OFF Road Caravaning

Hi there. We were there years ago and turned back only about 30 k's from the coast.
The track was as rough as guts and a crew leaving there who passed us and stopped complained bitterly about the hordes of sand flies!
However we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Surveyers pool. Just off the same track North of Mitchell Falls.
It's a short track in but it was ok for the camper trailer but would have been too difficult for a larger caravan. Very narrow and sharp corners on a steep slope!

Cheers

Pete

We were up there last July and took our TVan in to Mitchell Falls. Didn't go to Port Warrender, but a couple of our friends went out there and they said it was very rough - a good trip but not suitable for towing anything.

You don't say what size van,
but it wouldn't want to be very big or heavy,
It's rough and narrow (not overly used),
and from memory I think there were sand/mud flats at the end.
Was over 3 yrs ago, but doubt it would have been maintained.

Nice spot though,

Thanks Pete we have bought an off road 18.6ft Kododa Mission, so keen to put it through it paces. I suppose after doing the Oodnadatta track, Tanami and the Gibb River road on the way up it will either make or break us. :-)

I ditto the above. I have been as far as Surveyors Pool 3 times, but have not ventured as far as Port Walsh/Port Warrender as it is sand fly hell a lot of the time, beach launching is not good, and I have not wanted to destroy the vehicles and trailers. It depends on the season, but I have been reliably informed that the last part is very washed out and steep, and if you get stuck, there is no way backwards with a large something on the back. There are much better places to visit if you value your money. A 18.5 foot van is NOT compatible with that area. Leave your van at say Surveyors Pool and do it as a day trip, if you have to go, and do it with company.
If you don't believe the advice, please talk to the guys at Drysdale River Station who used to go up there, and I am sure they will know its current condition.

I heard a good story a few years back.
A couple of lads drove into Port Warrender in a Hilux with a tinny on top, putted across to Kimberley Coastal Camp in the tinny and house sat there for the wet.
When the rain stopped, they putted back to the Hilux, but then could not get out because the road was gone.
At great expense, they got the Hilux out on a barge.
Good story anyhow.... :)

It's still on my list....

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

The road to the Mitchell Falls in 1999.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Should you take a 18'+ caravan, no.

This was June 2014 at this point https://goo.gl/maps/k7Yjp

This was after a fairly long, steep, narrow, rocky decent. Which you then have to go backup.

Hi Louise, went to Walsh Point in 2010. If you click on the underlined words you will go to the place and see the pix. I draw your attention to those nasty 600 mm boulders. Give it a miss with the van which you should leave at Mitchell Falls camp. Just take the 4WD to Walsh Point for a good day trip. And another tip which I got off this forum. On the track from Drysdale River Station to the falls, which is as corrugated as all, stop every 20 mins to give you and the passengers a rest but also to let the shocks cool down. Cheers, Warrie

Hi ,Dont want to hijack your thread,are you able to leave a van at Drysdale river station.?

Thanks Wildmax,you mean Kulumburu end

Thanks everyone for feed back, we are travelling with a group of people who have been in before with boats, but we will probably leave our Van at Drysdale River Station, and tent it while we are at Walsh Point.