Condition of the Plenty Highway

Hi All CAN anyone out there please comment on the condition of the Plenty Highway Between North of Alice Spring Nt. to Bouilia in Qld. please?
We are going to Birdsville in early May and would like to go this way. or come back this way after being in Birdsville for an occassion.
Towing a semi off road caravan and have been on the Birdsville track with it,no problem but have heard some stories about the Plenty Highway being in a shocking condition. Can anyone help with this one please? Thanks so much Mary
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Reply By: wombat100 - Monday, Apr 02, 2012 at 12:35

Monday, Apr 02, 2012 at 12:35
Hiya Mary
We travelled the Plenty last year- from Qld to Alice Springs. On the Qld side, things wern't too bad- but it was a bit rough (after rain) toward Jervois Station. Plenty of corrugations, and at that stage deep washouts !!
Maybe they have had some maintenance since- a call to Jervois may give current conditions.
Oh yes- and last year there was heaps of RATS to keep you company at all camp spots.
The Birdsville Track was a breeze compared to the Plenty.
But that was July last year.
Cheers J&D
AnswerID: 482154

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Apr 02, 2012 at 13:46

Monday, Apr 02, 2012 at 13:46
Don't have any current info, Mary.

We went over the Donohue/Plenty H'way last august, and found it pretty good. The Qld section had had some rain earlier, probably after Wombat's trip, and there were some wheel tracks that kept us down to 80-90 kph, most of the way to the border.

From the border on, we sat on 90-100kph, and didn't find many of the corrugations that we had heard were atrocious. Saw a couple of vans heading east, and doubt that they would have had any problems. Don't think they were off-road vans either.

Stopped at Jervious for an ice cream, but it would be a good spot to camp, and they have fuel there too. Spent the night at Gem Tree van park, which was good.

There is nearly 100kms of bitumen, in sections, on the Donohue, and also about that distance, from Stuart H'way, back past Gem Tree. We were in a Toyota 79 series ute, with a moderate load, and tyres set at 32 psi.

After going to Yulara to see our daughter, who was there at the time, we came back, and went along the Sandover H'way. We were heading to Camooweal for a function, so that was something different.

By May, "they" should be starting to grade most of these roads, so that may make your travel easier.

Bob.


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AnswerID: 482161

Reply By: Mary K - Monday, Apr 02, 2012 at 14:15

Monday, Apr 02, 2012 at 14:15
Thank you for the 2 replies so far it is much appreciated,hope that they will have the grader on the Donahue Highway in May.
As always one needs to drive to the conditions and be prepared for the worst !!!
AnswerID: 482162

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