Gary Junction Road

dickwho,

I am travelling the Plenty Hwy in September. Did you see any unleaded petrol prices/availablity at Tobermorey, Jervois, Atitjere, Gemtree?

Any tyre problems on the Plenty? Was there much water? How was the scenery?

CheersJust Do It!

Glen,

I got diesel at Jervois and paid $1.25, two bucks for a hot shower. They also have a small caravan park.

The country east of Jervois is pretty ordinary, mostly low scrub, however on the Qld. side it opens out a fair bit and you can see a fair way.

We went into Tobermoray and then drove out as we had enough fuel to get to Jervois & the place was closed, though they opebned the shop and we got an ice cream. They have a small caravan park which looked pretty good. Fuel as I recall was in the $1.30 range, though a more recent visitor may assist.

That place near Hart's Range cop shop was also closed, we were there on a Saturday and the joint was deserted. Didn't stop at Gemtree.

I did two tyres between Boulia & the bitumen just west of Gemtree, one picked up a a drill chuck (yes, true) and stuffed one really good tyre, not much of a swap really, my first spare said goodbye about 100 km east of Jervois after a stone cut into the tyre wall, so I had the pleasure, I don't think, of travelling to Alice Springs with a real dodgy second spare. I pulled a moderately loaded camper trailer & my vehicle was not overloaded, though there were three of us.

There are places where the road is really rough, I was told low pressure works & the opposite about high pressure. My advice is get 8 or 10 ply tyres, at least on the back, as that seems to be the problem axle, and run at about 30 PSI.

Plenty of places to camp as there are not many roadside fences, though, we were visited by the 'cocky' but we bribed him with some coldies & we got to camp for free!!!!! The Georgina River crossing looked promising as a place to stay as there was water in the river, though that was the only water we saw until we got near Marble Bar and camped on the Ashburton.

Anyway, if I can give any other help talk to me.

Dick

Dickwho,

Sounds like you had a great time. Yes, the NT Goverments of both political persuasions have been steadily making it harder for travellers to camp on the roadside. The caravan parks association puts pressure on the government so that travellers are 'forced' to use their facilities. This has been happenening since the mid 90's. But there are lots of places to camp including Telstra Towers and old WW2 airfields or station tracks.

Could you please tell me what the distance is between Alice and the community at Well 33. Is there petrol available at the community? I would like to do that trip but will have to carry a hell of a lot of petrol.
Cheers,
Willie


Fitzmaurice River NT