Travellers on Anne Beadell Highway July 2006?

Submitted: Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 13:11

ThreadID: 27480 Views:2571 Replies:4 FollowUps:9

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Member - Marilyn P (NSW)

Planning to travel from Laverton to Coober Pedy on the Anne Beadell Highway from mid July 2006 after spending time in the Pilbara. Any one else interested in a similar venture forming a group for the drive as I'm not game to go that way by myself?

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Reply By: Member - Luxoluk - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 15:26

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 15:26

Other than a few corrugations my only suggestion is to have good comms. Fuel was $1.80 at the "Community store" last month. A few other travellers were out there but she is a remote region when you are solo...we had a ball though!! Happy travels.

AnswerID: 135832

Follow Up By: Member - Marilyn P (NSW) - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 16:03

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 16:03

Thanks for the information. I did read your report (that's why I'd like to go that way) but also the reason I'd like to travel with someone else with a similar vision.

FollowupID: 389710

Reply By: Des Lexic - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 17:25

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 17:25

Marilyn, we did that journey, From Coober Pedy to Neale Junction in August this year. We were in a group of vehicles however with the correct planning and spares, I'd do the Anne Beadell on my own. Plenty of other travelllers do that.
We passed other travellers going the opposite way every day. The road is quite corrugated in parts but definitely worth the effort. Our group suffered 2 punctures and a number of bolts coming loose from various parts of the vehicles. It pays to chech every day.
Have a great trip.

AnswerID: 135845

Reply By: Willem - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 17:44

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 17:44

Will be doing the Anne Beadell, Plumridge Lakes, Eagle Hwy, Talawana to CSR and beyond starting last two weeks of June 2006. Driving solo, just me ,the missus and the dog. Maybe we will see some of you out there.

AnswerID: 135847

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 19:59

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 19:59

Hi Willem

I wouldn't go telling people about the dog
When we asked it was the SA whitey's that knocks as back. The so called Unnamed Conservation Park??????? LOL
Good to hear you travel with one,

We should call ours American express

As we never leave home with her..

Richard

FollowupID: 389729

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 20:15

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 20:15

Hi Richard

Happy to say I dont bother with permits either and I don't mind telling anyone. The chances are, to say the least....remote.

We did leave her(the princess) behind with friends in Alice this last big trip as there were too many NP's to see along the way. Next years trip will be more remote and I intend to do some exploring along the way as well

Regards

FollowupID: 389734

Follow Up By: signman - Monday, Oct 24, 2005 at 09:50

Monday, Oct 24, 2005 at 09:50

The first person we saw after coming off the airsrtip at Emu- was the DEH ranger. He had come up thru Maralinga from Ceduna. The first question was 'Got ya permit?? ". We did have.
We did ask what would happen if we didn't have it, Answer: to escort us back the way we had come and a fine.
OK i agree with the arguement as to why should we have permits to travel in 'our' country.
But for peace of mind, and the little bit of effort involved- I do think getting the permits is probably a safer bet.
We had to get 7 for our last trip, and all the beuraucrtic (sp??) departments were very helpfull.

FollowupID: 389799

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Oct 24, 2005 at 10:33

Monday, Oct 24, 2005 at 10:33

Hmmm signman...what were the odds? In all my years of travelling I have only met rangers at official campsites and never out bush.

I do buy my annual Desert Parks Pass but get very annoyed at having to deal with Land Councils re permits. In the past some have been good and some have been downright pathetic. Permits bleep me off big time as I figure it is discrimination at its worst.

Escort you back...How? What if you said NO!
Fines are hypothtical as a legal procedure must occur. Its all scare mongering.

Just my opinion as usual

FollowupID: 389804

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 at 09:00

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 at 09:00

We came across the aboriginal rangers in the Unnamed Conservation Park in 2003. These guys were based in Oak Valley Community. Really nice bunch who stopped for a long chat. Didn't ask for permits, but I reckon they knew we had them anyway.

Cheers
Phil

FollowupID: 389994

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 at 09:04

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 at 09:04

I look at the plusses of the permit system. It does a lot to keep the ratbags out of remote areas.

For the trip we've just done, we also needed umpteen permits from lots of different authorities. Just filled out the forms, faxed them off and got the permits within a week or two. No costs except for a $6.50 camping fee in the Unnamed Conservation Park (why do they bother?).

Cheers
Phil

FollowupID: 389995

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 20:10

Sunday, Oct 23, 2005 at 20:10

Marilyn,

You are wise and sensible for posing this question. Its a pretty isolated part of the country, but in July, hopefully there will be at least one passing traveller each day.

We have just come back from 3 weeks out that way. Only other vehicles encountered:
Nullabor to Voakes Hill: nil
Voakes Hill to Neale Junction: two bird watchers
Neale Junction to Warburton: nil
Gunbarrel Hwy: Nil
Hunt Oil Rd: Nil
Plumridge Lakes: only Davoe who knew I'd be out there!!!

Travelling with others makes the trip more relaxing and much,much safer. We had two battery failures (caused by heat + corrugations) within 3 vehicles. Something as simple as that may leave you stranded as a lone traveller.

Last week, a couple who were travelling solo, got bogged near Tallaringa Well (rain). The guy stayed with the vehicle. The lady decided to walk 100k back to Mabel Ck station. Fortunately a geo survey vehicle was out there and stumbled across the lady, and a plane was despatched to see if the guy was still OK. Another near miss.

Its great country with a colourful history. Just need to treat it with respect. Hope you find some fellow travellers.

Cheers
Phil

AnswerID: 135873

Follow Up By: signman - Monday, Oct 24, 2005 at 09:54

Monday, Oct 24, 2005 at 09:54

Yet another arguement fo good long range communications.
We actually had HF and an EPIRB and flares.
Fortunately, not needed for emergencies- but the HF was a good companion for logging in to VKS, and staying in touch with a convoy that was a day behind us.

FollowupID: 389800

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 00:27

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 00:27

Hi Phil
As l'v said before I too get all the permit I need before we go
To the respect of Willem's comments "Escort you back...How? What if you said NO!
Fines are hypothtical as a legal procedure must occur. Its all scare mongering."
The problem is that they can close these tracks for all of us, who want to travel on them,

Some of us are not that old, or haven't had the good fortune to travel on all the tracks that some have,

Didn't they close the access to Surveyor Generals Corner because someone told someone to go and get "f"ed.
We travel with a dog and don't go where we are not welcome, thats cool

But we respect the right of the owner of the land be them white, black, gov or private.

This post is not directed at you Phil just a follow up

Regards all

Richard

FollowupID: 390175