MacDonnnell Range to Tanami Road

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 21:54
ThreadID: 87488 Views:2164 Replies:3 FollowUps:4
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Hi to the forum,
is it possible to drive from the West MacDonnell Range via Round Hill and the Gary Junktion Road to the Tanami Road. I don´t like to go back from the MacDonnell to Alice to enter the Tanami. In my map (The Red center, 1:750.000) there is the Track marked. Is it recommendable to do this?

Thomas
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Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 23:30

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 23:30
Hi Thomas

I don't know Round Hill, but you can go from the West MacDonnells to the Gary Junction Road via Haasts Bluff (the hill not the community - the community is on a spur road of this short cut). We did it the other way, leaving the Gary Junction east of Papunya and meeting Namatjira Drive west of Glen Helen. It is well signed. Some patches a little sandy, but we got through easily with our rig. We were coming in from the west and chose to go to Alice via the West MacDonnells rather than continuing to meet up with the Tanami and in to Alice Springs. These roads are a whole lot better than you will meet on the Tanami.

Motherhen
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AnswerID: 459618

Reply By: SIF4X4 - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 22:17

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 22:17
Yep...you just keep on going west but stay right at the split in the road. It will take you to Haasts Bluff and then the Desert Road (Gary Junction) then throw a right there and that will bring you out on the Tanami

OR you may throw a left and travel along the Desert Road to Mt Webb, then take a faint track to the Aboriginal Business Road between Kwirrkurra and Balgo and hang another right there. From Balgo it is a short way to the Tanami Road (permits required from DIA Perth).

OR you may take a very rough (and I mean rough) track behind Ellery BigHole and Fish Hole Gorge and find your way along some station tracks to the Tanami

Cheers

Spero
AnswerID: 459699

Follow Up By: Echucan Bob - Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 08:52

Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 08:52
Spero

The Wt Webb to Balgo track is known as the Lake Mackay Track.
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FollowupID: 733423

Follow Up By: SIF4X4 - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 06:59

Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 06:59
AH! Thanks for the update
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FollowupID: 733500

Reply By: Hochholzer T - Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 05:40

Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 05:40
Hello Motherthen and Spero,
thank you very much for your help. We are very happy and look forward to come to Australia (the flight is on Friday)!
Greeting from Austria
Thomas
AnswerID: 459795

Follow Up By: Echucan Bob - Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 08:50

Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011 at 08:50
Thomas,

I'm not quite sure where you plan to go.

There is an unmarked track that leads due north from Papunya (not the marked private track that heads about 15 degrees to Central Mount Wedge community), through the Stuart Range at Mt Wedge, and then on to Yuendumu on the Tanami.

Alternatively, once you have crossed the range, you can turn East and join the Tanami closer to Alice Springs.
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FollowupID: 733422

Follow Up By: Hochholzer T - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 05:21

Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 05:21
Hi,
Thank you very much, I will do the track 20 miles east of Glen Helen Resort to Haast Bluff and than east of Papunya to the gary junction.
Thomas
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FollowupID: 733494

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