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Road to Alice springs

Submitted: Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 00:00

coops

We are leaving for The Kimberlys via Alice Springs &Tanami track . Which is the quickest Route to Alice from Newcastle either via B/ Hill and Port Augusta along the Stuart Hwy or from Charleville along Diamantina Dev Road and Plenty Hwy.The latter route is the shortest distance but is IT going to Quicker with the unsealed road .
This trip will be taken in July well after the wet and we have 6weeks and want to spend more time at the Kimberlys rather than driving there
thanking you Coops
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AnswerID: 10448   Submitted: Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 00:00

Member - Willem replied:

If you strike the Diamantina Developmental road and the Plenty Higway in good condition then you could make better time to Alice. If however, the stations have been trucking cattle, especially over the road from Boulia to Tobermorey then you will be in trouble. That section is prone to severe bulldust. Probably better to take the route through Port Augusta. The speed limit along the Barrier Highway is 110(NSW)110(SA allover) and unlimited in the Territory. Cheers, W
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FollowupID: 5495   Submitted: Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 00:00

Coops posted:

Thanks for your reply Williem I thought there could be some hasslles with a short cut .the last thing you need istoo meet a triple B in a cloud of of bulldust and July is probably the time when they are shipping cattle
thanks again Coops
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AnswerID: 10458   Submitted: Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 00:00

sean replied:

Maybe consider delete the Tanami if you head north from Newcastle, After Camooweal, go througth Alexandra Station, then onto the Barlkly Stock route, then along the Buchanan through Top Springs to WA. This I believe is a more interesting route than up the stuart highway - and it will give you plenty of dirt and VARIED scenery. You can be in Isa in 3 days from Newcastle all via bitumen. Then if you are in a hurry, total 5 looooooooong days to El Questro. Better still, take 7 days and relax. You can never see it all anyway. Just a thought.......

Sean
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AnswerID: 10459   Submitted: Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 00:00

Steve replied:

Coops: instead of asking questions of the 'intelligentia' .. you would be better off calling up Tobermorey nearer the date and asking them the road conditions ! .... and whether they have trains in the area !!! With the 'net' and simple logic you can call these points of reference, (towns ), as you have mentioned are on your intended travel route and ask them for info !! The Plenty highway would be a tad tricky meeting a double B ... in spots,.... but that does not mean you should not go !! It's a good road and a regular sedan would have no trouble... weather providing !! If you need phone numbers for any places get in touch !! No risk but the Plenty route you are planning is by far the quickest, and the weather will probably be more appropriate !! Its a very good unsealed road with regular upgrades .. check out the police at Harts Range for more road info... Plan ahead as the locals on any route will give you more up to date info than most probably anywhere else ! .. Have a great trip, albeit a long one from Newcastle (NSW ?) with a six week limit !!

Steve
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FollowupID: 5535   Submitted: Friday, Jan 03, 2003 at 00:00

Coops posted:

Steve thanks for your info If you have contact no's it would be greatly appreciated as this route sounds alot more interesting than travelling on the tar all of the time .We have 3 4wd s going so dirt doesnt really worry us .Even if you could give us Net contacts as we are only on users of the net
Thanks again Coops
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FollowupID: 5546   Submitted: Friday, Jan 03, 2003 at 00:00

Bob Y. posted:

Coops, Steve makes sense with his advice, but I wouldn't be too worried about road trains or bulldust. The first you can usually see coming for many clicks - dust clouds, and you can often pick a spot to pull over long before they arrive. If we get a reasonable wet this year, bull dust may not as bad during July, as a month or two later.

Do the checks as Steve said, but if you hear it's been a dry year again, then go via the Port.

Boulia police or Council maybe able to help with info on the Donohue "Hwy" section. Hope you have a enjoyable trip.
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 10551   Submitted: Saturday, Jan 04, 2003 at 00:00

Steve replied:

Coops : just for starters The Australin Hotel at Boulia, where the dirt starts ..phone: 07-4746-63144 , and the Boulia Fire Station 07-4746-63052 then the Tarlton Downs Station of the Plenty 08-8956-6305.

If you look up the white pages and search using 'station' as name and then the state, plus a few details you will get phone numbers and usefull info from all those people !! Its all there and it helps if you have Broadband !!

steve
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