Palm Valley access

I haven't done it recently but would be very surprised if it was that bad. Try talking to some of the local 4wd service places. They tend to know what is about or could put you onto someone with up to date local knowledge.

I haven't been there recently but it's a very slow trip over rough rocks. If you take your time and take it easy you should be right.
I took a stock-standard Jackaroo in there (they don't have the best ground clearance) and never scraped or bumped anything but there were plenty of deep gouges in the rocks to show that plenty of other people had scraped! I actually enjoyed the drive - it was a bit of an adventure with lots of lo-range rock crawling!

Hi Kevin,

Member Pezza was just out there on his 650 KTM motorbike. He was talking to me by phone Sunday just gone. HE said it was fun getting in there but the Boggy Hole track was heaps worse, he could not find the track sth bound out of there and ended up going what he thinks was cross country through some very big boulder strewn country which left him very low on fuel but he managed to scrape out of the situation when he rolled into a servo as his engine died from no fuel. Very lucky by the sounds of it.

But this is sidetracking, he mentioned 3 other vehicles in at Palm Valley and said not too much about the difficulty in getting in, apart from it being a bit sandy in sections so I would suggest to take it easy and it sounds to me as though it should be OK. Pezza is an experienced rider with plenty of gumption when it comes to offroading so his level of comfort may vary to yours, I don't know.

Hope it helps in some way.
Regards, Trevor.

Hi Kevin,

When I was there in 2007, there was a Rav 4 that had no trouble getting all the way in.

The road in is rough, but I wouldn't think a 4wd would have too much trouble. It's really only after the campground that you might need clearance, but as I've said I've seen softroaders out there.

Graeme

Kevin
When you have been around for a while, you get to know that you will never get the correct answer that you want from someone that has either never been to the place in person, or has never driven a four wheel drive. If you are a capable four wheel driver, you will have no problems what so ever.
The drive down from Hermannsburg is no problems at all until past the Palm Valley Camp grounds. From about there on,it is slow as you go and pick you correct line to avoid some of the larger rock ledges.
We have done the trip out there a couple of times and it amazes me the way some people drive in. You will see many a scrape mark and oil stained rocks where people have driven too fast or taken the wrong way over or around some of the large rock ledges and damaged the sump of their vehicles.
My sister lives in Alice Springs and goes out there often in her stock standard RAV 4 and has no problems what so ever.

Drive to the conditions and you will have a great trip out there, with no dramas if you go slow.

Cheers

Stephen

I can't imagine it would be that bad Kevin, so long as you take it slow enough to meet the conditions. There has been rain in the area since we were there last September when it was dry. There had been rain a week or so before, which had left rock pools along Palm Valley, with the unusual looking shield shrimps. We went in no trouble with the F250 and caravan, but did not rush. The road was quite good to the camp ground then.

The rock section is when you drive out to the Valley itself - at distance it appears to be fairly smooth rock, but took a bit of watching with our longer wheel base, especially the last bit. Some people parked near the Valley of Cycads and walked the last 1.5 kms. You can even walk all the way from the campground along the creek (around 4 kms); our next door neighbours did this, as they had a tray mounted fold out camper set up.

It is well and truly worth the visit - we spent three nights there and enjoyed all the walks. I was working on my trip notes for Palm Valley last night.

Motherhen

January 1985. Went there in a Subaru Touring wagon. Was Ok except for the river rocks. But it changes every time it rains heaverly.

Was out there a week ago and went to start in and a 5 tonne truck came out and as we couldnt see for the dust for 10 mins we gave it away.
The truck looked like a prison vehicle was a 5 tonner with a large bus like body with scruffy looking seats and scruffier people in it.
Therefore apart from that cant comment on the rest of it

Kevin,

Drove in and out this afternoon. No dramas and a great 4WD track. Just drive to conditions. The walk is well worth while.
Bit rougher than the Merrinie Loop. ;)