Tanami Information - Fuel and camping

A phone call to Tanami Gold....see if you can do a tour there, very interesting, we were lucky to be there on a Wednesday... dont quote me but thats the day they do the gold pour.... got to hold an ingot worth a truck load of money. A NO frills tour but ask/phone/book well in advance if its possible.
A definate stop is Balgo ....fantastic arts center... you can top up with fuel there (remember they close for lunch Mon/Fri close lunch time Sat) AND be prepared to pay a premium. you could then go to Mulan ask at the shop or ask a local to tell you the way to Lake Gregory/Handover very special place then take the back way to Billiluna & do a short section of the Canning..... but at that time of the year it may be still a little to wet... so better you stick to the Tanami.
Plenty of places to stop off along the road for the night, your right about 'RF' it has been closed now for some time. The road conditions change ALL the time check with those in the know before you tackle each section also talk to others on the track travelling the opposite way!
Enjoy your trip....I'm hanging out to go back!!!!!!!!!

The trek notes have a lot more value than just fuel so don't discount them. I gather your tanks are still standard so even with the sub your only looking at 70 + 33 (or is it 90 for the main. I can't recall). If you fill at Tilmouth Roadhouse you'll need to cover 870 km to Halls Creek (or minus 170 if you want to duck into Billiluna) Balgo is an 80 km round trip off the Tanami and fuel can be a bit problematic as far as opening times are concerned. Best to not worry about trying over a weekend.Mulan is an even longer drive and if the water in Lake Gregory is low, Paraku (Handover) is no fun. Mind you the whole drive around the lake to meet the Canning at Well 51 and then north up to Billiluna and the Tanami is well worth it. Be mindful that the top end of the Canning is also very susceptible to water.

I'd plan on being self sufficient for fuel if you can so throw in those jerry cans.

Wolfe Creek is well worth the drive in and I'd recommend that as a side trip. BYO firewood well before turning off though (add 50 km to your fuel figures for a return trip).

As far as overnight stiops are concerned, Renahans Bore is in poor condition for camping. Better pickings in the hill country 50 km or so north of Yuendumu. Also some pretty little spots in the Tanami Range 50 odd km north of Rabbit Flat.


Watch the cattle in the northern stretches from Billilina north to the highway and particularly around Ruby Plains.

Cheers Mick

Hi Holden

Plenty of places to pull off and camp and you'll have a quiet night.

Last big roadhouse is Tilmouth Well, but Yuendumo about 100 kilometres further north is not far off the road and they have fuel outlets in the community if you want to top up. Nothing then, unless you go into Balgo or Billiluna communities, until Halls Creek.

I have a My Blog (2008) on our three days north to south. We had a large fuel tank so we could get from Halls Creek (including going it to see Wolf Creek Crater) to Tilmouth, but purchased a little at Yuendumo to make sure, and found it 1c cheaper than Tilmouth.

There have been a number of threads on this topic, 86591 being one.

Motherhen

Thanks for the replies so far. I have 130L diesel in my two tanks (95+35) which would probably get me over the distance between Halls Creek and Tilmouth but I won't risk it and carry two 20L jerries (is that enough)?

Keep those camping points coming!

Once again thanks.

We did the Tanami in July and were very thankful to our jerry cans. Our friends had to fill up at Billiluna and paid a massive, massive premium, think it was $100 for 25 L of diesel!

We had a head wind, plus towing trailers, we averaged 22 L / 100 kms where has our friends who were also towing but had roof rack loaded were doing 28 L / 100 kms.

I'd recommend the Wolfe Creek detour, quite a spectacular place and in April it will be quite different I expect to July, much greener and probably quite quiet.

Have fun.

You need to establish your fuel usage on dirt roads to get a handle on requirements for the Tanami. I imagine your Plenty Hwy usage will be equal to that figure. If you
fuel at Yuendamu (business hours) then add 100K for Wolf Creek Crater you will have
the distance needed to calculate fuel required to Halls Creek. As suggested, a couple
of spare jerries is great security. It is a great drive & camping options are many. Be
prepared for hot weather. 40+ deg on the Tanami when we crossed in April a few
years ago. cheers....oldbaz.

I used 153 litres from Tilmouth Well to Halls Creek. I drive a 2008 Diesel 3.0 ltr Patrol. I stayed under 2000 revs to make the fuel last - which it did easily, but wrecked all the wheel bearings on both car and camper trailer. Coming home I sped up and sat on 100 kph for most of the trip, blew a tyre on the camper trailer but had to use a jerry can of diesel. Lots of fun!