Kennedy Range Top Track - Western Australia

Submitted: Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 23:58

ThreadID: 60126 Views:8303 Replies:6 FollowUps:5

This Thread has been Archived

equinox

Hi all,

I had the opportunity 2 days ago to cross the top of the Kennedy Range. This was on the extreme tail end of my north east trip so in my typical equinox style didn't waste too much time in the area. I did the 151kms in just over 6 hours including lunch and a few stops.

I have uploaded the Oziexplorer plot file to PLOTSWAP.

This track is destined to be a major 4WD tourist track as it is listed in the Draft Management Plan by the DEC. I might add here that DEC would prefer the track not to be used, presumably for liability reasons. I spoke to the DEC gentleman at Mt. Augustus and he was most coy when I asked about the track. He said make sure I take an EPIRB and plenty of water with me if I was to attempt the track. The woman at Mt. Sandiman didn't mind me going past and was appreciative of me stopping in as she said most people drive straight past. Near the Gascoyne a elderly woman in a troopy said she had just drivn the top track with 10 vehicles with a "well known tour operator" whose name I will not mention.

The area around the track (on the range) is most virginal, and I only saw 2 or 3 campfires remains. If you want to visit before all the warning signs and barricades are installed I would suggest going soon. The track is a mixture of old station tracks, mid difficulty washouts and sand ridges. A caravan wouldn't make it. In the sand section one could be forgiven for thinking one was in the Great Sandy Desert. On the western side the track joins the approved 4wd tourist track which starts at Mardathuna Homestead I think, and continues on to the Carnarvon Mullewa Road. Where the two tracks meet the intersection has been modified so the track to the top is easily missed. It is fairly hard and I wouldn't do this one alone if it were your first 4wd trip.

White Stacks and Great Gorge are worthy of a closer inspection.

White Stacks parking/ camping area - 24 23.110S 115 09.918E.
Great Gorge closest point on track - 24 29.386S 115 08.689E.

Crossing the Gascoyne River should not be attempted when it is flowing lol...man that is a big river.

Here's some pictures:

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Regards

Alan

Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 00:50

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 00:50

G'day Alan. We were invited to do that track 2 years ago but time didn't allow. Love the Kennedy Ranges it's quite a unique spot. I get the newsletters from the group you eluded too.

I hope the area doesn't get ruined by idiots or that DEC make that many restrictions that it begs the question why did they bother opening up the tracks or promoting the area.

Great Gorge looks like a great spot to explore. Why the yikes in the Gascoyne photo? It looks dry. In the wet it would no doubt be a big yikes.

Dunc
Make sure you give back more than you take

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 317067

Follow Up By: equinox - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 01:07

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 01:07

Hi Duncs,

Yikes because it gave me goose bumps when I first saw it..

I don't cross rivers that big all that often. :))

Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 583412

Reply By: Member - julie S (VIC) - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 11:22

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 11:22

Can you give the simple instructions of how you got your map. The one in your plot swap please. Or can anyone tell how to get a good map of Australian or the East Coast on my computer so I can plan our trip.
Julie

AnswerID: 317125

Follow Up By: equinox - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 12:19

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 12:19

Hi Juile,

That map is part of the Exploroz map database. My data (plotfile) is just data collected from my GPS when I drove the track and is overlaid on the Exploroz Map.

I do my planning on Oziexplorer and usually use Natmaps. You can use Natmaps as a stand alone product but you can add a few bells and whistles with Oziexplorer.

This site has some products in their shop. Got to shop then click maps then online mappng. Your local map shop should be able to help you out to.

Cheers
Alan

Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 583458

Reply By: Jeelan - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 12:22

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 12:22

hey mate

thanks for the comments and the post

i'm going to be spending a couple of weeks in that part of the world from this weekend onwards and was thinking about whether i should do that route or not - after seeing your pics, i think i definately will.

cheers
Jeelan

AnswerID: 317133

Reply By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 15:25

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 15:25

Appreciate your comments on this post...it is a lovely area and well worth the visit and more than once

The Gascoyne River xing at that spot is quite Ok when dry although the sand can be quite loose and difficult at times...WET can be a very different matter....BE AWARE that that particular crossing with water can be a QUICKSAND issue

I have seen one unprepared vehicle boil half way across....and he blamed the people who serviced his vehicle for not blowing out the years of crap in his radiator cooling fins!...he never looked at them at all

cheers
bungurra

Life is a journey, it is not how we fall down, it is how we get up.
VKS 1341

Member
My Profile My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 317166

Reply By: Russ n Sue - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 17:32

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 17:32

G'day Alan,

Last time I went through Mt Sandiman it was unoccupied. Was the lady there one of the Station people or was she with a 'roo shooting outfit?

There is also a great track that runs along the base of the Kennedy Range from Black Hill northward for about 30 Km. Some of it is getting quite washed away, but if you take it easy you can get through in proper 4WD vehicles. It crosses over the track that goes from Mt Sandiman up onto the top of the range.

Some of the escarpment is quite sheer along this section, and quite spectacular.

Permission should be obtained from landowners to drive it.

Cheers,

Russ.

AnswerID: 317197

Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:12

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:12

Hi Alan ,

Like Russ , I found it abandoned in 2006 when I went through with a Trak Shak. It was in amazing condition , so I am glad they are using it again .

I will email you about the Bocrabee Hill trip in June .

Cheers ,

Willie .

FollowupID: 583528

Follow Up By: equinox - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:41

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:41

Hi Russ,

From the roo shooting people I think.

The track from Black Hill, though not on my map, sounds interesting.

Willie - I drove past Bocrabee Hill on the 18th July. Nice looking Hill. Hope your time there was, profitable..;))
Alan

Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 583541

Reply By: Willem - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 19:19

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 19:19

Thanks for that Al

Its a long way from here but it is included in a future foray into WA in the futire when fuel prices drop to below $1......hahahaha!

Maybe next year on the way back from DTS in the GSD.

Cheers

AnswerID: 317211