Alice Springs to Halls Creek via the Tanami track.

The best time is in winter to avoid the heat and wet weather, some friends and my wife and I are planing to leave on the same trip on the 22nd of May next year. We have rooftop campers wife worried about crocs.

You are choosing the hottest time of the year, not good if something goes wrong. The track could be wet and possibly closed. People do go at that time of the year but I don't recommend it.

Any rain and they close the road very quickly. You may have to wait a couple of days (or a week) so be prepared to change your plans. And to those people who think its better in the winter - it can be bloody cold ! Not unusual to be around zero dgrees over night at Alice in July.

Hi

It’s almost impossible to provide advice on this query. Seasons in the Kimberley and the Centre differ from year to year.

In general, temperatures (not to mention flies) could make your journey quite unpleasant. All of this is dependant on a number of factors;

• The last Wet Season in the Kimberley (October to January) was very dry. Having said that, they had drenching rain in June 2004. The same occurred throughout many parts of the Centre at the same time this year.
• Rain will also influence the grader program along the Tanami. You may find the road this year heavily corrugated during the period you intend travelling.
• Traffic along the road, once you leave the east end will most likely be minimal. Take this into account in your trip planning.

Personally, I don’t find the Tanami a particularly interesting route. However, I don’t want to discourage you either. As previously mentioned by others, the winter months are far more enjoyable.

In closing, be carefull wandering around Halls Creek at night and, secure your car in the caravan park or motel. Trust me on this.

Regards

KIm

Also, not a lot of places to camp on the Tanamai. About 20km over the boarder into WA there is a (almost hidden) track on the left that goes about 75 metres off the road to an area where rock has been quarried for road maintenance.
S19 degrees 53.133 minutes E128 degrees 37.93 minutes.
Very easy to duck off the road on a good track and set up a camp at this spot.