Generally only saw 2 or 3 vehicles going opposite way. Most with camper trailers.