Travel on the Great Central Road in December

I personally wouldn't do it with a 10 month old in a Subaroo, but this link here gives some good advice.

Outback travel Great Central Rd

The temperature would be the biggest risk at that time of the year, especially with a 10mth old. Kids dehydrate very quickly. I would expect you would need to stop and give fluids at least every 30 minute, adding a lot more to your travel time.
A lot of tour companies will not take children under 12 years in summer in those areas ,on medical advice.

Because there would not be much traffic there is no back up.

I wouldn't do it. Have for many years needed to do long trips to Perth and in summer only travelled at night. Wild life less a risk than dehydration.

Neil

Shaun,
I would not recommend such travel in December. As mentioned there will be few travellers and the heat will be intense. As well as the few travellers the area is very isolated. There are good caravan parks at Tjukayirla and Warakurna. I would not stay at Warburton. Overall I would suggest you rethink your travel plans.
Robert

Several years ago we went to visit a mate, his wife and 1st baby in Mt Magnet. It was pretty hot but we decided to go for a run to Meekatharra to the races.

By the time we got to Tuckanarra, which was about half way, the baby was becoming distressed so we stopped at the roadhouse. The old girl that ran the roadhouse came out and upon seeing the baby asked if she could hold her.

I still laugh when I recall the look on my mates wife face when the old girl took the baby and placed it in the water, in the dogs bucket, on the verandah.

It did help and I'm glad to say the baby survived. Babies can become dehydrated quickly.

Probably not a good idea to take a baby on the GCR in December.

Regards
Rowdy

A baby would most likely not be able to survive in the heat that can be expected at that time of the year for very long. You are relying on the air conditioning to always be working and in an 8 year old car. I would suggest that the risk is far to high. Even with a satellite phone, in the event of a breakdown or accident, help could still be many hours away. Bottom line - don't do it.

I echo what others have said regarding the combination of heat and baby at that time of year.

Also endorse Robert1660's comments re stopovers. This year and in 2014 we traversed the GCR (in cooler months) in our 2007 Subaru Forester. First time was Laverton/Tjukayirla/Warakurna/Yulara (deliberately avoiding Warburton and Docker River) while this year it was Kalgoorlie/Tjuka ....

Unseasonal rain can strike at any time, and play havoc with a tight timetable. We faced the same in June with a Yulara booking, but the Docker River - Yulara section was reopened (with cautions) two days before we needed to cross it.

It is certainly far shorter (and in our view less boring) than the "long way" via the Nullarboring.

If you do decide to go, I would recommend a thorough independent vehicle mech-check including the cooling system and aircon, and I would personally take a satphone (as we do). Apart from the above cautions, the vehicle type itself is entirely suitable for the road - the "locals" do it in 20yo Falcadores with few failures. Drive to conditions and tyre failures should not be a problem for you.

Be aware also that fuel availability outside "normal hours" attracts an opening fee at the named roadhouses. Best to fuel up on arrival if they are still open, rather than wait till the morning opening time if early starts are your preference.

Shaun apart from what the others have said give each of the roadhouses a call to check whether they will be open between Christmas & New Year's as they may not be and or have restricted opening hours. If you leave Laverton early in the day , the drive from there to Warakurna in a day is not out of the question and an easy drive so I'd give Warburton a miss as a stop over. You should be able to average 80km/hr so work your travel times and distances from that.

However, you will need to be mindful of as summer in the desert isn't tourist season the road may not have been graded so that could really slow you down somewhat.

Hope you have a fun and safe trip no matter what your final choices are?

cheers

Dunc

Thank you all for the suggestions, I just emailed the hotel to cancel the Uluru booking and decided to stay away from the GCR in December, although I dream about it and Uluru ever since I came to Australia! I just love the Red.... I will do it when my son is older or just myself with friends.

We will basically travel from Sydney to Esperance through Adelaide and go back...of course, if the baby is not happy, we can certainly go back at any time.

Again, thanks a lot! Enjoy the rest.

Best,
Zhitao

I differ in opinion and would have a go - but I guess that's me.
I took a Mazda 808 up that way in the early 80's, plus wife and 12mo when the road was ordinary. A good adventure.
And have been that way a number of times since.
The road is quite good nowadays - all weather - and all but a big downpour will stop you, and that's rare. The most worrisome part is back on the bitumen near Uluru, and the boredom sets in.
I would expect you to have some basic mechanical knowledge and good experience driving on gravel roads. A steady pace of 80-100km/hr is realistic, and easy to do up to 800 in a day with frequent stops. Corrugations are likely around the Docker River region. Plus camels; take care.
Heat can be variable at that time of the year but its realistic to expect hot weather over 30°, probably less than 40. Bring a small spray bottle as a back up; like we used to use in the days before a/c.
Usual outback travel rules: Ensure you have plenty of water, spare food, basic tools and tyre repair, EPIRB, extra shade and an emergency plan. Cover all the 'what-ifs'. Other traffic is limited, but not non-existent.
I agree that if you can skip past Warburton, it would be better, opting for Tjukayirla overnight instead, then Warakurna - this timetable is doable if you are travelling from Esperance. Good luck.

I did it a few years ago in summer , it was 53 deg for 3 days , not at all comfortable , fridge didn't work in that heat, air cond on and still 35 inside the car .
hardly saw another car except for the wrecks on the side of the road
Don't do it with a baby ....

However in winter it's a great drive , temps of about 30 deg.

Colin

Hi Zhitao,

I wasn't going to comment on this thread however after you mentioned that it was your dream to visit Uluru, I will.

Dreams are meant to be followed. Traveling isn't always a pleasure, sometimes the actual experience will be, perhaps after the journey, something you will cherish for a long time. If it is tough going, and you make it through - you will be a better person for it.

It may be an easy trip, it will probably be tough; however you may always regret that you never did the trip. Now is the time - the next trip when your child is older may never come and you will be left wondering.

Do it, do it now, and fulfill your dream and be a better and stronger person.

Cheers
Alan

We lived on a community out there late 70s,early 80,s. I drove that road everyday for 3 years. The temps do reach into the low 50,s. Changing a tyre in those conditions unless you are aclimatised can get you into strife. I remember Christmas Day 1980. We had a baby 11 months old with heat stroke resulting from a drive into Laverton the day before in an airconned ute. It was a very unpleasant day and taught us a lesson we never forgot.
Its a great drive to do but in my opinion its nice between May and September.