Road between Normanton and Camooweal
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 22:13
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MalcolmC
Next month I'll be making that trip with my Patrol GU4 towing a 20 foot (touring) van down through the centre to
Adelaide (2 Fd Amb Reunion ;-) ). Just wondering what the road is like in this section. Dirt, heavy corrugation, not recommended, etc. I may have to go via
Croydon. Any recommendations?
TIA
Reply By: MalcolmC - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 22:16
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 22:16
too late at night ... Change
Croydon to read
Cloncurry
AnswerID:
325649
Follow Up By: Member - beachbum - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 09:18
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 09:18
Malcolm I would not tow a standard van on that road and would take the Curry option. It is never in good enough condition to take a standard van over without you getting some damage. Having said that, I have not been over it for a couple of years but did use it a few times during the last fifteen years or so. When is your reunion? I will be heading for
Adelaide next month for a RASigs reunion there in early November. You can reach me at beachbumswil@bigpond.com if you wish.
FollowupID:
592753
Follow Up By: Member - Malcolm C (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 12:35
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 12:35
Thanks for all answers. I had originally planned to go via the Curry and Isa but, just wondered how good/bad the alternative road was.
Beachbum, thanks. That *IS* the way I will now be going. Reunion starts on 15th Oct so that gives me two weeks traveling from
Cairns down through the centre via a detour to Kings Canyon. Yeah, I know, quick trip. I'm a traveller not a tourist! Will send you an email.
Malcolm
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Voxson - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 22:21
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 22:21
All those roads are fine,,,, maybe some corros,,, but drive to the conditions...
AnswerID:
325653
Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 00:06
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 00:06
Do not tow a 20 ft van down
Burketown to
Camooweal, as far as Thorntonia is OK then turn left to the Barly Hwy between Thorntonia and
Camooweal is a very sharp
deep creek , will get bottomed out
AnswerID:
325667
Reply By: wendys - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 00:22
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 00:22
The only way to stay on the bitumen to go from
Normanton to
Camooweal is to go
Normanton, Burke & Wills,
Cloncurry, Mt Isa,
Camooweal. Any other way will give you corrugations to a greater or lesser extent, plus at least one wet & flowing crossing - the
Gregory River just south of
Riversleigh - there is no way to avoid this one. If you are tempted to try the unsealed route, a phone call to Adels Grove would give you a "local" assessment of the current state of the roads.
AnswerID:
325668
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 17:59
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 17:59
Just got back from
Lawn Hill just over a week ago.
We didn't use the road to Cammoweal, have before and there is always some corrugations, but Adels Grove reported worse than usual. A lot of the vanners coming in reported it in poor condition.
I know, what is one person's poor road is OK for others. We struck this with the road from
Gregory river to
Lawn Hill, thought it pretty good, but most vanners were complaining about it shaking everything loose. :o)
AnswerID:
325750