We just completed the Wiso track across the
Tanami desert from Lajamanu to Tennent Creek via The Duck Ponds,
Green Swamp bore and Wiso
bore. We were looking for some real adventure and plan to write an article for 4wd magazine.
We sought permission from the Aboriginal Community and from the Lajamanu
Police who both advised us that they discourage people from travelling the track. The
police told us two vehicles had been through in two years, one had to be rescued after using up all spare tyres.
We were sufficiently prepared and fully self sufficient and advised the
police of our preparation. We asked if we could go look and make up our minds as to our chances of successfully negotiating the track which they were happy about. We exchanged
HF radio contact details and back up contacts.
The track is VERY overgrown with turpentine wattle and other wattles known to destroy tyres. Scrub grows up between the wheel tracks, which in some
places are almost invisible. Where burned and dead, the wattle hung over the track to the extent that it obscured the view ahead and scrathed the vehicle paint to the extent that it will require a respray to return any shine. -It is the wife's car :-) We had to fold the mirrors in to avoid losing them and tied the HF antenna back to the roof rack.
We had one
puncture and one other flat, caused when we hit a concealed termite mound at about 25 kph causing dirt to get between the bead and rim. We also had a fuel pump failure due to a bad contact inside the fuel tank, requiring removal of the tank. Since there was no clear ground, we camped on the track overnight then replaced the fuel tank the next morning.
Two and one half days later, we completed the 295 k from the Duck ponds to Tennent Creek.
It was a real challenge, and I would discourage travel on the track unless you are
1. adequately prepared to deal with ANY mechanical failure
2.carrying sufficient spare tyres and lots of tyre repair gear.
3 carrying twice as much fuel as you need ( it is easy to get lost and travel a long way on the wrong tracks)
4. prepared to destroy your paint and perhaps lights and mirrors.
Cheers
David O