Camp spots along the Tanami

Hi
Went down the Tanami last June free camping available at Wolfe Creek was nice, also about 3 K's SE past the Billiluna turnoff there is a short patch of bitumen road that spans a is a free camp area, otherwise just pull off the track you can free camp almost anywhere along the Tanami. Rabbit flat has a nice camping area but at a small cost, we also stopped at Tilmonth Roadhouse to wash the dust down but this was at typical caravan park rates
Kyle

Dave


No, unfortunately.

There is a Caravan Park at Tilmouth Well but camping near any of the other fuel outlets is not advisable. Rabbit Flat used to have camp sites but not sure if they do any longer.

I found an open area about 3km south of Rabbit Flat in a depression and about 500metres off the road last year.


Cheers

In 06, we wanted to free / bush camp along the Tanami also, well away from the various roadhouses. In short, we just kept our eyes on the scrub, and eventually a clearing would emerge for both of our night camps along there. No trouble in getting in off the road by 20 - 30m ..... need to watch out re fires etc - the spinifex was quite thick in most places.

Heading up to Halls Creek, about 5 - 10 km past the WA boarder there is a track on the left that goes in about 100 metres to a cleared and excavated area where rock had been taken for road works. The track is rather hard to see and if we had not been looking for it we would have driven past.

.

Roadhouses: Tilmouth & Rabbit Flat
Roadside: Renahans (Pretty close to the road)
Others: Tanami downs road, about 500metres off the Tanami road
Many stay at the border but it is small and very close to the road.
The old Balgo road where it intersects the old Mulan road has a small spot along there.
Sturt Creek has heaps of nice spots but you need to know where.
There are many more but you have to look for them.
Billiluna had camping available at Stretch lagoon about 17kms (very easy 17kms) south of Billiluna along the start of the Canning.

Thank fellas, Will print this out for reference. This is the first time for us out that way and we are really looking forward to it. For us it will be the start of a 5 month break from work touring WA travelling from VIC.

Not too many inspirational camp spots on the Tanami. Wolf Creek
is ok but close to the WA end anyway. Rabbit Flat is pretty ordinary, charcoal everywhere. We camped in a road works
clearing on the left about 30k this side of WA border, about 100 metrs off the road, was fine for overnighter....oldbaz.

Dave,

My choice of campsite would be .............nowhere !

I would not want to do that uninteresting 800-1000 km of corrugations ever again.

Did it last June and my teeth are still chattering. It has only got worse since. They seem to have stopped maintaining it.

Willie.

Hi Madcow

We had three overnight stops.

We were heading from Halls Creek to Alice Springs and were going to stop at Wolfe Creek, but as it was only lunch time, we, moved on. We watched for gravel ridges, and found a good one (old gravel dump), well off the road about 33 kms Halls Creek side of the Balgo turnoff. Evidence of old camp fires. We had a wonderful peaceful night after a colourful sunset (current rig pic).

Next night we stopped at a well used rest area near the Granites mine. Not that quiet as a bit close to the road, and the security man from the mine drive through during the night 'checking for dingoes'. He usually finds someone camped there. He called around next morning too to check that we were OK as we were late leaving - during a bit of r&m. Nice guy.

Third night we went far enough past Yuendumo where a track turned off at a station dam. The track went over the hill to a wide open area from a very old gravel dump - BUT as there was a dead red car, numerous cans, old steak bones and evidence of primitive barbecue, we thought it must be the local drinking spot just outside of the prohibited zone. Nothing was really recent, so we stayed - we always stay hitched, so moving out quickly wouldn't be a problem. A little later a very old Landrover drive further along the track and stopped at a tree. Our neighbours were quiet all night, and left about half an hour before us in the morning.

Some way down the road, there was the same Landrover broken down. It was a pretty cold morning. Chairs and camp cooker out, they had hot coffee while they tried to ascertain the mechanical problem. It turned out it was a bush lover from Melbourne, taking his brother from NZ (and UK born ) around. They really laughed when we said we'd thought they were from Yuendumo! Two other travellers also stopped, and we all stayed until the Landrover got going again.

We had a problem with our water tanks when we got to Tilmouth Wells, and the same people we had helped (well my husband had helped) came in and helped us out. Their Landrover was still playing up and they could only travel slowly, so it took us the rest of the day following them to make sure they made it to Alice.

Motherhen

Hi Madcow,
Jan and I are heading off on the 15th may for 4 months may be see you on the road white nissad with trackmaster van also

vks 737 hf Victor 9754 call and sell call sign we from vic as well
comeing home through the great central road in august hope to catch up

Regards Jan & Pete

From the Alice end
Smith's Gift Bore-pprox 30ks before Yuemendu? turn off.On left easy to get out of site of the road-no rubbish-quiet .
Renahans bore-rooom to withdraw to the scrub-no problems
Rabbit flat -Spent a day relaxing-clean well maintained long drops -hot showers available at roadhouse-Great company.
Coyote mine -a sign to coyote camp 3k's led to a level site where we camped big waves from the mine staff -A Ok
Woolfe creek.
We took 5 days with an R&R at Rabbit flat were in no hurry was great trip -no damage sustained to 80's lifted van and sister's 80's Jayco camper came through ok tooIt was SLOW in places but we were in no hurry and spent a further 3 mths on the road.
If it's rough =go slow
We enjoyed it very much.
Picked up Smiths bore o 250k raster map
Had the geese flying alongside the car at times-Great!You will love it -it's no place to be in a hurry,Just simply enjoy every corrugated Kilometre,
Cheers,
Mary

We are both towing campers (offroad) and are certainly in no rush to get over. it takes as long as it takes. Both cars are GU Patrols, We'll be on ch 9 uhf and you come across us don't be afraid to say g'day, we're not that scary or ugly for that matter :). Plus we both have the 2 legged defence system ( the missus)to ward off unwelcome intruders, Well it would work for me anyway. Nah just joking! thanks for your input!