Great Central Road to WA & Giles Weather Station
Submitted: Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 14:45
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Motherhen
As per previous posts on GCR, we will be leaving the NT this way.
What is the best time / day to visit Giles?
Which are the better fuel stops between
Yulara &
Laverton? (Or which ones to avoid?)
Which
camping areas to avoid? (Or which are really nice?)
Thanks
Motherhen
Reply By: Trevor W(Brisbane) - Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 15:00
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 15:00
From memory (3 years ago) the Weather Balloon is released at 9.00 am every morning and is generally a good time to see what happens and they did give us a guided tour around all the other Weather Checking items and how they worked. Probably pay to give then a call.We camped in the
Camp Ground behind the Shop/Fuel Station . so we could see the Mornings release
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Follow Up By: curious - Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 18:28
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 18:28
The balloons are released at 8.30am & 3.30pm Central Standard Time (Giles uses SA time although it's in WA). You need to arrive at the weather station about 30 minutes before launch. They request you phone them to say you're attending although I tagged along with others.
I also stayed at the Warakurna Road House
camp ground - basic but clean and friendly. Do a search on
Great Central Road as someone recently posted some great details on
camping grounds and fuel prices
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Reply By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 15:31
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 15:31
Motherhen
check out this site.
Cheers Richard
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 22:24
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 22:24
Hi Motherhen
As my pictures show you below, the Weather Station is operational 7 days per week 52 weeks per year except Christmas Day. Warakurna
camp ground is good as can reccommend the stay there, even if the
water just trickles out of the shower.
You will have no problems with fuel, but would not stay at
Warburton.
Cheers
StephenImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found
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Reply By: Member - Geoff C (QLD) - Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 at 08:50
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 at 08:50
We stayed mostly on the side of the road, had no trouble getting by ourselves. The one place we stayed at an organised place was near Docker River. Cost $10 for the night and had flushing
toilets. There is a
lookout platform there which is worth a visit even if not
camping. When we went through, east to west, the roughest part of the trip was from
Yulara to Docker River so going the other way it would be a good place to have a rest before tackling it. We towed a dual axle caravan through ther without too much trouble, just took it carefully.
When we went thrugh in early June the cheapest fuel was at Docker River community. It was $2.00 against
Yulara $2.16.
Enjoy the trip, we did and are making plans to do the GCR again.
Geoff
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