Road to Alice springs
Submitted: Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
ThreadID:
2776
Views:
2154
Replies:
4
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
coops
We are leaving for The Kimberlys via
Alice Springs &Tanami track . Which is the quickest Route to Alice from
Newcastle either via B/
Hill and
Port Augusta along the Stuart Hwy or from
Charleville along Diamantina Dev Road and Plenty Hwy.The latter route is the shortest distance but is IT going to Quicker with the unsealed road .
This trip will be taken in July
well after the wet and we have 6weeks and want to spend more time at the Kimberlys rather than driving there
thanking you Coops
Reply By: Member - Willem- Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
If you strike the Diamantina Developmental road and the Plenty Higway in good condition then you could make better time to Alice. If however, the stations have been trucking cattle, especially over the road from
Boulia to Tobermorey then you will be in trouble. That section is prone to severe bulldust. Probably better to take the route through
Port Augusta. The speed limit along the Barrier Highway is 110(NSW)110(SA allover) and unlimited in the Territory. Cheers, W
AnswerID:
10448
Follow Up By: Coops - Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Thanks for your reply Williem I thought there could be some hasslles with a short cut .the last thing you need istoo meet a triple B in a cloud of of bulldust and July is probably the time when they are shipping cattle
thanks again Coops
FollowupID:
5495
Reply By: sean - Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Maybe consider delete the Tanami if you head north from
Newcastle, After
Camooweal, go througth
Alexandra Station, then onto the Barlkly Stock route, then along the Buchanan through Top Springs to WA. This I believe is a more interesting route than up the stuart highway - and it will give you plenty of dirt and VARIED scenery. You can be in Isa in 3 days from
Newcastle all via bitumen. Then if you are in a hurry, total 5 looooooooong days to
El Questro. Better still, take 7 days and relax. You can never see it all anyway. Just a thought.......
Sean
AnswerID:
10458
Reply By: Steve - Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 02, 2003 at 01:00
Coops: instead of asking questions of the 'intelligentia' .. you would be better off calling up Tobermorey nearer the date and asking them the road conditions ! .... and whether they have trains in the area !!! With the 'net' and simple logic you can call these points of reference, (towns ), as you have mentioned are on your intended travel route and ask them for info !! The
Plenty highway would be a tad tricky meeting a double B ... in spots,.... but that does not mean you should not go !! It's a good road and a regular
sedan would have no trouble... weather providing !! If you need phone numbers for any
places get in touch !! No risk but the Plenty route you are planning is by far the quickest, and the weather will probably be more appropriate !! Its a very good unsealed road with regular upgrades ..
check out the police at Harts Range for more road info... Plan ahead as the locals on any route will give you more up to date info than most probably anywhere else ! .. Have a great trip, albeit a long one from
Newcastle (NSW ?) with a six week limit !!
Steve
AnswerID:
10459
Follow Up By: Coops - Friday, Jan 03, 2003 at 01:00
Friday, Jan 03, 2003 at 01:00
Steve thanks for your info If you have contact no's it would be greatly appreciated as this route sounds alot more interesting than travelling on the tar all of the time .We have 3 4wd s going so dirt doesnt really worry us .Even if you could give us Net contacts as we are only on users of the net
Thanks again Coops
FollowupID:
5535
Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Friday, Jan 03, 2003 at 01:00
Friday, Jan 03, 2003 at 01:00
Coops, Steve makes sense with his advice, but I wouldn't be too worried about road trains or bulldust. The first you can usually see coming for many clicks - dust clouds, and you can often pick a spot to pull over long before they arrive. If we get a reasonable wet this year, bull dust may not as bad during July, as a month or two later.
Do the checks as Steve said, but if you hear it's been a dry year again, then go via the Port.
Boulia police or Council maybe able to help with info on the Donohue "Hwy" section. Hope you have a enjoyable trip.
FollowupID:
5546
Reply By: Steve - Saturday, Jan 04, 2003 at 01:00
Saturday, Jan 04, 2003 at 01:00
Coops : just for starters The Australin Hotel at
Boulia, where the dirt starts ..phone: 07-4746-63144 , and the
Boulia Fire Station 07-4746-63052 then the Tarlton Downs Station of the Plenty 08-8956-6305.
If you look up the white pages and search using 'station' as name and then the state, plus a few details you will get phone numbers and usefull info from all those people !! Its all there and it helps if you have Broadband !!
steve
AnswerID:
10551