Buchanan Hwy - water supply

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 05:38
ThreadID: 110391 Views:2779 Replies:3 FollowUps:6
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G'day,
I'm planning to cross the country from Cairns to Broome by pushbike in september next year.
Just now I don't know, whether heading forward the Savannah Hwy close to Mataranka or choosing the Buchanan Hwy to Timber Creek.
Are there any water supplies on the Buchanan Hwy, excepting Top Springs.
Probably it might be more scenic on the Savannah Hwy via Roper Bar but I won't go the the busy Victoria Hwy to Timber Creek.

Martin
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Reply By: Member - mechpete - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 11:35

Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 11:35
you couldn,t have picked a hotter time of the year to go
cheers mechpete
AnswerID: 542837

Follow Up By: Bigfish - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 11:53

Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 11:53
Totally agree. Scenery is bland due to no greenery. Roads corrugated and very dusty due to vehicular traffic from dry season tourist and lack of rain.
May-June would be nice but September is just ridiculous.
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Reply By: Member Andys Adventures - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:18

Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:18
Hi Martin,

The map shows a bore at Murranji Waterhole it is not far off the Buchanan Hwy but if you follow the stock route their are bores all along to Top Springs.
Going through via Roper Bar gives you at lot of camp grounds and a lo to see.
I think it is the best time for you to travel by bike.

May and June as others have suggested, would be cold at night, have a lot of traffic, start of peak season, a lot of roads not graded, most creek crossings will still have water in them at that time of year, and the dust starts when the rain stops.


Cheers Andy

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Follow Up By: Steve in Kakadu - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:24

Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:24
Those places bring back memories, I was on a survey team setting up the survey stations for the Alice to Darwin railway, that Murranji Waterhole was our bath for 2 months.

Martin as above, one of the hottest times to do it.
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Follow Up By: Steve in Kakadu - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:26

Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:26
I was on a survey team setting up the survey stations in 1982.
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Follow Up By: Bigfish - Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 20:22

Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 20:22
I was based at Dunmarra doing core drilling samples for the railway line in about 1983-4.
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Reply By: Member - eighty matey - Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 20:27

Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 20:27
G'day Martin,

it's probably more direct to go through Cape Crawford and on through the Buchanan Hwy.

I've never driven that road but looking at this thread it seems that there are gorges and waterholes.
There are also a number of bores but don't camp near the bores because that will stop the cattle coming in for water.

Good on you for planning such a big adventure. It's something you'll never forget.

Steve
AnswerID: 542907

Follow Up By: Martin S - Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 at 00:33

Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 at 00:33
Thanks for your tip not to camp near the bores, because it will stop the cattle coming near.
I already took a year of between 2003 and 2004 when cycling through parts of the world, f.e. the Cape York Peninsula. The experiences were so overwhelming, that I still live on it.

Martin
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Follow Up By: Member - eighty matey - Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 at 20:08

Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 at 20:08
Do you mind if I ask what country you come from?

We have passed quite a few people travelling through Australia on push bikes and in the history of Australia people travelled all over the continent on bicycles.
It's not on list of things to do. Give me my Landcruiser any day.

Steve
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