I have just returned from a trip which included a south to north traverse of the
Hay River track, and thought some may wish to get some
feedback.
The track is
well worn and very easy to follow - except where it exits the
Hay River bed at the
Lake Caroline intersection. We didn't get lost but there were many confused tracks heading off in all directions.
The track (middle sections) follows a slightly different path to that from a few years ago when I was last up that way.
The track is VERY overgrown in the middle sections. Lindsay Bookie (now permanently at Batton
Hill following his resignation from the Central Land Council) explained that the fires from a few years ago have stimulated regrowth. Suffice to say that if you are precious about your paint work then you will be disappointed.
The track is rough (by my standard) and winds constantly through the Acacia regrowth - many turns in my Troopy were full lock!! Most of the middle section was in second gear.
No difficult bits technically - sand dunes are easy to traverse, and the track was bone dry the whole length.
I averaged 14L/100km between
Birdsville and
Boulia and used 164L of fuel.
The country is very vegetated and certainly different from 2007 when the vistas were all of the red sand hills. Now the
views are of Acacia fields and spinifex.
To anyone going that way soon - have a great time.