Tanami track

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 19:03

ThreadID: 75452 Views:3437 Replies:6 FollowUps:4

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The Tanami Track

The Tanami Track is essentially a great short-cut linking the Red Centre to the Kimberley. Although once a notorious 4WD track, it is now a graded dirt highway.

The Tanami Track

Section: Treks

The Tanami Track is essentially a great short-cut linking the Red Centre to the Kimberley. Although once a notorious 4WD track, it is now a graded dirt highway.

Member - Peta M (NSW)

We are planning to do the Tanami track from Alice Springs in late March. Has anyone attempted it at this time of year - if so what was track & weather like.

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Reply By: Member - John - Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 19:44

Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 19:44

Hi, have a look here.

Tanami Track

John and Jan

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AnswerID: 400859

Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 22:10

Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 22:10

Gday Peta,
The Tanami"road" is just that, a road.
Its a well travelled road in all months of the year..... occasionally it rains and it might get closed for a week or two but other than that it is always open and quite accessible. The road varies from one week to another and some peoples idea of a good road is not another's. As for the weather....mate, if you can find someone who can tell you what the weather will be doing in March ask them the Lotto numbers....LOL.

Cheers

AnswerID: 400878

Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 23:01

Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 23:01

Hairy, I think you'll find the WA side a little short of your description.

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

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Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 10:17

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 10:17

Possibly........like I said "some peoples idea of a good road is not another's."

FollowupID: 670189

Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 14:07

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 14:07

When we were there in 2007, some of the WA section was quite badly pot-holed and had to be take quite slowly, but large parts of it (particularly around the Wolfe Ck t/o) it had been recently graded and was in very good condition. The worst bit we encountered was the corrugations near Tilmouth Well Roadhouse in NT.

FollowupID: 670208

Reply By: Member - pilbara60 (WA) - Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 22:55

Sunday, Jan 24, 2010 at 22:55

doing the track in early april but going from halls creek to alice so might see you there somewhere

AnswerID: 400884

Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 09:26

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 09:26

Hi Peta, did it in March 07. Weather was hot but not unbearable. Road, as others say, is always variable. At that time it was good for comfortable travel
at 80k (towing C/t) except for last 50k on WA side..down to 40kph. We bush camped near WA border & did it easily in 2 days. Check your fuel needs carefully
& dont forget Wolf Creek Crater. cheers.....oldbaz.

AnswerID: 400905

Reply By: jezza68 - Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 23:22

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 at 23:22

I personally would not recommend the Tanami in March. Things to consider is this is a busy month for Tropical Lows and Cyclones. The WA side becomes impassable quickly especially the Sturt's Creek Crossing which can flow over a kilometer wide.
Rabbit Flat only opens spasmodically during the wet so you will have to carry enough fuel to take into consideration sidetracks and turn arounds.
The road from Balgo North is very corrugated and needs slow speeds and good track decision.

AnswerID: 401044