gunbarrel highway

Thanks for the advice Stephen, all tips are very welcome. A couple of years ago we drove from Hobart to Broome and back via the Tanami and Gibb, amazing country and we have met the corrugations. Unbelievable!

Are the permits required for the entire gunbarrel or just the abandoned section? is it possible to bypass this section? I have just started to research the route as we prepare for the long awaited holidays. Any advice and tips are very welcome.

Thankyou
Grant

Hi Grant
Permits for the "Abandoned" section are free, but usually take around 2 - 3 weeks to be approved. We have never seen any other vehicles out there. The section that is referred to Abandoned section, is the section of track that starts around 16 kilometres west of Warakurna and end at Warburton. The start of the old section is not signposted and if you have not done your homework, you will pass it by with the blink of an eye, this is what it looks like from the Great Central Road Image Could Not Be Found

There are a couple of signpost a few kilometres in, with warnings like this, Image Could Not Be Found

It does not tale long to get into this type of country like this, Image Could Not Be Found

The country is ever changing, from open plains to avenues of track either the Desert Oaks like this, Image Could Not Be Found

You will find a number of famous Beadell Blaze trees along this section, either of Desert Oaks or one on a Gum. Image Could Not Be Found

The country opens up to vast spinifex plains as you near another important landmark, Jackie Junction. Image Could Not Be Found

Once in this part of the track, it is either Mulga or again open plains of spinifex.
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Around 47 kilometres from Jackie Junction and before Mount Charles, there will be your first track to the south and out to Warburton, of just keep heading west and past Mt Samuel. Image Could Not Be Found

If you want to do not do this section of the Abandoned Highway, then the next way up to it is via the Heather Highway, around 37 kilometres south west of Warburton off of the Great Central Road. Many complain that this is a very rough track, but it is in far better condition from south of Mt Beadell to well past Geraldton Bore. The county is this section ranges from sandy track, to more Mulga sections.

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After many jarring corrugations, the highlight of the trip will be the most important landmark for the trip...Mt Beadell.

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You will also find a number of sections where the track is corrugated, that there will be side tracks off of the main track, from people seeking reprieve from this ever constant speed humps. They may look better, but when you venture to them, they are no different.

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Just before reaching Mungilli Claypan, you will be back into great, well maintained tracks, courtesy of the Wiluna Shire Council.

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Like I have said it is a fantastic trip and a drive you will not forget.


Cheers


Stephen

Well that's saved me a whole lot of fuel and aggravation on corrugations.

Seen the good bits, off to the pub.

cheers

Hi Gone Bush

I am afraid that I will have to disagree with you on this one. I would rather be out in the bush than the pub, any day. Those are not the best bits, it is around the campfire at the end of a great day of travelling, hearing the dingos howl during the night, the ever changing scenery and days on end when you have the complete desert to your self.

You will have to change your number plates...Gone to the Pub......LOL


Cheers and see you some day out in your great deserts of WA one day.



Regards

Stephen

I agree - we did it about 10 years ago on our own without a problem.
I think we met about 10 others on the road over the 2 days so you wont be alone for long.
Make sure your vehicle is up to standard and you have some form of communication just in case.


Jeff.

I was atop Mount Beadell in 2007 and another vehicle came up, a couple with kids and asked me if we were going east as they would like to travel the Abandoned section in company. I'm sure there are many cases like that.

We were heading west.

Thanks for the advice, The trusty Hilux has taken us through some rough treks before and I am quietly confident she can keep going. Booked in next week for a suspension overhall (just in case). The Gunbarrel, from what I have read so far sounds like a great experience. Looking forward to avoiding some Tassie winter.

Grant