Plenty Hwy

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 17:38

ThreadID: 70997 Views:3404 Replies:4 FollowUps:1

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Plenty Highway

Part of the "Outback Way", the Plenty Highway is the most direct route from central Queensland across to Alice Springs in central Australia.

Plenty Highway

Section: Treks

Part of the "Outback Way", the Plenty Highway is the most direct route from central Queensland across to Alice Springs in central Australia.

Member - Greg H (NT)

Gidday all,

Heading along the Plenty Hwy this week (Alice-Boulia) and would like to know if anyone has a recent update on the road?
Thanks in advance

Cheers

Greg

Tomorrow is here!

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Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 18:06

Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 18:06

Hi Greg,

My info is about two months old now. Mostly good road to the Queensland boarder (70 - 80 kph) but some areas with medium corrugations. As on all dirt roads you do have to 'read' the road. From the boarder to Boulia very good road, 90 kph. Max $50 fuel per vehicle at Gemtree if you are staying there,(service for customers only). Harts Range and Jervious had fuel - no fuel or accomodation at Tobermorey although I have heard of people parking overnight.

KK

AnswerID: 376303

Reply By: Member - Martin Princhester (V - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 19:35

Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 19:35

We travelled the Plenty a week ago heading west. We came down from Urandangi so I can only comment on the NT section of the road. It was largely very ordinary and there is no way a 2WD could get through the long stretches of corrugations. I was last on the Plenty 3 years ago this July and it was a great deal better then. Any vehicle with good clearance will manage but it would be slow in many areas.
Martin

AnswerID: 376318

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Jul 27, 2009 at 09:44

Monday, Jul 27, 2009 at 09:44

"there is no way a 2WD could get through"
Sorry Martin, I can't let that pass, because that is simply not true.
Most "roads" in this country are fine in 2WD, you simply need to drive according to the conditions and your vehicle and use a bit of common sense.

The Plenty Highway is certainly not as difficult as this was. This s the Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs in 1967.
Never saw a 4x4 on that road.

Cheers,
Peter
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FollowupID: 643767

Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 20:51

Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 20:51

Greg
We did it last week in a Pajero towing a CT.
NT side 70-80, Qld side, much of it 100km/hr, worse 80 (of course slowing at creek crossings and bends).
They have done an incredible amount of work on the Qld side this dry season.
On the NR side we saw an old HiAce commercial van & 1-2 cars on it, but travelling much slower. Also saw a couple of Honda CRVs
No bulldust as we had read from publications, but yes some corrugations.
I suppose it is what you are used to, we travelled on far worse roads over the previous 3 weeks.

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Reply By: Sevro - Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 21:40

Sunday, Jul 26, 2009 at 21:40

Did the Plenty about 4 weeks ago. Boulia to the NT border was excellent for a dirt road, we sat on about 85-90 kph towing a CT. From the border to Jervois (diesel $1.77 a litre)was a bit ordinary, good in some sections, we averaged around 70kph. The road from Jervois to Gemtree (diesel $1.90 a litre) was the worst, heavy corrugations and a lot of rock.

Talking to a few people at Gemtree and Alice Springs and some had rock damage and a couple had done tyres. I put that down to speed and to tyre pressures to high. Just take it steady.

Tobermorey is closed, we stopped for an overnight roadside camp at Putiri Creek.

Cheers

Sev

AnswerID: 376338