Tracks/journeys similar to or harder than the CSR

Hi Mitchell, you've asked at the right place.
It depends what kind of terrain you seek I guess.
Try going to the blogs section and select travel journals - There's a few good trip reports in there.
One day I'd like to travel the Carson River Track up north- that looks like a good challenge.
Cheers
Alan

Another great drive in the Kimberley is the Munja Track to Walcott Inlet. It starts on Mount Elizabeth Station.
It is no where near as tough as the Carson Track though. In 2005, allowing for some sight seeing along the way, I called it a "100km per day" road. It will depend very much on how much use it has had for the season and how much work Rick has done to open it after the wet.
It is a great area....

Slide show here...
http://s246.photobucket.com/user/Peter_n_Margaret/slideshow/05%203%20Munja%20Track%20to%20Walcott%20Inlet

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Hi Mitchell
This year we set ourselves the target of going from the South Coast to the North without touching the bitumen, so....
Started at Ceduna, up Googs Track to Tarcoola and then up a few back roads to Coober Pedy (but had to do about 100km of blacktop because some tracks were prohibited entry).
Then went out via Painted Desert to Oodnadatta, and then on via Pedirka Siding to Dalhousie Springs and up to Mt Dare.
From there took a section of the Binns Track to Old Andado Station (great place), and then across to Finke and Lambert Centre.
Then up the Finke Road to the Maryvale shortcut across to Chambers Pillar, and onwards into Alice Springs for a bit of a break.
From there up the Tanami, and detoured via Balgo and Malun into Lake Gregory and Lake Stretch, coming out on the Northern end of the Canning and back on the Tanami to Halls Creek.
From there up the Duncan Road around the eastern side of the Bungles to get to Kununurra, and along the Gibb River Road (a bit more compulsory blacktop to reach the Pentecost River) before turning up the KalumburuRroad to Drysdale, King Edward River and Mitchell Plateau.
A great trip with everything from sand dunes and big rocks to gibbers and bulldust, and a bit of wet stuff for variety.
And if you want a really great 4WD side trip, take a trip across the Savannah Way from Roper Bar to Burketown and call in for a week at Lorella Springs - 1000km of fantastic and challenging private tracks to check out, all the way out to the Gulf Coast.
Enjoy !

Hey Mitchell
Here's a few in the west for you

Dirk Hartog Island - barge from near Steep Point to the Island
Munja Track - 'westish' from Mt Elizabeth in the Kimberley
Cliff top drive Mundrabilla to Israelite Bay
Cross country from Balgo - Kwirrkurra road east to Labbi Labbi
Hanns Track - between Anne Beadell and Connie Sue

Google each and you'll find a fair bit to keep you going


cheers

And what about the Madigan Line, Mitchell?

Haven't been there, but from what I've read here, there's quite a bit of planning needed to make the trip successful.

Check posts by Robin Miller for the good oil.

Bob

Mitchell

I've just returned from driving from KL in Malaysia, through China, Mongolia, and the car went to Magadan in Siberia and back to Vladivostok. That's a 22,500km journey. Great trip.

The people who I travelled with have done 45 international trips out of Malaysia over the last 20 years. Singapore to London, Silk Road, Africa, Amazon River, South America etc etc. I'd call them pretty experienced travellers!

They are very clear that the CSR had been the biggest challenge for them. Well, until the trip to Siberia was in -12°C conditions, blizzards, and the stony roads caused 43 punctures.... The driving wasn't challenging, but the physical conditions were.

The CSR was striking to them because there is no where else in the world where you can travel for so far and not come across a major town or cross road for the whole journey. Even in Siberia, they'd get a hotel after a few nights camping. The CSR road conditions that were very hard on their vehicles also tops their list in terms of mechanical challenges.

You're going to find it hard to top the CSR now, but as others have pointed out there are many other places you can travel to. We live in a wonderful country.

Tim