Alternatives to the black top, Yunta, SA to Wilpena/Marree.

FYI. The street GPS is not usually used for dirt nav. As a matter of fact this is the first time it has been run in months. The detail was scratchy and I know the maps are way out of date. So its unreliable.

Ozi shows tracks but its an unknown area to me and the road status cannot be found.

Hence my post.

Phil

Hi Vk,
No problem with the road from Yunta to Wilpena and beyond. Good dirt road when last I travelled. You could google for current conditions
Guy

Hi vk1dx

It sounds like you are travelling from the east, so if you take the Yunta turnoff, there are two options, both very different and great alternatives to the blacktop.

Option one.

From Yunta, head north and keep following the signposted signs to Arkaroola. Just out of town a little way, it is worth dropping in at the old Waukaringa gold mines on your rights as you head north. After these keep heading north and when you get to Curnamona, take the road to your left signposted to Martins Well. When you get to Martins Well, take the main road to the south and it will bring you out on the main highway near Rawnsley Park, then straight up to Wilpena.

Option two. - a very pretty drive
As per option one, but when you leave Waukaringa, from memory about 6 or 7 kilometres up the road, turn left and follow the signs to Baratta. This will take you past the old Windowarta Hut and before you get to Holowiliena, follow the sign post headed for Hawker. Follow this track all the way through and it will bring you out on the main Hawker - Wilpena Road, around 3 or 4 Kilometres north east of Hawker.

From what I am hearing from locals up that way, they have never seen the country looking as good for over 30 years, it is just green and not the usual patched earth.


Have a great time in one of the top spots in SA.


Cheers


Stephen

Phil,
We travelled from the Gammon to Broken Hill, via Yunta, during thrid term holidays last year. WE completed Grindels hut - Broken Hill in one day fairly comfortably. The sourther section of the road were in exceptional condition, road crew were seen doing major works. We were travelling at 100kmh and cold have gone foster if we wanted to. I think the road is the main transport access road for Beverly and as such is being maintained in vg condition.
The road across to Leigh Creek is not in as good a nick but is still a good dirt road 80kmh+
Paul

There has been a lot of rain in those parts in recent months, which may have affected those dirt roads. You may find it faster to stick to more of the bitumen, at least on the way up there. i.e. Mildura, Burra, Peterborough, Hawker. When in the area, you could check on the dirt road conditions for the return trip. We have towed an offroad van on the Yunta-Arkaroola-Copley roads, several times, with no iissues, but not after such an extended wet period. Have also towed Wilpena to the Yunta road, via Martins Well - no problems with that way either, but it was not all that well signposted, and that section was a bit slower than the section on the Yunta-Balanoona road.

Before you go traipsing off across little used tracks withing the Flinders Rangesd area have a look here http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/northern.asp
There has been a lot of road damage in the Mid North of SA due to excessive rain for this time of the year so its best to make sure of your route before you head off.

I once drove the road from Yunta north and connected somewhere around Blinman in a Coaster school bus with a trailer of camping gear and about 16 kids. It was no problem. Great drive. The kids were all from Collingwood tech in Melbourne and it was their first taste of the outback.
I would check rain/water condition of the road however.

Have a good trip up there and back Phil. Sounds like a great way to spend easter. We're exprecting a de-brief on your return mate :-) Enjoy.

Fred