Mount Augustis

Turk,
In 2006, there were many creek crossings with steep entries and exits. I think an onroad caravan would have suffered terminally.
Jon W

We were there in Oct 07, came in from Meekatharra and exited via Ashburton Downs on our way to Mt Tom Price. Whilst we were towing a camper trailer and had no problems, we met up two couples who were towing on-road vans.
They made it out ok, but took their time (7 hrs to cover 250k's) - although they did go through several tyres on the trip. The road was rough with lots of courrugations and loose gravel and the creek crossings were very steep both entering and exiting. It is an amazing place and well worth the visit - the view from the top is absolutely awesome!

Good luck with the trip

Hi Turk,

I did that road in July 07 (Paraburdoo - Ashburton Downs - Pingandy - Dooley Downs - Mt Augustus).

With our camper trailer is was easy peasy. IF you had a large on-road caravan then I'd advise against it. Some of the creek crossings along the Pingandy Creek were fairly steep - you'd end up "dragging your arse" on a few occasions.

If you had a smaller on-road van, then you'd probably get through OK. Slow and steady would definitely be the strategy. Also sections of that road have sharp rocks, so you'd want to ensure that your tyres would be up to it.

Regards
Stephen J.

Turk,
I travelled from Mt Augustus to Paraburdoo via Ashburton Downs last September. The road from Mt Augustus to the Ashburton Downs Road intersection was very good. I was advised at the resort that it is not a well used road so it is isolated. We didn't see another vehicle all day. I was towing an offroad Jayco Penguin. There are sections containing gibbers and there are sections where you need to cross quite a few gullies that are likely to cause you some problems when exiting rather than entering. The main Pigandy Creek crossing could cause you a problem in terms of clearance for your van. It's rocky but there was a fairly high build up between the tyre tracks.
I found the road from the Dooley Downs/Ashburton Downs Road intersection to the Ashburton Downs/Paraburdoo Road intersection to be very rough in sections and would be the riskiest in causing damage to your onroad van IF you drive like a maniac.
While I was at Mt Augustus a couple of onroad vans and some conventional vehicles arrived and they came through from Carnavon, Gascoyne Junction and Cobra route. I understand that most conventional vehicles/vans enter and exit this way.

Having said all this, what type of on road van do you all have? Some of the latest brands really have beefed up their chassis and springs as well as their height. I've sold my penguin and I'm getting a 16 foot single axle van and all they have to do to make it off road is add a 4' riser 15" off road tyres and heavy duty suspension. I could have simply left the height as was and just put on heavy duty suspension and 15' tyres and with that configuration I would have had no concerns about going that route and taken my time.

What length are your vans, are they all single axle? What is their height off the road/clearance at the rear?

In my travels over the last few years I have seen some onroad vans in some places that has surprised me and they have done it because they were careful.

Also it could well be that those roads will have been graded just before you do your trip

Mt Augustus is a top place and it's like an emu egg is to a chook egg when comparing it to Ayres Rock