This is a great way to spend some remote time in a living desert region where you may not see anyone else for a few days.
We travelled west along this route during early July 2014 joining the track at
Emu Junction after spending time at
Maralinga Village. We were fortunate to experience the area at a time following some rains, so there were plenty of
wildflowers to observe.
The road conditions most likely don’t vary substantially. Commenting on the track west of Emu, you can expect conditions to vary from sandy tracks to heavily corrugated surfaces. This continues with little change until after the West Australian border and west of
Ilkurlka Roadhouse. At the time there was a
grader crew working about 20-kilometres west of the Road house and conditions improved dramatically (in comparison).
Ilkurlka has reasonable supplies, and fuel was $3.00 per litre. Despite indicating it is closed on Sunday’s this isn’t necessarily the case – as the caretaker’s in residence said “where else would we be going”. But it might always pay to
check.
Take your time to travel the route, and be sure to climb to the top of Bishop Riley’s Pulpit. It isn’t a hard climb for people of average fitness and agility and you will be rewarded with great
views. In fact, it would be quite spectacular to watch it change colours with a setting sun, and it would be possible to
camp nearby.
My experience was drive to the conditions, treat your vehicle
well, and it will do the same in return – just be sure to stop regularly when in the corrugated areas. And exercise caution for the possibility of oncoming vehicles as much of the track winds its way across the land and vegetation comes to the track edges.
Cheers, Baz – The Landy