Rudall River/Telfer mine road/Kidson <span class="highlight">track</span>(<span class="highlight">Wapet</span> road)

Hi Petra

You will find that 99.99999% of the time they have fuel at Kunawarritji. There would be no sense ordering it in advance, as they always have it for locals (they also hold some back if getting low, for local people.

If you can give me some idea as to when you may be planning for your trip, I will contact my nephew there and he will give me accurate information, but in general, as I said, they have diesel fuel and opal (a petrol substitute that cannot be sniffed).

Cheers

Hi Petra, you don't need to notify anyone re the Telfer Road, and for a dirt road, it is really excellent. Autobaan almost! You do need permissions to travel off it to Telfer minesite locations.

There are fairly recent reports on this site re KidsonTrk. Try a search.

Cheers.

Petra

Check these links. I have 30 or so blogs up on Rudall and the surrounds.

Rudall - Blog Search


Rudall River 2009

Here is also my track condition report from August 2010

2010 Tracks


Hope this helps.


Cheers Mick

Hi Petra,

Not sure of Telfer mine Rd, i actually thought, as per instructions on Hema maps for area, that travellers were required to advise the mine and request permission to travel, i may be wrong though.

As for WAPET Rd (Kidson Trk), I travelled that Rd in July of this year from West to East, starting just near the turn off to Eighty Mile Beach and ending at Well 33/Kunawarritji.

The Western end was quite over grown and slow going, although nothing to technical about the drive, some corrugations but not extreme, expect bush rub marks down the side of your vehicle.

The Easter end opened up more, less scrub and bush protruding accross the road and still some corrugations but driving to conditions as they present themselves made it not uncomfortable, again, nothing to technical about the drive.

We took 2 and a half days to traverse the track at a comfortable pace and stopping at various spots of interest for breaks, lunches and sightseeing. There was good camping the first night at a rocky knoll about 250 odd Km's from the start with plenty of firewood and the second night camping at the Telfer bore where the Telfer mine rd meets the kidson with god drinking water at site and again plenty of firewood.

Kunawarritji community had a well supplied general store, very friendly people and diesel was $3:20 a litre however we didnt need to refuel there as we had enough to get us to Kintore where fuel was substantially cheaper at $1:60 per litre.

Average fuel consumption for Kidson Trk was 8.5 Km's to the litre and we were loaded up with about 800Kg's of gear.

In general, it was a fantastic drive through some amazing country along a good rd with plenty of areas to go around the washouts and a lot of the time done in 2wd. clearance is necessary however due to some of the washouts and some sand near the various dunes. Becareful especially on the Sth side of the dunes as thats where the majority of washouts were.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Telfer don't want to know about you on the road. Watch out for BIG rigs on that road though.
Last time we were there (in '08) they were also preparing to move the security gate to the mine so that tourists could avoid the gate to go to the Rudall River NP.
The security gate could be contacted on UHF40 from the top of the hill as you approach from the east.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Hi Petra please be aware that the build up to the wet season has started which means extreme heat and humidity and the chance of heavy tropical storms which as stated can mean impassable roads and the Kidson track is a road that sees very little traffic at this time of the year so if conditions hold you up make sure you are prepared it is not that long ago that there was tragedy on this track at this time of the year

regards Dave

hi petra
the others have covered everything but just want to warn you to carry plenty of water and and food and that the desert temperatures could be high 30's through to high 40's + at that time of the year and it can be unforgiving country if something goes wrong

not many australians travel that area at that time of the year because of the heat and the risk of heavy seasonal rains
so your vehiclesmechanical and cooling system will need to be in excellent condition it would also be advisible to carry a uhf radiowhich can be hired if you dont have one
as mobile reception is limited to only a few places mentioned by others on here
and carry spares drive belts tyre repair kit and plenty of spare fuel etc
as it's very remote out there with no repair centers and costly if someone has to come and get you
cheers hope you enjoy your adventure

Hi Petra

We travelled through and re-fuelled at Kunawarritji on our way east to Alice Springs last year. We did not go south to Rudall River attractions. I selected Kunawarritji and Kintore for refuelling and telephoned both before setting out to advise our diesel requirements and approximate time frame. Both said there would be no problems with supplies and gave me their opening times. As aforesaid, at $3.20 per litre, Kunawarritji is one of the most expensive, but it is convenient for those taking the Canning Stock Route Trek. We had to wait quite some time for service as there was a long queue of people doing the Stock Route also wanting fuel. They do not take credit card. We always carry enough cash for fuel from the desert community stores such as this.

Motherhen