Gary Junction Road/WA

G'day Chris, we are going that way on a caravan tag along starting at Cape Byron mid August so our paths may cross. I will keep an eye on this thread.
In the mean time check this past thread Gary Junction Road It is a few years old but may give some ideas while you are waiting for some fresh ones.

We travelled that section to Papunya last year, and its a good wide road.

Fueled up at Kintore and Kunawarritji. The GJR was a bit rough before you got to Kintore T/O other than that a great drive.

Carawine Gorge, turn across the end of the airstrip and you will end up below the gravel.

The GJR is a gr\eat run. It is a mixture of conditions that will usually degenerate the ckloser you get to community turn-offs. The section immediately east of Papunya to the Bitumen of the Tanami is usually the worst you will encounter.

Please check out my blogs for a fairly good decrption of road conditions over the past 6 years or so. (I was on the track last in June-July 2014.

Gary Junction Road


Cheers

Mick

Chris,
The Kintore Fuel opening times were
Monday to Friday 9.30 -10.30 - 11.30 ---- 2.30 - 3.30 - 4.30
Saturday 9.30 - 10.30 - 11.30
It's a little Fort Knox and they lock it securely with steel doors.
Refuelled at Well33 as well, it was normal expected hours, shutting for lunch.
At Carawine Gorge we took our offroad vans over the pebbles without too much trouble. Decide where you are going to drive, ( I walked it), then go straight over. Near the waters edge it is no problem.
Great fun was had by all, as a couple did get stopped, but drove out with lower tyre pressures and no digging. I can't think of anywhere else you could find this. Give it a go :-)).

I found that no one would answer a phone call. you might have better luck.
A great drive.

Cheers,

Bill

When we decided to go on the tagalong from east to west next Aug I had a look for some info on what we could expect. Here are a couple more 2010 blogs

An Oka on the Gary Junction Road

A Bushtracker on the Gary Junction Road

Chris,

went that way (again) last year. We turned left at the bus stop and headed down through Telfer to Rudall River before reaching Marble Bar.

Once you leave the bitumen the road to Papunya can be pretty rough unless recently graded.

Haasts Bluff is a magic place. We've camped in the scrub at the base of the bluff many times.

When you join the main drag the road can be corrugated, but not enough to slow the troopies driven by non-owners to slow to less than 130 kph.

Papunya is not a place for stopping.

The scenery past Mt Liebig is magnificent. You get glimpses of Blanch Tower which we have passed more closely in going the back way from Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff Community) to Mt Liebig.

The road into Kintore is best avoided unless you can't reach Kiwirrkurra on a tank of fuel. Kintore has little to recommend it. You can't buy paintings at the Art Centre as they are locked in with Papunya Tula. If you aren't pressed for time you could drive down the SBJT as far as the Davenport Range which affords beautiful camping.

There isn't much between the border and Kiwirrkurra, but we have successfully camped at the base of Mt Tietkins.

The road in WA is in much better condition.

The secret to travelling these dirt freeways is to travel at 80 or less. High speeds and big loads spell tyre trouble.

Have a great trip

Bob