David Carnegie Highway (Ngarinarri Claypan)

Hi Landy, travelled that road in late May. When the David Carnegie becomes the Eagle Hwy when it crosses the Gunbarrel the track at the time was very washed out so you may find our wheel tracks still there. Quite a nice drive with the usual washouts and the occassional minor corrugated bit. We follwed the Eagle Hwy all the way around to the Gary Hwy.

There a couple of signs along the track (Eagle Hwy) that says access is prohibited ( at the Mungkili Outstation, and the track leading into the Warri Site), but when we met up with some of the TO Rangers they were quite happy for us to drive the track.

As to the clay pan you mention I have no idea?

Cheers

Dunc.

Hi Landy,

I went to the claypan in 2007.
Easy track, you'll get there easily enough in a Landcruiser.

Haven't been on the track north to the Talawana however have been on the track east to the Gary, that's a pearler.







Cheers
Alan

G'day Landy.

The following may be some help - a bit long winded! It was a great trip. My pics are similar to Alans.

Travel safe, David and Kerry

Day 16. Saturday, 11 July 2010. Start 275,832 km making 233 for yesterday. Frosty morning. Ice on the tent. Up the road came to some challenging sharp inclines and then crossed the Gunbarrel Highway to Mungilli nature reserve, this crossroad was where the Gunbarrel Highway met the David Carnegie Road which continued North as the Eagle highway, we had passed this way in 2008. Travelled up the well formed Road to the abandoned Mungilli community. Today this is occupied by sandalwood cutters. David talked to a couple of the blokes who were mainly aborigines used for their good bush sense overseen by a Fijian bloke on a four-wheel-drive quad. I asked the Fijian bloke did he go out looking for the sandalwood he admitted he didn't and everytime he did he got lost, whereas the aborigines could wonder all over this country and come straight back to camp from anywhere.

The sandalwood has become quite rare in Western Australia except in these very remote areas. The sandalwood is cut, even the smallest twigs are saved, bought back to the camp where the bark is water blasted off leaving the white underlaying wood. A heap of this wood looks somewhat bizarre in its bleached starkness, it is stacked into bulk fertiliser bags and collected when a load is available. I believe it's mainly sent China although there is some processing in Australia.

While having lunch on the side of the road a group of four vehicles passed us heading south one stopped to tell us there was heavy rain to the North and the Road may well be impassable. Their vehicles were covered in mud and there were some very mysterious packages covered with tarps on the back of the utes. We intrepid travellers travelled on into the unknown. We opted to take detours around the bog holes thus avoiding the muddy outcome. At no stage were we troubled by floodwaters or impassable mud – so much for listening to others in fact I'm sure they had some other agenda on their gameplan.

Visited the Eagle Hussar abandoned oil well drilled in 1982 then we headed up to the Warri Site. This was the oil exploration camp to all those years ago. Found the track and turned West to Ngariri Claypan.

Yatungke, the last two of the Desert nomads left their way of life in 1977 and were taken to Wiluna where they lived two years. A little stone cairn in the middle of the claypan marked the spot. A seemingly insignificant marker delineating such a profoundly important event. A peaceful place, which had a somewhat eerie feel, an unusual place, a spirtual place. We could understand their reluctance to abandon their heritage.

Went on back to the Warrie site where an oil exploration company put a couple of wells down but later abandoned them. A lonely windmill and tank, not working, were the only company for the many camels. Temperature got up to about 23°C.

Day 17 12th of July 2010. Left the Warrie site drove up to the Eagle Dragoon bore site. They were drilling for oil in 1982 drilled 2000 m. Turns south-east onto the Eagle Highway 66 km to join the Gary Highway. The Eagle Highway was rough going not much traffic had been on it and very overgrown, trees and shubs overcrowding the track itself. Big anthills had to be avoided on the track 25°C today. 10 AM David took photos of holy and wattle together both in flower. On to windy corner and another Len Beadell marker, we took photos around 4 PM and turned drove onto the Talawana Track and camped a few kilometres west.

Baz,

The claypan it is closed to the public. You will need to apply for permission from the Birriliburu People. I suggest you contact Central Desert Native Title Services in Perth. They administer applications for access to BB lands.

"Access onto Birriliburu native title determination area for other purposes.
Access to the Birriliburu native title determination for all other purposes requires the consent of the Birriliburu native title holders."

"The only area the public can access that is recognised in the Birriliburu determination is the Canning Stock Route (CSR). Members of the public wishing to traverse the CSR may do so, however, no access off the CSR onto Birriliburu native title determination area is permitted without the consent of the Birriliburu native title holders. Consent for access onto the Birriliburu native title determination area can be sought through Central Desert."

Birriliburu NT info

Cheers Mick

Hi Baz,

How the hell are you ?

I went up there from the Gunbarrel 6 years ago. Track as described by others.

Then we went south to Mt Madley, then up to the CSR via the Mungkulu Ranges and the Calvert Ranges. A trip I will never forget.

So many dunes, so many punctures. Those were the days !

Willie (same suburb as you)