Is this sensible or not?

It can be travelled in one very long day. You are far better off takeing two, as for where to stop, just look for a track going off to one side where there is a gravel pit, they make great camp sites.

Chris,

We always stop just before Rabbit Flat. that way we are not speeding on the Tanami. The road can be very good but it is still a dirt road and the condition can change very quick. You must also conceder the other road users.

Wayne

Even if you could average 80 it makes nearly 12 hours stick time. 12 hours on a bitumen hwy is easy, but on the Tanami would be a long day. I'd aim for two easy days. We start looking for rocky outcrops, gravel scrapes etc at about 5 pm or so depending on when its going to get dark. We usually get away by about 8 am in the morning, and allowing an hour for lunch, plus other shorter stops, actual driving time is about 7 hours a day tops in the bush.
So 14 hours to do the 900 km is more realistic (averaging 65 kph)

Hi Chris,

We left Alice Springs mid afternoon and stopped over past Eundamu (?Spelling) for the night. We then did the remainder to Halls Creek the following day (?700km 'ish). With an early (dawn) start we got to Halls Creek in late afternoon just in time to clean up for a few well earned coldies an dinner.

It was a very big day, especially for the three guys riding the trail bikes. I wouldn't recommend doing the whole lot even if WCC is closer to Alice than Halls Creek - it's not by much.

We just pulled in off the road a hundred metres or so and had a great night under the stars.

Eundamu is a cross between a war zone and a rubbish tip. Don't stay there.

Dave

It can be done. We used to travel to Alice from Billiluna for our weekends off (One in every Three) in 95 and 96. We'd leave about 2-00pm and get there early in the morning about 2-00am. On the way back we'd do it 3 hours faster! The road is better now with a bit more bitumen. You'll leave early from Alice, pick up one and a half hours when you go over the border, but it does get dark earlier, and cruise on. I'd camp on the banks of the Sturt or stay in Billiluna and head to Wolfe Creek the next morning ( about another 55kms)

Don't think there's any camping at the crater from what I remember. Best stay at Halls Creek. I remember a funny sign on a 44 at an intersection on the way back from the crater, said "lift um foot" - that's indigidenous for "slow down".

I agree with all the others, too far in one day on the dirt. Heading east to west you going to cop the late afternoon sun right in the eyes. Relax, take it a little easier & it'll be good for the wagon as well as your nerves, and what a bonus - you might get to see something interesting along the way and arrive alive.

The public corridor along the track is 100 meters wide, so theoretically you can only go 50 m off the track on either side before entering aboriginal reserve, but I don't think it's a huge issue as long as you don't set the country on fire. There are wandering groups of indigenous people throughout this area.

Don't forget to check the opening days of the roadhouse at Rabbit Flat for fuel & say G'day t' Bruce, he's not a bad bloke if you keep on the right side of him.
Enjoy the trip.

Did the trip this year in May
Used the ExploroZ trip notes [plug]
Camped at Quartz Ridge then Sturt Creek - were there for lunch
Wolfe Creek next day - dry season easterly was blowing and we looked in the crater and then on to Halls Creek by lunchtime
There is a camp ground at Wolfe Creek - toilets - no shade and a bit rough underfoot - track in there from Tanami Road was good as the grader had just done its stuff
Enjoy

Thanks All for the advice.
Will travel as far as as we feel comfortable and then find somewhere to camp.
We are on holiday after all, no need to rush.

Chris

Was forced to do a simular run on th GCR from Docker river to Laverton which would be simular road conditions and distance. I sat on around 80 (sometimes faster but I would pull back to 80 as conditions changed) I think it was abot 12 14 hours, But it was a real emergency - I had run out of beer!!

One of the biggest dangers in outback travelling is fatigue. Be very careful.

Also .... take fly nets.

considering fatigue is one of the biggest killers on our roads,do it at your own perile i just hope there is no one else travelling with you. take your time and enjoy the drive you will be all the better for it. just my opinion.

I have travelled to and fro across the Tanami Rd close to a dozen times in the past four/five years. I seriously recommend not travelling over 70-80 km/hr max as in thos trips I must have seen at least ten cars on their sides or roofs (mostly rental cars) - and also ditto for two road trains (one in trying to avoid a lunatic in a 4WD heading for him sideways on).

Some tourists seem to go ape- bleep on this road - and may come past at way over 100 km/hr. As many say, fatigue is a problem not least because many stretches of the Road are boring.

(Spelling of that community is Yuendumu - great art there, but right now it's sadly not the most functional of communities).
Collyn Rivers