A touchy topic indeed....

I haven't done the Gunbarrel but I have done a lot of the Top End and have found (both from my own and the experience of others) that Aborigines in remote/semi remote areas vary a lot, some are lovely, warm, smiling people - others can be _very_ aggressive. Advice I was given, and I would commend it to others, was if you are flagged down by some Aborigines, lock the doors, stop, wind the drivers window down an inch and find out what the problem is. If they want a lift tell them no but say you will pass a message on to the next town/homestead about their situation. DO NOT open the doors/let them into the car.

Putting a rag in the petrol tank opening would be stupid and a perfect way to create a Molotov Cocktail. Many modern cars require the petrol tank be sealed, I believe?

Mike Harding

What's the logic behind plugging the filler necks with rags?

Lone Wolf, I've travelled accross the GCR and so long as you don't camp within 50km of any of the communities and even then stay out of sight you should have no dramas. The idea of removing the fuel cap and putting in a rag is to prevent them levering/breaking off your fuel cap (I'm guessing).

Just check out the size of the steel cages around the bowsers when you go to give you an idea of how bad things are. Best of luck on the trip though mate.

Cheers,
Hughesy

Whatever the reason, I think it would just be safer to fit fuel caps that dont require locks. Cant imagine I would want to travel with a rag with fumes and fluid on it. Apart from that not sure that operating 3 way fridges, gas bottles and other items in the area would be that safe

I have to second Mike's comments above re the attitudes of aboriginals across the top of Aust. At times over the years we have encountered aggressive, intimidating and unwelcoming behaviour. I have personally witnessed a broken bottle attack by an aboriginal women on a white women (a complete stranger) who merely had the mistfortune of walking by - wrong place wrong time. However, for the most part we have found the aboriginals freindly and happy (particularly the kids) and have often been approached by individuals who just wanted to say gidday. I have also noticed a pattern (in the towns anyway) that the negative behaviour seems to be linked to pension cycles when (sad to say) binge drinking and the subsequent hangovers occur. We have a policy of not hitting towns such as Fitzroy Crossing on pension day or the next - been there, done that, it wasn't pretty, won't do it again.

:o) Melissa

my question is why would you camp at warburton?? alot of itenerents amongst the locals here you could really get alsorts around. If people are after petrol then tourists would be the main target, sort of like leaving a burger unattended on the set of survivor after the 4th week

I have travelled the so called out back for years and have always had locking fuel caps and never had any trouble, I do not camp near towns or if I do then it is in the van park.
Camp on the opposite side of town by about 10k from the liquour outlet and you will have no trouble. Take the precaution to camp behind some shrubbery and your camp light will be diminished from the road view.

Wolfie,

We camped at Warburton June last year, and had no trouble.

There is a reasonable campsite (grassed) and hot showers and laundry available at the roadhouse which is manned by whites.
The camping ground is in a compound with a gate that is closed late afternoon.
Although this is the case, we didn't look like having any trouble.

Diesel won't be a problem, but no petrol, as is the case in most remote communities.

My family and I did the Gunbarrel a few years back and didn't have any problems. We only stopped for fuel in Warburton, there is camping at the roadhouse but it is not the best and I don't know why you would want to stay there. get your fuel from the steel caged bowsers and move on to Giles. Camping at Giles was fine and you can visit the weather station and see bits of skylab and one of Len's old graders. Pick up firewood before you get there.

On the way back we also just quickly passed through and camped in the bush well off the road - no problems.

On the way out, 30km out of Warburton, we came across an aboriginal guy walking towards us down the road. We had been warned that we might get stopped and asked for petrol - theoretically for a car that has run out but in fact for sniffing. We could see the car and another guy about a kilometre ahead. We stopped and asked what the problem was ...

'Gota pump?'
'What sort of pump?'
'Air pump, for tyres'
'Yep'

So the guy hopped on the roo bar (Pajero full of family - 3 kids) and we drove slowly to his car. I got out and walked around the car looking for the flat tyre. The nearside front was a rim with a couple of bits of wire and about a square inch of rubber.

'Have you got a spare?'
'No mate'
'What are you gonna pump up?'

'Aaaw, yeah ...........got any petrol?'

We ended up giving the two of them a lift back to Warburton on the roof rack then made a late dash to Giles. They were in no way threatening at any time but did lose us an hour or so, a small price to pay for the story!