Submitted: Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 00:00

We approached the DCR from the south turning onto the track from the Great Central Road (GCR) 15 km west of the Tjukayirla Road House. (Can highly recommend the burgers at the road-house if you’re looking for a snappy lunch after a couple of weeks in the bush). Trip concluded over two days 29th and 30th May, 2007

The track north to Empress Spring is still in excellent condition with little wear and tear evident. The undergrowth and shrubs are encroaching onto the track in some places. We spent some time clearing fallen and camel chewed bushes from the track (please take the time to drag them off rather than drive around them. It maintains the integrity and condition of the track and only adds half an hour to your total trip). Plenty of camels about and numerous bustards and dingos.

Found the Exploroz trek note mileage to be out by 7-8 km on the northbound trip so make sure you check the distance between the GCR and Empress Spring for calibration purposes.

Once past the Empress Spring the road condition deteriorates somewhat but is still easily negotiated. Road reaches it’s worst conditions towards its northern end with some deep washaways. At about the 220 km mark, there were a lot of water filled claypans that had to be skirted. The largest was over 100 metres across at the 224.7 km (S 25.32.571 E 124.11.855). A very enjoyable drive with plenty of wildlife and birdlife to be seen. Some great campsites of which a few are listed below. All distances are in kilometres commencing from the Tjukayirla Road House.

1. Large claypan 150 metres to the eastern side of DCR. Great camp with
plenty of dead timber about. Western end of claypan has a soak so
camping well to the east affords good opportunity to watch wildlife arriving
at sunset. 85km S 26.35.371 E 124.13.494
2. Picturesque small claypan on eastern side surrounded by Mulga woodland.
Great campsite. S 26 31.676 E 124.14.415
3. Grove of acacia and gums. Possible water affording good camp site. 124.3
km S 26.24.293 E 124.14.036
4. Eucalypt woodland providing plenty of timber and many great spots to set
up camp 125 to 127.8 km S 26.22.530 E 124.13.780 (northern end)
5. At 145km track becomes very soft with shallow wash-aways
6. Track becomes quite rocky around 180 km culminating in a rocky rise at
S 25.87.168 E 124.20.616
7. Finished at 242.8 km at intersection with Gunbarrel Highway.

Tags: 4WD, GPS/Navigation, Places/Destinations, Road Conditions
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