Road Conditions Tanami Road?
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:03
ThreadID:
69590
Views:
3666
Replies:
5
FollowUps:
11
This Thread has been Archived
downundersurfer
Hi Guys,
we are thinking about taking the Tanami Road from
Alice Springs to
Halls Creek. However, we have almost no "off road" experience and are not sure if it's a good idea to take it. Although we've got a 4WD we don't really want to risk something, cause it's sold already.
Does anybody know, how the current conditions of the track are?
If it's too bad, which way would you recommend to take. Our destination from
Alice Springs is
Broome and then the Gibbs River Road (if the conditions are alright).
Thank you very much,
downundersurfer
Reply By: Member - Mark & Michelle + 1 - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:23
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:23
There was a bit of rain on the track last weekend right up to Rabbit Flat however generally it is pretty good and overall dry. As always, rule is drive to the conditions, watch your speed and the dust from trucks. Use your UHF Channel 40 for the trucks. Also watch the 4WD and campers coming down from WA travelling way too fast without a care in the world, and believe me there are a lot of them. Generally you should not have any problems at all in a 4WD (we had three people through the other day heading to WA on pushbikes!!!!).
I live at the
Alice Springs end of the dirt and speak often to people travelling down. Appears the WA side is rougher than the NT side but most comments are that it is fine if you take it easy and drive to the prevailing conditions. Fuel at Tilmouth
Well,
Yuendumu, Rabbit Flat on NT side. We are travelling up there in two weeks then across the GRR to
Broome and return over a four week period. (Navara 4wd Twincab and camper trailer). What are your travel dates and what are you driving.
If you want anything else, let me know and will try to assist.
Cheers
Mark
AnswerID:
368856
Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:22
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:22
Hi Mark
Those travellers coming out of WA probably feel like they're on the freeway after leaving the WA side.
Motherhen
FollowupID:
636378
Follow Up By: Member - Mark & Michelle + 1 - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:33
Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:33
Hi Motherhen
That maybe the case and I can sympathise, I just wish they would slowdown a bit and take more care when they meet other vehicles on the dirt, some of them are down right dangerous to other road users.
Mark
FollowupID:
636403
Follow Up By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:38
Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:38
G'day Mark,
We leave on the 26th from
Melbourne, doing the same route, hope to see you and many more EO's up there, have a safe trip.
cheers,
Lance
FollowupID:
636404
Reply By: downundersurfer - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:41
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:41
Hi,
thanks for your answer. We also think about starting the Tanami in about 2 weeks, Are currently 400km before
Mount Isa and want to drive to Alice, Ayers, then back to
Alice Springs... we are driving a Toyota Landcruiser Bushcamper. Do you have a exact date when you will start, maybe I could follow you :-)
Regards,
Peter
AnswerID:
368857
Follow Up By: Member - Mark & Michelle + 1 - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:52
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:52
Saturday 20th June at 7am, are we counting, you betcha.
Plan to drive through to
Halls Creek if we can that day then start slowly cruising, Bungle Bungles,
Kununurra, GRR,
Broome then back
home down the Tanami. More than welcome to follow us through.
I will be in
Alice Springs the Wednesday 17 June overnight.
Let me know if you want to catch up or if you need any further info.
Cheers
Mark
FollowupID:
636357
Reply By: downundersurfer - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:59
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 19:59
Hi mark,
Sounds pretty interesting for us. Will you drive alone or with your whole family? So you will be in Alice from 17/06 till 2-/6 7am and then start?
Do you have an email address, then we will write you as soon as possible?
Regards,
Peter
AnswerID:
368861
Follow Up By: Member - Mark & Michelle + 1 - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 20:10
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 20:10
Hi Peter
No only in Alice overnight on the Wednesday then back out
home Thursday morning. We live out on the Tanami.
Travelling up the track with my partner and 7yo child.
email me at emandem@rocketmail.com
Cheers
Mark
FollowupID:
636362
Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:21
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:21
Have you checked out several recent threads on travelling the Tanami Surfer? It is a road, so off road experience doesn't come into it, but lowering tyres pressures, driving to conditions, watching the road intently particularly on the WA side and checking everything that can come unscrewed daily are important.
Motherhen
AnswerID:
368875
Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:31
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:31
Also if you need to re-fuel at Rabbit Flat, ring before you leave Alice. Despite the announcements of 7 days a week opening, they were shut when we got there mid week. Luckily we had enough fuel.
Check out threads 69344 and 65571, which have the most detailed
feedback.
Mh
FollowupID:
636379
Follow Up By: madcow - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:55
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:55
at $2.20 a litre there and $2.60 at the community further up the track for diesel
FollowupID:
636381
Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:59
Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 at 22:59
You did
well Madcow. It was $2.72 on the bowser at Rabbit Flat, $2.50 at Yuendumo and $2.51 at Tilmouth
Well when we went thorugh last August.
Mh
FollowupID:
636382
Follow Up By: Member - Mark & Michelle + 1 - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:31
Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:31
I dont know what Rabbit Flat deisel is, would not stop there.
Yuendumu is $1.90 for diesel and Tilmouth
Well is $1.72 for diesel.
I'm with you Motherhen, I will carry enough to get to
Halls Creek.
Cheers
Mark
FollowupID:
636402
Follow Up By: Member - Mary W NW VIC - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 19:05
Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 19:05
Any particular reason for avoiding Rabbit Flat apart from cost of fuel Mark?
Cheers,
Mary
FollowupID:
636475
Reply By: downundersurfer - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 08:26
Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 08:26
Thx a lot for your answer. Just for the case that we can#t go with Mark and decide not to take
the Tanami Track:
What is the second best way from
Alice Springs to
Halls Creek?
thx,
surfer
AnswerID:
368894
Follow Up By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:47
Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 09:47
Up the Stuart hwy to Dunmurra, left onto the Buchanan hwy, left at top springs onto the buntine hwy/duncan hwy to
halls creek
or
the long long way is
up the stuart hwy to
katherine, left down the victoria hwy to
kununurra, then down the northern hwy to
halls creek
but i would go the tanami, slowly but surely.
cheers,
Lance
FollowupID:
636406