Perth to Alice and back again

Hi Sharon,
July is the best time to be in this area and the Great Central Road is unlikely to pose a problem. It was once a problem road, but it now carries tour buses and a constant flow of 2wd vehicular traffic. It is still dirt, and will soon be tar we hear... but generally, you can take your caravan. It is beautifully graded to suit the peak tourist season that you will be in the thick off, so you wont be the only vanners. Not knowing your driving experience nor the size or type of your van, nor the kind of towing hitch it is difficult for me to advise further. For further info, you could phone the local council in the surrounding towns, eg. Laverton, Warburton. Put it this way, for 4WDrivers it is a yawn of a "trek" and for that reason, I haven't done a trek write up on this site yet. You can send me some info when you've done it if you like!

No, I wouldn't say it is necessary. I don't know the exact van you mention, however if its a camper trailer, but not an offroad one, you are unlikely to be taking it over articulated terrain where the 360% type coupling would be more desirable. The Great Central Road is graded and there is no articulated terrain to be concerned about.

You will be okay in a mechanically okay caravan - just take it easy ...... tyres , wheel bearings are the main things to check - take spares of these (and repack the wheel bearings beforehand! - this lesson learnt from experience).

Hi Sharon,
we went through July 2001 and, whilst we weren't towing, you shouldn't have any problems. It got sandy around Docker River(the grader was doing that section a week after we went through). Mostly its hard clay with a light sand cover- we saw plenty of 2wd doing the trip. It might not be heavy 4WDriving but I'd hardly call it a yawn, the scenery is brilliant all the way. PS- if you get a transit permit from the Central Lands Council then you won't have to pay the fee into Uluru when you are leaving the NT.