Rainbow Valley access road in 2WD
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:06
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LoveEmptyRoads
Hi,
bit of a repeat question here (just for different destinations) I was wondering if anybody has gone into the
Rainbow Valley (south of
Alice Springs) in 2WD. I'll be driving Falcon Station wagon with a ultimate camper trailer. I have seen some pics of the road and it seems like there is lots of sand on the track. Is it possible to do it with this car or I need 4wd?
Thanks
Reply By: philip t jones - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:35
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:35
I went in a couple of years ago with a prado and trailer and had real problems but it could be a lot different now, there were some people came in on dirt bikes and were suprised to see me there. but it could be like a highway today
Phil
AnswerID:
409408
Reply By: Joker1 - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:35
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:35
Been a few years but from memory there is a BIG
sign just off the Stuart Highway that says in part "4WD only past this point" apart from that the corrugations were very bad in parts and about 1KM of soft sand just inside the park
gate. I would say a big NO to doing it in a 2WD coz apart from the damage to the vehicle there is also the damage to the track. Stay in Alice and do a tourist tour but make sure you are there at dusk.
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409409
Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:43
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 21:43
try this
Rainbow Valley
As others have said, it can get pretty rough in there, not to mention the sand. There could also be washaways after the recent heavy rain.
regards
AnswerID:
409412
Reply By: Effie C (NT) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 22:12
Reply By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 22:27
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 22:27
Was out there in Sept 2009 Pajero and Camper Trailer and on the way in passed a 2wd Moterhome comming out . The road in then was not to bad and did not require 4wd, but as had been said
check road condition. We asked people in Alice while we were there
Have fun a spectacular place to
camp
AnswerID:
409424
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 23:08
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 23:08
Hi It will come down to your driving experience. Sure the
sign does say four wheel drive only. There are a few sandy sections, but nothing that would cause any major problem. It it has been wet, this is a very different story and you will be there until things dry out. We have only ever seen it when dry, but there are some great pictures of the large claypan in front of the outcrop, full of water and the reflections are unreal. When we were there, there was a two wheel drive Hilux ute out there.
Cheers
Stephen
Image Could Not Be Found
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Follow Up By: Member - Myles F (QLD) - Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 08:03
Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 08:03
G’day Stephan,
In my photo… no water but a bit greener in July last year.
LoveEmptyRoads
The drive in was easy. Wouldn’t have been a problem for a falcon back then. There were a few people there including half a dozen ultimate camper trailers (tag along?) and the
camp ground is a bit ordinary… with bollards to designate the area so we left after a bit of a explore…. Worth having a lookImage Could Not Be Found though.
Myles.
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Follow Up By: jackablue - Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 15:32
Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 15:32
We were there 2005
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Follow Up By: jackablue - Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 15:34
Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 15:34
Same view as others above
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Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 23:55
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 23:55
Gday,
When the road is good you can ride road bikes in!
Its like a four lane dirt highway.
When its under water......
well........its not?
Years ago it was a track...nowdays your biggest fear is some idiot coming the other way doing 120km and loosing it in front of you.
Its now back in the hands of blackfellas who would rather you werent there...hence the km walk now and the lack of maintenance...
So to answer you question...if the road is an average condition a 2wd would have no dramas....... but you did say a falcoon????? LOL
Cheers
AnswerID:
409437
Reply By: Steve63 - Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 17:47
Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 17:47
We were there last year and they had layed rubble over the sand. There were three 20 odd foot vans in there using most of the camping space I might add. They were not 4wd vans. It was like a formed dirt road rather than a track. Previous year it was very soft and sandy and 4wd only. Strangely no vans that time :-) Ask in Alice they will tell you the current conditions.
Steve
AnswerID:
409508
Reply By: LoveEmptyRoads - Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 17:58
Friday, Mar 19, 2010 at 17:58
Thank you for all the info, it seems like it very much "depends". I will be going there on my way back down south (mid July), so I will probably have to make a spot decision then. Thanks again for all the input, appreciated.
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409511