Sandover highway worth doing?

When we went to Ayers Rock in 2011, Larsy, we went over on the Plenty and back up the Sandover, to Camooweal.

Road surface was good, except for a few clicks between Alparra Store and the community. "Best" Corrugations I've seen for a while. There's about 15km of bitumen along there too, from memory. We turned off the Sandover and went via Austral Downs, and hit the Barkly H'way just west of Kiama Ck.

Not a lot of "scenery" but a good drive just the same. Allow 1.5-2 days, if you smell a few roses.

Bob

Hey Bob,

What would you think,
The main highway ie.barkley and Stuart, be quicker than the Sandover, going from Alice to mt isa? I'm not after a fast trip, but just a good drive.

Cheers
Lars

Suggest you grab the "Plenty & Sandover Highway" map from Westprint Maps @ $12.95. Gives GPS locations and a good description of the route, things to see and do.
regards

Drove the Sandover Highway last year- late May - West to East via Lake Nash and Austral Downs .

Absolute "moonscape" on the track - Lake Nash to Camooweal.

NB: Just as a matter of interest, the perimeter fence of Lake Nash Station is 150 klms from the Homestead - big backyard !!!!!

Great education to show the kids just how arid and sparse this great country can be !
Thoroughly recommend the trip but carry extra fuel if the only Roadhouse happens to be closed (which it often is).

Hey Larsy,

This is very remote country so a Sat phone should be carried - especially if you have kids on board.

Look up Lake Nash on the Web - there is also a local weather site on the Web for the area.

Rather than spoil the surprise, just recall what I said about the "moonscape journey" from Lake Nash to Camourweal when you are travelling - and No!

Its not bulldust !

Not particularly inspiring scenery. Not many good campsites. Road condition in August was pretty good but looks like could deteriorate with a bit of rain.
Be aware that fuel at Alparra is a bit hit and miss. We arrived from Alice to find the station closed. After some detailed calculations, decided to push on to Camooweal driving at 80kph with no air con. Encountered a stiff headwind and lots of bulldust but made it to the Barkly Hwy. Ran out of fuel 10km from Camooweal.

Hi Larsy
A bit late for a reply but the brother a I travelled the Sandover Highway last Sept 2016 and found it no trouble. We left from Alice to the east Mcdonnolls than up the Binns track to the Plenty, east to the Harts range area and followed the Binns north and got onto the Sandover about a third of the way up the track. We turned south about 63km east of lake Nash and found the Hiway quite good. If your driving the Plenty, the Sandover not that different. I always carry two spares, a sat phone and 300lts fuel. Passed at least one or two cars an hour. It's about 820km from Alice to the Isa via the Sandover. Call the Ariparra Store and see when their open for fuel and don't worry, I think you've been around enough not to do any thing stupid. I only travelled around the 65 to 75 km an hour and saw a lot. Bit long winded with the reply I suppose.

RayJ