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Plenty Highway

Difficulty: Trek rating 3.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD Bike 
Part of the "Outback Way", the Plenty Highway is the most direct route from central Queensland across to Alice Springs in central Australia. It is a wide stretch of very red sandy soil that when wet can be impassible - 4WD only.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesBoulia
FinishAlice Springs
Distance813.34 kmMinimum Days3
Average Speed52.31 km/hrDriving Time15 hours 32 mins
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 10 Oct 2009
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 Description

The Plenty Highway really doesn't begin until you reach the NT border, but to get there you travel from Boulia in outback Queensland along the Donohue Highway (just a track). Typically, the Queensland section of the track is in the worst condition with long stretches of extreme bulldust and big holes (making it a dry weather road only) - the NT section is more regularly maintained and graded.

The countryside changes considerably along the track and although it lacks services and "things to do" it is certainly one of the prettier shortcut tracks that you can do in this area. The overwhelming difference is that although the soil is the same red sandy stuff of the Simpson Desert, the terrain is completely flat, the spinifex grass much greener, and if there's been recent rains then wildflowers line the roadsides. Billy buttons, bush daisies, poached egg daisies, yellow tops and native violets carpet the sides of the road where water collects in the gutters.

As you approach the Harts (Hartz) Range you begin to see the first mountains you've probably seen in quite a while. If you've come from Birdsville or Boulia for long your senses seemed to be bombarded, a result of having been surrounded by gibber, sand and dust.

Just past the Harts Range Police Station (next door to an aboriginal community), turn left (south) down a track to the "Racecourse". Probably deserted for 363 days of the year this racetrack becomes a mecca for the outback racing enthusiasts with a crowd of a few thousand on the last weekend in August. Just behind the racecourse a track leads south for about 10km and finally reaches the base of a few impressive mountains, the highest being Mt Palmer. Mt Palmer is the highest in the Harts Range and is a fabulous climb. It will take about 2 hours to reach the summit but on the way you can explore open gaps left by mica miners and soak up the impressive views. Black-footed rock wallabies live in the "Disputed" mine shaft (where 2 miners lost their lives in a collapse not long after it was opened) and many wildflowers grow amongst the rocky outcrops on the climb up.

This track called Cattlewater Pass is a 4WD section between the Plenty and Arltunga. The track winds through some of Australia's finest gemstone fossicking areas and private cattle property and is a great alternative to get to Alice Springs. It will probably take you about 3 hours to travel the 60km along the track, with the northern section being true 4WD conditions of varying type. Most people advise that is unsuitable to trailers or tall vehicles, however we have taken a trailer through there ourselves so this is up to you. The track is now pretty well sign posted, after being quite unmarked for many years.

Outback Way

The Outback Way is made up of seven inter-connecting roads including The Great Central Road (WA); Tjukaruru Road, Lasseter Highway, Stuart Highway and Plenty Highway (NT); and Donohue Highway and Min Min Byway (QLD). Collectively these are called The Outback Way.

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Plenty Highway Help

From: Boulia
To: Alice Springs

Distance: 813.34 km
Direction: 261 °
Average Speed: 52.31 km/hr
Travel Time: 15 hours 32 mins

Using the Map

Our treks have a moving map facility, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button in the Moving map control (see Moving Map help)
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 Permits

None

 Things to See & Do

Gemtree - NT   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Point of Interest
Gemtree is located 140kms North-East of Alice Springs, with bitumen road to the front gate! Nestled neatly amongst the native bush of the Plenty Highway, Gemtree is a welcome port of call for young and old.
Gem fossicking, abandoned mica mines, remote country, bush camping, great alternative east-west crossing, faster and easier than Simpson Desert

 Preparation

The minimum requirements would be to carry good communications and navigation equipment (along with being proficient with it's usage).

Safety Note - in case of an emergency, please note that a hospital complete with ambulance is located at Bonya (Orrtipa Thurra) which is north of Jervois on the Bonya Creek along the Mt Isa-Urangdangi Track.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolBoulia, Jervois, Atitjere, Gemtree, Alice Springs Diesel4cyl 114 litres ULP4cyl 132 litres LPG4cyl 163 litres
6cyl 124 litres *6cyl 101 litres *6cyl 143 litres
8cyl 127 litres8cyl 135 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Dry season is best as it may be impassible when wet.

Closest Climatic Station

Jervois
Distance from Trek Mid Point 88.68km NW
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 38.336.834.630.5 25.322.121.925.0 29.733.236.037.8
Mean Min. °C 22.422.119.214.2 9.86.55.26.9 11.115.518.821.3
Mean Rain mm 49.157.730.617.9 19.610.913.28.1 6.016.223.039.1
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Boulia, Jervois, Atitjere, Harts Range Police Station, Gemtree, Alice Springs

 Camp Sites & Accommodation

Gemtree - NT   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Point of Interest
Gemtree is located 140kms North-East of Alice Springs, with bitumen road to the front gate! Nestled neatly amongst the native bush of the Plenty Highway, Gemtree is a welcome port of call for young and old.
Boulia - QLD   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Police Station Resort,Motel
The town of Boulia is the pivotal point of the far west, with Mount Isa 300 kilometres to the north and Winton 370 kilometres to the east. It is linked to Alice Springs via the Donohue Highway and the town is acknowledged as being the Capital of the Channel Country, which gives rise to the great rivers that flow west to Lake Eyre.
Alice Springs - NT   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
The name of this city comes from it's humble beginnings when a small settlement was built along a waterhole called Alice Springs in 1872. Today, Alice Springs is the largest town in Central Australia with a population of around 24,000. Although it is indeed a city, it is more accurately described as an outback town with a country lifestyle for locals and visitors.
West of Boulia the Georgina River makes a wonderful camp. At times this incredible river can be in full flood, flowing fast towards Eyre Creek. Once you reach the Qld/NT border its 569km to Alice Springs. Other excellent camps are at the Marshall River (shade shelter and picnic table) and then further on at the Plenty River.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Boulia to Plenty Highway, NT-QLD Border 245.76 km W 289° N/A
Plenty Highway, NT-QLD Border to Tobermorey 2.49 km NW 307° N/A
Tobermorey to Injerrabonna Waterhole 63.4 km W 252° N/A
Injerrabonna Waterhole to Jervois 154.64 km SW 246° N/A
Jervois to Atitjere 132.12 km W 268° 3 hr 23 min
Atitjere to Harts Range Police Station 1.8 km NW 295° 1 min
Harts Range Police Station to Gemtree 74.43 km W 271° 2 hr 42 min
Gemtree to Stuart Hwy & Plenty Hwy 69.57 km W 252° 2 hr 8 min
Stuart Hwy & Plenty Hwy to Tanami Rd & Stuart Hwy 48.44 km S 160° 1 hr 29 min
Tanami Rd & Stuart Hwy to Alice Springs 20.69 km S 174° 14 min
Boulia to Alice Springs 813.34 km     15 hr 32 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

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What Others have Said

Latest 5 of 23 - View all in Forum

DoinARunna : 10 Oct 09 18:38
Does anyone have current road condition for the Plenty Hwy. Have tr...
Member - Greg H (NT) : 26 Jul 09 17:38
Gidday all, Heading along the Plenty Hwy this week (Alice-Boulia)...
griswalds : 6 Jul 09 13:59
has anyone been across the plenty highway recently? how were road co...
Zylaxas : 18 May 09 17:39
Hi all could any body give an update on the avalability of fuel alon...
Rowdy6032 : 14 Apr 09 22:10
In June/July this year my wife and I are considering travelling from...

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