Horseshoe bend road from Stuart Hwy to Chambers Pillar

Submitted: Monday, Dec 29, 2014 at 20:17
ThreadID: 110557 Views:2999 Replies:2 FollowUps:10
This Thread has been Archived
I am trying to find out if it is possible to use Horseshoe Bend Road and the adjoining pastoral road to get from the Stuart Highway to Chambers Pillar. I can find discussions from about 3 years ago but nothing recently. Does anyone out there know if this is allowed now?
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 07:52

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 07:52
In 2012 we were driving west from the rail crossing at Impardna towards Finke and there is a gate across the road saying that the Horseshoe Bend section was private property. We turned around and went back to the highway and then to Finke via the Kulgera to Finke road. We weren't heading to the Simpson not Chambers Pillar.

You may want to call the Kulgera Police to get the latest.
AnswerID: 543504

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 07:54

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 07:54
I meant to say "We were heading to the Simpson not Chambers Pillar". Argh! I should read it again and then again. Have a good day.
0
FollowupID: 830457

Reply By: Kris and Kev - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 08:45

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 08:45
Not sure if the road you are after is the same as we took in 2012. After leaving Chambers Pillar we turned left and followed that road to the Highway. The road crossed the Hugh River, followed the railway for a short time and then crossed the line and came out onto the Stuart Highway. There was a gate at the highway as the road went through a cattle property. It is not usually locked. We were towing a camper trailer and the road was in good condition and a nice drive. Kevin
AnswerID: 543508

Follow Up By: Ozrover - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 09:12

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 09:12
That is the Hugh river stock route, as far as I know it is the only way (legally) to get from chambers Pillar to the Stuart Hwy.
1
FollowupID: 830460

Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 18:14

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 18:14
Gday Jeff,
I think youll find that is the track through Idracowra? Then up the rail road to HRSR.....private property.
0
FollowupID: 830481

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 18:41

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 18:41
Hi Hairy

Idracowra Station, or just "Idracowra" as you called it, is on a side road to the track that Jeff is talking about. We were there recently. Lovely people.Horseshoe Bend Station is the adjacent property to the east of Idracowra. It's named after the large bend in the Finke River that resembles the shape of a horse shoe.
1
FollowupID: 830484

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 18:53

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 18:53
I hadn't finished my post and somehow ended up at a different site. I must have pressed one of those control key functions. My fat fingers sometimes get the Ctrl key instead of the Shift key.

I was also going to say:

I wouldn't try driving north from Impardna and along the side of the train line. Besides not being allowed to do so, there are signs everywhere, the Finke River crossing near the train bridge has some of the softest sand that I have seen for years and it is a wide crossing and momentum won't help.

Coming from Alice Springs I would take the Old South Road along the old Ghan line. Coming northward up the Stuart Highway I would turn east at Kulgera towards Finke and then swing north along the old Ghan line. You can then take a short side trip to The Lambert Center before getting to Finke.

Beautiful country.
1
FollowupID: 830488

Follow Up By: Kris and Kev - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 19:20

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 19:20
I think Jeff is correct, the Hugh River Stock route, also known as Maryvale Road. We took that one out because we wanted to then go to Rainbow Valley and it saved us going back on the Chambers Pillar Road (Old South Road). The below photos are of a great camp spot on the Hugh River and then crossing the railway line. Kevin



1
FollowupID: 830490

Follow Up By: Ozrover - Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 19:22

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at 19:22
Nice drive anyway...
0
FollowupID: 830491

Follow Up By: Bowks - Wednesday, Dec 31, 2014 at 10:22

Wednesday, Dec 31, 2014 at 10:22
Thanks for your input everyone.
vk1dx - yes it is the road through Idracowra that I am interested in. Did you contact the station owners prior to travelling that road? I have found their website and contact details but I just thought I would start here. Any further info would be great.
0
FollowupID: 830515

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jan 02, 2015 at 23:37

Friday, Jan 02, 2015 at 23:37
There was no access to Idracowra when we were up there back in 2012. We had tried to go beside the track but were stopped by the sand at the Finke. That was before we saw the sign at Impardna. It wasn't a great loss as we were on our way to the Simpson anyway.
1
FollowupID: 830641

Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Jan 04, 2015 at 15:02

Sunday, Jan 04, 2015 at 15:02
Idracowra used to have a sign on the gate basically saying Private Property and something like all previous permission revoked!
And as someone said the railway is private too and has trespass notices everywhere.
I would be giving them a call just in case their attitude has changed as its definitely not public thoroughfare.......
In saying that I used to take people out the back way from Rainbow Valley, down the rail line to Idracowra and across to Chambers now and then and never got in trouble, but I was local too?
Id give them a call........
Good Luck

Cheers
3
FollowupID: 830753

Sponsored Links