Gunbarrel Hwy & David Carnegie Rd & Eagle Hwy WA @ ExplorOz

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 then 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. Mick O June 07.

David Carnegie Road
The David Carnegie Rd is a little travelled track between the Great Central Rd and the Gunbarrel Hwy. It is a spectacular piece of country with rocky outcrops, spinifex plains and breakaways and in parts challenging 4WDing with deep ruts and washaways. [Feature Story]

Eagle Hwy
The Eagle Hwy is a very isolated track in the Gibson Desert. At the northern end it can take you to the Gary Highway or the Talawanna Track and the southern end finishes at the Gunbarrel Hwy

Gunbarrel Highway
The Gunbarrel Hwy is one of Australia's most famous roads being the first of many desert tracks built by surveyor Len Beadell. Today, this track remains isolated and remote - for experienced desert travellers only.

Mungilli Claypan [2.13km]
Water Body,River,Stream,Falls

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Mangkili Claypan [2.54km]
Point of Interest

Mangkili Claypan can flood extensively and block road. Extensive network of diversion tracks, allow extra fuel.

Mangkili Claypan Nature Reserve [2.72km]
National Parks,Reserves

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Mungilli Claypan [2.13km]	Mangkili Claypan Nature Reserve [2.72km]
Mangkili Claypan [2.54km]

Natmap Raster 2005

This NATMAP Raster was released in April 2005. This is a 4 CD set that contains all 1:250 000 scale NATMAP topographic maps covering Australia, published to December 2004.

$99.00 [Add to Cart]

Natmap Raster 2005: Premium - DVD

This new NATMAP Raster was released in April 2005. This is a 2 DVD set that contains all 1:250 000 scale NATMAP topographic maps covering Australia, published to December 2004.

$119.00 [Add to Cart]

Great Desert Tracks of Australia NW

This map is highly regarded for its suitability for planning a desert driving expedition, particularly along the Canning Stock Route, although it covers the entire NW region, and including the Talawana Track, Gunbarrel Hwy, Connie Sue Highway and includes Port Hedland, Broome, Halls Creek, & Wiluna.

$14.95 [Add to Cart]Latest Edition

Great Desert Tracks of Australia SW

This is just one map from the 6 map set of the Great Desert Tracks Map Pack. This particular map covers the Gunbarrel Hwy, Great Central Road, Connie Sue Hwy and David Carnegie Road.

$14.95 [Add to Cart]Latest Edition

Gunbarrel Hwy

This section of the Gunbarrrel Highway, explored and surveyed by Len Beadell in 1958, is shown on this map complete with GPS readings. It links with the Canning Stock Route and Tanami Track, a circular route popular with many 4WD travellers.

$9.50 [Add to Cart]

Western Australia Handy Map

Great for use in the car, Hema’s State Handy Maps clearly show highways, minor and secondary roads, national and state routes and fully-indexed cities, towns and localities. Detailed road distances are also shown. All of the maps are double-sided and come in an easy-to-fold format.

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Western Australia Handy Map - Deluxe Cover

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Western Australia State Map

Great for travel planning, Hema’s State Maps clearly show highways, minor and secondary roads, national and state routes and fully-indexed cities, towns and localities. Detailed road distances are also shown. This map is single-sided which makes it ideal wall maps.

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Natmap Raster 2005	Gunbarrel Hwy
Natmap Raster 2005: Premium - DVD	Western Australia Handy Map
Great Desert Tracks of Australia NW	Western Australia Handy Map - Deluxe Cover
Great Desert Tracks of Australia SW	Western Australia State Map

Intersection reached after a couple of good days travelling north on the DCR. We approached the DCR from the south turning onto the track and heading north 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.