Anne Beadell Highway

Des,
Forget it mate.....unless you're gunna get a trol (ie: proper 4x4)...hahahaha

Hi, Did the Anne Beadell ( east to west ) in Late July, & the going is good. Slow At times as per anywhere, but no overgrowth to worry about. There is a fuel stop about 150 K. west of the border ( unleaded & deisel ). so fuel is not a problem now. Regards Neil

Hi Des,

Did it from Coober Pedy to Vokes Hill Cnr 2 weeks ago, and did the rest of it last year. Flowers were out 2 weeks ago - looked spectacular. Do some reading before you go and the history, flora and fauna, atomic bomb tests etc will come alive. I'd suggest Mark Shephards book on the Great Victoria Desert and Blast the bush by Len Beadell.

The roadhouse on the WA side is recent. You need to confirm with them that it will be manned in the summer months. Would be getting hotter now - we had a couple of 38 degree days, and remember, there is virtually no natural water in the desert. Rainwater tanks are present in the WA side of the Anne Beadell Hwy. Look at the trip notes in Exploroz for more details. Permissions can be easily done by phone and fax.

The corrugations between Mabel Creek and Emu can be vehicle- bleep tering, so take it easy, and let those pressures down - mine were running at 16psi to iron them out.

I've done it 3 times in 3 years, and enjoy it.

Cheers
Phil

When are ya looking at doing the trip?? Do you intend then to go the Connie Sue & the Gunbarrel?? And yes, Fuel is available at Ilkulka (sorry about the spelling) Roadhouse- its trucked up from South, but would be a good idea to call ahead to confirm. I do have the number at home if interested.

Des,
Just had a look at my work load for next year and looks like I will be that way next August. The roadhouse just over the border is new and selling fuel. Vic said somthing about only selling diesel but I will check it out.

Wayne

If you,r doing it in Augest next year , then we will probley pass you going the other way .

Des,
If Errol from WA is there and if you are there from SA and if I am there from NSW this could be a national ExplorOZ gathering. Just a thought.

Wayne

Hi Des,

Just returned from there.
Travelled from Warburton down Connie Sue, hung a leftie at Neale Junction then tootled along the Ann Beadell to Coober Pedy.

Ann B is corrugated, holey, twisty, dusty & rough. Great fun. It is pretty narrow in spots and you will definately get scratches from the scrub on the sides of the road and the mirrors knocked back occasionaly.

Single vehicle track only and sometimes forward vision is very limited so be watchful for oncoming vehicles, not that you will get many. In 4 days we did not see another vehicle except the ones parked at the Ulkulka? roadhouse belonging to the owners.

Ulkulka? is permanately manned/womanned and has diesel in bulk tank and ULP pumped from 44s. Limited supplies, no grog and no ice, yet.

BTW, we found a stainless steel frame of a slide out kitchen from a camper trailer on the side of the road with all of the goodies, or what was left of them, stripped out. It appears by the marks on a tree that the kitchen had come unlocked, slid out then hit the tree. OUCH!! Wonder what damage was caused to the camper?

The wildflowers were out in profusion and it was beautiful.

If I recall correctly we averaged about 23-24l/100k in a petrol Rangie and 15-16l/100k in a 100 series Cruiser, both fully laden with roof racks as well.

Good luck with your trip

Hi there
It might be worth organising a group to do the trip. I'm lookin at doing it next year about August, and there may be others out there to make it more enjoyable. Would you be starting from the Coober Pedy end??