Great Central Road Feedback

Gidday Fred,
For your info on this trip I drove my daughters Rav4 from Bunbury W.A. to Hervey Bay Qld. via the Great Cental Road and Plenty Hwy. I purchased a large heavy duty battery in Alice Springs so I could run my Cpap machine on 12V. From then on I bush camped and loved it. No more expensive camping fees. If you are interested Curtain Springs near Ayers Rock has free camping if you dont need power and you pay $2.50 each for a shower.
Bush camping is the way I would do it next time with the exception of Laverton caravan park. The lady there is very friendly and so helpful. She gave me 5 foolscap pages of roadhouse information on the Great Central Hwy which tells you fuel availability, fuel type, hours open, distances between ect etc. Also her camp kitchen is fantastic. So nice to find friendly people who go out of their way to be helpful. As far as bush camping goes I would look at the 200 kms between Pikul and Hunt Oil Road which by my maps is not Aboriginal land. Also there is a very nice bush camping area about 4 kms West of Docker River which to me is a must. It even has water, toilets, cold shower and fire places.
Hope that helps you Fred.
Catch ya,
Rick.

Many thanks for your reply Rick. That's just the sort of info I was looking for.
Cheers mate.

Fred.

what a load of crap

Richard

On what do you base your well thought out and informative response? You were there? You have read the filed police reports? You have access to the insurance claims?

It might have had an element of truth a few years back but things seemed to have settled down out there since.

However I prefer camping along the road. I found a nice road building quarry half full of water and plenty of firewood last time

Ross,

Unfortunately the issues we and others in our group had were only last month. The general indications are that the troubles have come back again. I am sure that they will be short lived and are only the doings of a couple of rogues. This sort of problem is not confined to just this place and is probably cyclical.

We will be staying away for the next few months.

As you suggest there are other alternatives.

Been there thats all

I see you have had a think about it

Cheers

Richard

Hi Natalie & Steve,
Your X-Trail should not have any problems crossing the Great Central Highway, but as you will be towing an Off Road Trailer you would need to take it a bit slower than say a true 4x4. The road is quite good to Warakurna Road House, which is near the Giles Meteorological Station. Once you leave WA and get into the NT the road is not so good and can be just a sandy track in places, that would be my only concern with towing an Off Road Camper trailer with an X-Trail They do have tours of the Meteorological Station, you need to book at the road house, it is a free tour but the idea of booking is to give the Meteorological Station staff the numbers of people that will be attending the tour, it is well worth going and seeing how it operates and also the launching of a weather balloon.
You will need two permits to travel through Aboriginal land, one from Western Australia, which you can get off the internet and another permit from the Central Lands Council in Alice Springs, which you have to fill the form out and send it in, it only takes about a week to get it back, but check on the internet you may be able to get one there. as this will be your first time on the Great Central Road I would suggest that you stay at the Tjukayiria Road House I know it is only 311klm from Laverton, but it gives you time to just take it slowly and enjoy your time on the road and will not overheat your drive train on your X-Trail. The next stop I would suggest be Warakurna Road House, which is about 479 Klm from Tjukayiria Road House that way you can by-pass Warburton and still have a good relaxed drive, make sure you find out if there will be any rain, if there is going to be heavy rain I would give it a miss, dry conditions should see you get through ok
The next stop I would suggest is Curtin Springs about 472 Klm from Warakurna Road House. I hope this helps you.
Cheers George

Hi Nat and Steve

we are going to be doing the GSR in september of this year.This will be our first time on the dirt to so we will give you the heads up when we return about safe places to stay,we will be trveling with two children under 5 so we are looking for safe campsites to.

Hi Jon

Thanks, that would be great. We will also be travelling with two kids 8 & 10yrs and are a bit concerned but wanting to give it a go!
Are you towing & what type of car?

Hi there

we also will be towing a camper trailer.It is a full off road camper and the car is a nissan navara 4x4.We have friends that have a xtrail and it goes great on the beach so i wouldnt think you would have any dramas.

The only thing you shouldnt do is travel at night. Too many camels,goats and bad drivers on the road.