Travelling the Tanami

We'll prob see you there!

Rabbit Flat has been closed for some time.

For the rest look up Tanami Rd on the Places screen on this site.

l travelled the Tamimi in Sept 2013. I left Chambers pillar around 8.00am and travelled to Alice springs to top up on fuel and a little food, than headed up the Tanimi. Around 5.30pm I was at Tilmouth crossing so I decided to stay the night in the camp grounds. Next morning left around 7.30am to head to Wolf crater. My speed was around the 80km as I found this just right to travel the corrigations, I had 3 stops along the way for about 20 to 30 mts each. I helped a fellow who broke down for 45 mts and made it to the crater as dark fell. I refuelled at Tilmount roadhouse and drove a crusher ute with no trailer and made it to Halls Ck with no worries, two 90 lts tanks. I did notice a few places people have pulled over into the trees for the night. Road was a little bony around the WA border so you might think about letting a little bit of air out of your tyres as you start on the dirt at either end of the Tanimi. Regards Ray J.

Thank you. We are thinking of calling into one of the communities as well

The company I work for is up there doing some prep work to seal a 30k section.

Hi GTBT

The road is quiet at night if you pull into any of the larger rest areas. There are a number of old gravel dump areas a little away from the road in the Western Australian section.

We had enough fuel from Halls Creek to Tilmouth Well Roadhouse and that included going in to Wolfe Creek Crater. We called into Yuedumu, and when we got to Tilmouth discovered that diesel was one cent dearer than at Yuendumu at that time.

Fuel can be obtained at the Aboriginal communities along the road but there is still at minimum 561 kilometres without any fuel outlets (Balgo to Yuendumu). If you plan to purchase fuel at the Balgo community, you will need a permit, and this application needs time to be assessed. Balgo is around forty kilometres from the Tanami Road.

We spent three nights along the Tanami Road. You are welcome to look at My Blogs (Tanami is in 2008).

Call in to Balgo for a look and then go on to Lake Gregory via Mulan - great camping.
Then take the alternative track and join the northern end of the Canning to stay at Lake Stretch, near Bililuna - fabulous camp spot.

We have a long range tank so filled up at Alice and then at Halls Creek last time, but first time we went into Yeundemu and decided to fill up at Tilmouth Well instead. Suggest a couple of Jerry Cans if you don't have the fuel distance.

FIrst time we pulled off the side of the road in a clearing and had a great night, second time we drove into Mt Doreen ruins and camped to the road, again had a great night.

Just be aware that you must not have alcohol or porn (there are signs and a reason for this) in aboriginal areas. As we had alcohol on board we elected to stay outside of the Aboriginal Lands.

The last time we travelled through there, 2 years ago, they were doing some good work on the road and reckon that before too long it will be bituminised

cheers

Oh boy yes! Watch it around the WA border! We came unstuck on 3 unexpected corrugations that bounced us beautifully (and landed us not-so-beautifully!) and almost broke our trailer's axle.
The delays in patching it up and the miscalculation of jerry cans we'd require meant we had to spend the night in Billiluna.. We'd calculated 2 but would've skimmed it through easier on 3 cans. Not sure of the Sorento's fuel tank size.
Even though we'd read that there was fuel available (in limited hours) in Billiluna, the FIFO nurse that we spoke to said that they really preferred to consider themselves a closed community...
The next morning we were lucky to get fuel because the guy who ran the servo was just filling up a couple of trail bikes and was about to hit Wolfe Creek for the day. Another 15 minutes later and we would've missed our fuel chances and would've been in "town" for a whole extra day!
We filled up in Alice, then Tilmouth, then Yuendumu - and that would've seen us to Halls Creek in 2 days/4 petrol stops if all had gone to plan.
We stayed the night at Tilmouth Wells camp ground and only had the company of one other couple. It was lovely and their dinners were very very nice. It was actually one of the waitresses who'd cooked because they voted to give the cook the night off!
Filling up at Yuendumu was an interesting exercise- first find where the petrol is sold and then work out that you have to swipe your card first, then pump the fuel...
Apart from the WA side's lack of grading and having to carefully work out your fuel stops/jerry cans, the road was "just" a corrugated gravel one. There was the occasional passing vehicle for company.
:)

According to Halls Ck Tourism the Tanami's just been graded.

NT government has a road condition alert for part of it:

http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/region.jsp?name=central_australia

Currently closed from Yuendumu north. May well be closed south after forecast rain tomorrow.