chambers pillar

Submitted: Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:24
ThreadID: 45102 Views:2507 Replies:13 FollowUps:13
This Thread has been Archived
i have been told there is a shortcut from stuart h/way to chambers pillar, does anyone know of this? i am not talking about the rainbow valley route.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:27

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:27
Yes it's called a chopper. LOL
AnswerID: 237955

Follow Up By: slush - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:47

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:47
mate, is there a bit of sarcasm there?
0
FollowupID: 499082

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:57

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:57
No that would mean I have a high form of intelligence. LOL

Steve.
0
FollowupID: 499090

Reply By: Member - Duncs - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:31

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:31
Yes there is.

If you contact Erldunda they should be able to put yo in touch with the property owner who you need to contact.

I recommend you do this before you leave home as when I found out about it while at Erldunda he was in Alice for the week and I missed out.

Sorry I can't help with phone numbers.

Duncs
AnswerID: 237957

Reply By: Footloose - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:32

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 21:32
Used to be a way through a couple of properties, AFAIK it hasn't been open since the cattle disease scares back in the 80's.
But hey that's a long time ago. Probably a 6 lane highway now.
AnswerID: 237960

Reply By: Member - Royce- Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 00:06

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 00:06
I just looked at my standard road atlas which of course wasn't much use..

I remember in 2000 we drove into Chambers Pillar and then did a reasonably okay drive to the Stuart Hwy... and I don't think it went the Rainbow Valley way.

Sorry, no real help huh?
AnswerID: 238004

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 00:08

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 00:08
Slush,

There is a short cut, take us about an hour to go from the Stuart H/way to Chambers Pillar. It does go through private property.

When we do our east / west Simpson Desert crossing we go to Chambers Pillar then onto the cattle station and spend a day there driving on the Fink River and attempting to drive sand dunes that make Big Red look like a sand castle.

Ross, who owns the cattle station with his brother, shows us around the property and explains how they make a living running cattle in this area.

Not only does it have the Fink river running through it, it also has a monument built by the rail workers that built the Ghan railway. The monument is for the 1,000,000 railway sleeper laid along the railway line.

This is not a public road through his property and am I not at liberty to give out his contact number.

Wayne
AnswerID: 238005

Reply By: Motherhen - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 00:17

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 00:17
I have just had an email from friends who have just been through that way with no problems. With a bit of luck they will be able to give you a bit more detail when they work out how to join the forum.
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 238007

Reply By: Big Mike - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 01:18

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 01:18
When you say the Rainbow Valley way, do you mean The Hugh River Stock Route.
AnswerID: 238015

Reply By: HGMonaro - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 07:33

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 07:33
Was just researching Chambers Pillar last night... so to butt in slightly, we are thinking of doing an overnighter out of Alice Springs, camping at the Castle Rock camp ground. Probably early July. Is it possible to tow wind-up camper into there? Intending to take little tent for occasions like this but thought I'd ask, might change our plans.

Cheers, Nige
AnswerID: 238026

Follow Up By: Members - Chris/Lindsay (VIC) - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 08:42

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 08:42
We were there last September. It is probably possible but there are some fairly steep rocky parts and sand. If it was dry and you took it easy you could do it. Stay on channel ten as an okka tour bus comes in in the morning and luckily we heard them coming on the radio. Cheers. Chris.
0
FollowupID: 499144

Reply By: Member - RnR (NSW) - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 17:07

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 17:07
Slush,

Its called the Hugh River Stock route and its 10K's south of Stuarts well. Its 71k's across to the road that takes you to the Pillar. From here its 33k's to Maryvale and another 45 to the Pillar.

Have used this route on several occasions.

Regards
RnR
AnswerID: 238102

Reply By: The Watto's - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 20:36

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 20:36
Yes, just done it.
Arrived in Alice from there Sun 29th April.
Good trip. It is called Hugh River Stock Route and is clearly shown on the Hemma map.
Good road. We took our Phoenix 16 ft caravan out there and camped on top of "The Hill". We do not suggest for one minute for anyone else to do it and we would not do it again. It is too steep and you could get into trouble going up and slipping back down backwards.
We were lucky the weather was on our side. Plenty of spots to leave the van before you go up the hill.
Ok for camper trailer's though and a lovely camp ground at the Pillar with a couple of gas BBQ's and a couple of wood ones, toilets and picnic tables plus shade but take your rubbish out with you and water in with you. Take your camera, it is lovely. We came thru Coober Pedy, to Finke and then the Pillar and to Henbury Meteorite Crater where there is another great camp set up and then back to Alice.
By the way pets can't go to the Pillar.
Have a safe trip and keep smiling all the way.
The Watto's.
AnswerID: 238137

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 22:27

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 22:27
Glad to see you found your way here!
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 499257

Follow Up By: chips59 - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 22:52

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 22:52
thank for replies, Watto's i have a Windsor rapid off road that i was thinking of taking that route but this hill your talking about has me worried. i was thinking the same way as you. cooper pedy, fink, maryvale,chambers, hugh road, stuart h/way, henbury crater, kings canyon, boggy hole, alice, east MacDonald's then down the centre to Adelaide.
0
FollowupID: 499258

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:03

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:03
Chips, I read it as going to camp on the hill was an extra - as they said you can leave the van to go up the hill. Sounds like no problem with the road itself for an off road rig.
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 499261

Follow Up By: chips59 - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:13

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:13
thanks mother hen, i stand corrected. do you know what this hill is?
0
FollowupID: 499271

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:20

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:20
Hi Chips - No i don't, sorry - but it sounds like you'd be OK to go this way, so you may see what the Hill is. Good that there is somewhere to leave the caravan. Last year when we were in the Northern Flinders, we choose to go north one way rather than the other, because of a hill mentioned as a good lookout, but when we got there, it was signed no trailers, but it had nowhere to to leave the caravan - disappointing.

Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 499272

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:59

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:59
Chips59,

I don't tow a van at all but I have been to Chambers Pillar and the hill they're talking about. For what it's worth, I would'nt attempt it. It is quite rocky and steepish with a turn or two.

There's no secure place to leave your van either as I remember.
0
FollowupID: 499273

Follow Up By: chips59 - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 00:22

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 00:22
do i need to go over this hill to get to chambers pillar?
0
FollowupID: 499277

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 23:33

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 23:33
Chips - yes. The intrepid Wattos then left the van to go to the pillar, and do not recommend taking a caravan up and down the hill at all - leave it before the hill. No problem with 4wd only.
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 499403

Follow Up By: Graham & Ann - Sunday, May 13, 2007 at 19:38

Sunday, May 13, 2007 at 19:38
If you dont want to take your van over the hill (or its too large/heavy a van to do so) you can do what we did, left our 17ft 2000kg odd van at the supply/petrol shop at Maryvale Stn. for the day. (We could have taken the van over the hill at a pinch, but the tow vehicles tyres would be scratching for traction and would further damge the already rough climb) Another option would be to get permission at the shop to set up camp & leave the van in the trees/bush area about 1km from the hill, should be no problem finding a good camp spot and then its only 11km into the pillar if you want to do sunrise/sunset trip in.

enjoy your trip...we did
0
FollowupID: 500745

Reply By: The Watto's - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 15:59

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 15:59
Dear Chips 59,
Don't let the hill worry you, it is fine if you are not towing a van over it. I would not personally take a lovely Windsor Rapid over it as they are not built with roads like this in mind. You may think differently but that is my thoughts for what they are worth.
There is lots of space to leave the van along the way and we hear that most people leave them at MaryVale Station and do a day trip to the pillar, if you have a tent with you, you could camp at the pillar if you wished to get the different lights on the pillar from sunrixe to sunset.
Yes you do need to go over the hill, but it is fine for an ordinary 4WD vehicle. It has rocks and a good track, it is just that we were pulling an ALMOST 3 tonne ALL TERAIN CARAVAN. not recommended by us to go up that hill form experience but it is fine for camper trailers and the like. This is a very good road in and out right the way to the pillar. There are about 14 or 15 sand hills which again have a good road over each one. There is a sign asking you to call on UHF Channel 10 to ensure there are no vehicles comming over this hill as you go in or out. Normal saftey precaution. The van was fine when we left it on top of the hill and exactly the same when we came back to it later in the day. We camped at the top of the hill and it was a lovely outlook butg as I said earlier, I strongly urge all to leave their van at the bottom of the hill or elsewhere not up the hill only because it is a steep hill with turns in it as you go up. The roughness is not a problem with a proper "all terain van" so long as you take it gently and slowly. That is why they cost you arms and legs to have built and are extra heavy to tow. The road in clearly states $WD only. We go on many of these and they are not a problem with this particular van.Please not an "all terain van" is not an off roader it is way more solid than that even, very much more solid.
Go there and enjoy it, it really is lovely.
We have joined as members but have to wait for it to activate or we would send you some photos of this and other things along the way.
It really is worth going to and as I said the road is fine, just don't tow vans up the hill. having said that, you could if you have a 4WD and a light van from the pulling aspect but then the track up the hill is so rough and the rocks sticking up may hit the underneath of the van so from that point of view I again would not do that to a van. Hence my saying, I would not take a van up that hill.
The Watto's.
AnswerID: 238234

Follow Up By: chips59 - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 19:03

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 19:03
thanks for follow up, and sorry slush for high jacking your post.
0
FollowupID: 499348

Reply By: The Watto's - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 11:51

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 11:51
Oh dear, have I trodden on someones toes. If so I am very sorry. I did not mean to high jack anyones post. I am very new, brand new to this sort of thing on the computer and did not know it was wrong. I have joined but have to wait for it to make me a member and I certainly do not want to upset anyone at all in any way.
If some kind person would give me some asssistance in where to go to put the answers and so on, it would be very much appreciated. Also how to put a photo on will be great.
We are only in range until Tues night for internet then it is back to the places we love, the out back.
The Watto's.
AnswerID: 238365

Reply By: chips59 - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:18

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:18
wotto's you did'nt highjack the post i did,and you were only answering someones question, that is what this forum is all about. welcome my friend and hope you get as much enjoyment out of this forum as others do.
AnswerID: 238487

Sponsored Links