Great Central Road - reports?

Hi Dave and Shell

I can't help with current conditions, but so long as it hasn't rained you will be fine. Don't miss the early morning tour at Giles weather station - and remember they run on SA time. Pleasant caravan parking behind the Warakurna Roadhouse to be on the spot for the morning start.

If you would like to know of a couple of other bush camping options along the way, MM me.

Motherhen

Dave - Study the weather patterns on the satellite photos, radar and synoptic charts - and and look at the BOM weather observations, in the days before you leave.

If you see rain heading towards the Western Desert, or rain recorded out there, you'll run into muddy conditions.
This time of year, the predominant weather pattern is cold fronts brushing the Southern parts of the State, and it's unlikely there will be decent falls of rain in the Western Desert area - unless a "mid-level trough" containing a lot of moisture, moves in from the Northern Indian Ocean, and travels through the Pilbara & Murchison, to Central Australia.

BOM Rainfall & River Observations - http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood/

Farmonline weather - satellite imagery - http://weather.farmonline.com.au/satellite.jsp?lt=wzcountry&lc=aus

Cheers - Ron.

Hi Dave & Shell,

Can't help you with current road conditions, though the people who run the Tjukayirla road house used to post from time to time on the forum. Maybe contacting them directly, or the Warakurna roadhouse.

We stayed at the Warakurna Caravan Park and were happy with our choice, visiting Giles weather station is a must, to see some of Len's drawings and to watch the balloon go up.

Tjukayirla road house also has very good accomodation and the local scenery is stunning.

There are mixed feelings with regards to staying at either Warburton or Docker River. At the end of the day, you have to feel comfortable with the location you choose for your overnight camp.

Drive to the conditions and have a great trip.

Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.

I spoke to my parents today who were about to embark on the GCR with their van but apparently the road is not in great shape with lots of washouts from recent rain and more rain was forecast so they decided to go a different route.

I would call Tjukayirla Roadhouse before you go and get up to date conditions. They also have road conditions listed on their website.

G'day Dave and Shell,

Serena and I used to run Tjukayirla, but aren't there anymore, left in December... we used to keep the road conditions up to date on this website as well as the Tjukayirla roadhouse site. I don't know how up to date it's kept these days.

Cheers
Al and Serena