Camping on Tanami Track

We bush camped twice on the TT in 06 (3 vehicles) - picked a clearing around 4pm about 50m just off the roadside - but well distant from any settlements - both very quiet and restful nights.

Whoop's The three days would not include Rabbit Flat

If you were going to camp at Billi I would get out of town - well I suspect there is nowhere much to "camp" around there anyways, unless you are in with the locals.

I can strongly recommend going out to Lake Stretch - not very far, but lots of brolgas and things... you need to pay at the Billi community office, but it was only $15 I think.

I'm not sure if it is Renahan's Bore or not, but I camped somewhere not far from Yuendemu on the "South" side of the track where there was a stock yard and old windmill. There was another spot closer to Yuendemu - perhaps even West of Yuendemu where there were about five or six camps set up too. I would just wing it and see how you feel on the day.

There's not much traffic and it was a nice quiet night.

As for Rabbit Flat, clearly there is a lot of indigenous camping that happens at the turn-off and from the amount of litter, probably some biggish parties - perhaps "Coyote Cash", happens there. I'd keep my distance. At present a lot of the spinifex is quite low and burnt in many places so I think finding campsites on the side of the road would not be too difficult... just time your arrival or departure at Rabbit Flat for when Bruce Farrand is open.

Cheers
Andrew.

Thanks for all the info, I was going to ask the same thing - will be coming down the TT late August :-)
Cheers
Jason

When you get out there what you see is what your get so enjoy but leave only your footprints so others can enjoy.
Hanker

Old Johnno

Just look for a clearing in the spinifex.

There is a good camp area just north of Billiluna on Sturt Creek. Haven't been there for a while though.

Drove the Tanami Road a couple of weeks ago from the Balgo t/o to the Stuart Hwy. Pretty ordinary road in places. Found a roadworks clearing about 3km south of Rabbit Flat about 50 metres off the road. Was a good camp site as it was in a small deprerssion and hard to see from the road.

AND right in the middle of the distance between Rabbit Flat and Yuendumu is a 7km stretch of bitumen with line markings. Not a service point in sight. Must have been the local council needing to waste money before the end of the financial years....lol

Cheers

hi Johno,
having travelled the Track several times, my only advice in camping is NOT to camp near a water ho;e. to many bloody cats. makes for a real bad nights sleep. the ferrals were every where. Time wise you can do it in two days but you wony enjoy it. make it three at least.
cheers and enjoy the space

Has anybody camped at Rabbit Flat recently. Is it a safe place to camp, or is there a lot of local activity.

What are the opening hours for Rabbit Flat to get fuel. Are they open 7 days a week?

We did it very comfortably in 2 days towing C/t last year. Rabbit
Flat did not appeal as a campsite. We found a good spot about 25k short of the WA border, looked like a roadworks depot.
Peaceful & quiet....oldbaz.

Old Johno,

We came from Halls Creek down the Tanami and camped just south east of the Granite Mine. There is an area of small rocky outcrops and a cleared area behind them. This would be on your right hand coming from Alice. We could see the mine from the top of the outcrops. In the morning amine vehicle did a check of the area, apparently its often used by travellers and he was checking to make sure there wasn't a lot of rubbish left scattered around. It was a good spot, cleared area and well off the road.

Viv

One of our group had to get back to Sydney in a hurry and we did Fitzroy Crossing to the Alice in two days. Had time to stop off at the Wolf Creek meteorite crater on the way through. Drove to the conditions which were pretty rough on the WA side.

Called into Billiluna but it was Sunday and everything was closed. Topped up at Rabbit Flat.

Camped overnight right on the WA border there was track that ran about 200mtrs into the scrub and there was a clearing that was obviously regularly used for camping.

We just come off the track 2 days ago, from Alice, first night we stayed 29K past Tilmouth Well,(petrol $2.01) must have been a road gang there at one point as tractor parts had been left behind also an old disused bore, lit a fire very peaceful. Next day took us 21/2 hours to go 75 K's to Yuendumu (towing 3 tonne van) to top up with fuel ($2.25) 2nd night stayed at Renehans Bore with 2 other travellers, council men collected rubbish and filled the water tank with fresh water, so we filled up. A bit dusty there as the road trains were going thru at all hours..........next day on to Rabbit Flat, open 7 days until end October (petrol $2.35) sorry forgot the diesel prices......got mobile coverage, 3g at the Granites mine and also a smooth ride for a short distance. Also there are 2 stretches of bitumen that come out of nowhere and for no reason, rather odd, but appreciated. 3rd night we stayed on the WA/NT border, there is a track going off to the right for 200 metres, well used site, we stayed with 3 other couples. Drove up to Billiluna and for fuel ($2.60 petrol or diesel) 4th and 5th night we stayed at Wolfe Creek Crater,lots of other campers as well, if you think the Tanami is rough just wait till you go down that track.........hope this helps, tell your wife not to be nervous, I wasn't.
happy travells
Di