Tablelands Road/Track

The Explorer posted:

PS - Whats an "RC map"?

The Explorer posted:

Hi John

The track Michelle wanted was from Mornington Road intersection to Tableland (Yulumba) and then the less travelled route onto to Bedford Downs. Not this entire route is officially Tablelands Road (or Track) and there is a couple of options when heading east onto Bedford Downs. The Hema Kimberley map shows two tracks one of which is labelled “impassable access limited” (see pic below). The Hema map does however show the northern track option as passable (as they appear to have driven it - not sure of date <2006?). Not sure which way others have gone in recent times.

The Hema map also states that “The Tablelands Track between Yulumba (Tableland) and Bedford Downs as closed until further notice”..though this was published years ago so not sure if the information is still current (obviously not if it have been travelled recently).

I digitised in the northern route for Michelle from the 50K topo maps. You can also see most of the track in Google Earth (which obviously doesn’t mean it can be “driven”).

Snip from Hema Kimberley map

Cheers
Greg

Life Member - Phil B (WA) posted:

Hi Greg and Michelle,

John headed bush this morning and may be away for quite a while. He can access email but may have difficulty downloading large files and may not see this post for some time.

BTW I did the Tablelands track in the mid 1990s. Whilst it was difficult there was wheel pad here and there and except for Terronis was relatively easily traversed, my photos are sadly are poor quality paper style.
I used the Moon's Kimberley book the my guide.

regards

Member - joc45 (WA) posted:

Hi Greg and Michelle,
Like Phil, I travelled it in the early 2000's, following the Ron Moon guide. Not sure if I have a Ozi track file now, but will do a search. The track was pretty easy from the Mornington turnoff to Tableland station, but was faint and a bit tricky to find just east of the station, thereafter fairly easy to follow. The descent into Teronis Gorge was a bit hairy, with several rocky creek crossings over a short distance down in the gorge. Further east, there was a sticky wet patch crossing thru the pass thru the Durack Range. Thereafter, pretty easy.
I believe access was closed off later in the 2000s, but not sure what its status is now.
Great trip!
cheers,
Gerry

Member - John Baas (WA) posted:

Hi Greg, thanks for that. Am just back from our trip.

Sorry Michelle, I didn't take many pics in those days; film and processing too pricey...

Cheers.