WAPET Road/Kidson Track

Submitted: Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 12:05

ThreadID: 4976 Views:2489 Replies:4 FollowUps:6

This Thread has been Archived

Member - Bob

The WA road condition report for this road is not expansive. Has anyone driven along here lately? I am looking to drive from Alice Springs to 80 mile beach in Sept/October this year. I note that Allyn asked the same question last year but no-one replied. Has anyone travelled from Kintore to the CSR intersection?

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: GEOdiscoveries - Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 15:59

Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 15:59

Hi

we are doing a similar trip from Port Headland past the Telfer mine to Punmu joining the Kidson track then across the Canning down the Jenkins Track along the Gary Junction Road to Sandy Blight Juction then down the Sandy Blight Juction Rd to Docker River then to Ayres Rock.

We leave in a week or so , we would apreciate any info on one part or all of this trip.

Thanks in advance

AnswerID: 20362

Reply By: Member - Jimbo (WA) - Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 22:02

Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 22:02

Hi Bob and GEOdiscoveries,

I did the Kidson Track from Kunawaritji (Well 33 on CSR) to 80 Mile last year about Jul/Aug and it was in good condition. It was mostly a 80kmh graded gravel / dirt track with only a few loose sand areas. Unless it has been greatly degraded in the last 12 months by weather or whatever you will have no dramas at all.

Enjoy your trip, hope this helps!Cheers, Jim

"Lead, Follow.....or get out of the way!!"

AnswerID: 20388

Follow Up By: Member - Bob - Monday, May 19, 2003 at 08:40

Monday, May 19, 2003 at 08:40

Jim,thanks for that. On the Hema map there is a point where it says last of the high dunes, so I assumed there was a bit on dune work but your response would seem to suggest that isn't the case. I wonder if you could clarify that.

FollowupID: 13069

Follow Up By: Member - Bob - Monday, May 19, 2003 at 08:44

Monday, May 19, 2003 at 08:44

GeoDiscoveries, please let us know how you go. We did the Sandy Blight track from South to North a few years ago. We passed only one vehicle - a police car with a male and female officer aboard who looked like they were in no great rush to get back to civilisation ;-) The track passes through beautiful desert oak country, but the northern end was particularly degraded.

FollowupID: 13070

Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (WA) - Monday, May 19, 2003 at 09:59

Monday, May 19, 2003 at 09:59

Bob,

Yeah, that's right. Where it says "last of high dunes" it is in fact a well graded gravel / rock / hard track going over almost the ONLY real dune on the Kidson. You don't have to worry about "real" sand dunes at all!Cheers, Jim

"Lead, Follow.....or get out of the way!!"

FollowupID: 13078

Reply By: Allyn - Monday, May 19, 2003 at 11:34

Monday, May 19, 2003 at 11:34

Allyn ended up doing the track. No real problems encountered that wouldn't have happened elsewhere but unfortunately did happen out there (snapped axle). A couple of washouts (that are marked on Hema's map) that will require care iupon approaching and a small amount of sand work but no real dunes. If it's wet I would imagine a multitude of problems.
A guy got rescued from there last week (multiple punctures) but he was extremely well organised and survived the ordeal due to his good planning. I would take puncture repair kit and can tell you from personal experience that if you venture off the track you will stake your sidewalls easily and often.

AnswerID: 20408

Follow Up By: Member - Bob - Monday, May 19, 2003 at 13:48

Monday, May 19, 2003 at 13:48

Thanks Allyn, I'll have five spare wheels with me, as well as the plugging kit, so I'd be pretty stiff to run out. I wondered what the 'good planning' was that enabled the guy with the punctures to survive - an extra slab?:-)

FollowupID: 13091

Reply By: Member - Errol (WA) - Monday, May 19, 2003 at 21:30

Monday, May 19, 2003 at 21:30

Ga,day Bob . Agree about the sand dunes , no probs at all , unless well degraded in last 2 years . One thing that has,ent been said , there is very little wood along the way . Also , about 50 k or so befor you get to the end ( carnt remenber how far ) you will see some brakerway type hills on the right , take some time to have a captian cook , you mite see some pictures on the walls .Why go overseas when you can ExplorOz
ERROL

AnswerID: 20474