Tanami Road

[juddles]

Hey there all,

I know this is probably the opposite of a flying thread, but I have learnt that here on AFF we have people who have seen/done everything.

Has anyone travelled the Tanami Road? This is the strecth of "highway 5" that goes between Hall's Creek in Wa, to a point on the Stuart Highway just north of Alice in the Northern Territory.

Am thinking of doing it. Mainly just as an outrageous method to break my Stockholm Syndrome travel thing with Qantas. (Thank you @TonyHancock )

Any experiences or advice out there?

 

[JohnM]

October should be good weather-wise. It’s basically too early for the cyclones and too late for the extra-strong cold fronts that can push winter rain that far inland. And it should not be excessively hot by then.

That said, if there is good winter rain, the wildflowers that can be spectacular would have died by October.

 

[juddles]

Am now just a tad over a month out from the trip.

We are "customizing" a 1993 Landcruiser and will be towing a rented Patriot X1 camping trailer. Refrigeration will include 4 devices - 1x 70lt, 1 x 50 lt, and 2 x 40lt. And a centre console mini fridge. And long range fuel tanks and an inbuilt water tank. Probably overkill in this day and age, but we both like our autonomy and self-suffiency.

Our departure point has changed to Adelaide, so probably will head up to Alice, then on the Tanami to Hall's Creek, then back on the northern route via Katherine down to Alice and Adelaide again. Have been researching things, but any and all experiences in any of these areas/roads is very greatly appreciated.....

As an aside, despite me loving trip reports from around the globe, I think I may well do one for this internal, non-flying voyage. The idea of travelling without airport lounges is a much-needed change for jaded-me

 

[lovetravellingoz]

How much time do you have?

If you have a bit of time and can veer off a bit from Adelaide head up the Oodnadatta Track (plenty to see along the way), out to Dalhousie Springs (can keep going past and check out the big red sands dunes of the Simspon Desert as day trip from Dalhousie), Chambers Pillar, Finke River, Palm Valley, Haasts Bluff,...and then head up the Tanami.

 

[kookaburra75]

Another route to consider is instead of going through Katherine, is turning off the Vic Highway just after Timber Creek and go via Top Springs and down to Daly Waters. The pub there is good and you get to go through different countryside.

 

[jb747]

One disappointing thing I have noticed whilst researching the trip is the apparently very high rate of break-ins on vehicles at the towns up in WA (Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek) Seems it is a sport around there to smash your windows at night and steal anything. I think we will stick away from the towns.

There is an excellent caravan park just east of Fitzroy Crossing.

Halls Creek was preceded by signs suggesting people don't stop. Even getting fuel was risky, and little f*wits would damage the other side of your vehicle whilst you couldn't see it.

 

[tracman]

Hey there all,

I know this is probably the opposite of a flying thread, but I have learnt that here on AFF we have people who have seen/done everything.

Has anyone travelled the Tanami Road? This is the strecth of "highway 5" that goes between Hall's Creek in Wa, to a point on the Stuart Highway just north of Alice in the Northern Territory.

Am thinking of doing it. Mainly just as an outrageous method to break my Stockholm Syndrome travel thing with Qantas. (Thank you @TonyHancock )

Any experiences or advice out there?

Yes, it's a great experience. When we did it a few years back (towing a camper trailer) the road was great from
Tanamai Road house to the WA border, but slow going from there - although this can vary depending on time of year. Just be well prepared there' s not much out there, but the journey is great - watch out for traffic jams though - in the form of camels! There's lots of great outback trips to be had - it will likely be the best 5 star travel experience you have - I've tried both types and these win hands down.

 

[JohnM]

Will the electrical system be able to cope with all those fridges?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Will the electrical system be able to cope with all those fridges?

As long as the vehicle has a solar panel on the trailer and there is a good DC-DC Battery Charger (as smart alternators on modern 4WDs mean that battery isolators by themselves will not allow enough charge to go into the dual (or even two extra) and enough Deed Cycle Battery AHs (With at least one being in the trailer). Being a 1993 vehicle vehicle I am guessing that it is a smart alternator.

ie

Dual Battery Systems

These days very few people travel without a portable fridge and camp lighting, and that dictates some form of auxiliary battery power. What do you need?

www.outbacktravelaustralia.com.au

 

[juddles]

How much time do you have?

If you have a bit of time and can veer off a bit from Adelaide head up the Oodnadatta Track (plenty to see along the way), out to Dalhousie Springs (can keep going past and check out the big red sands dunes of the Simspon Desert as day trip from Dalhousie), Chambers Pillar, Finke River, Palm Valley, Haasts Bluff,...and then head up the Tanami.

lovetravellingoz, thank you so much for that - I have done a bit of looking and will almost certainly do a detour out along the Oodnadatta Track!! It was a name that once I heard it rang bells - and sure enough "apparently" I did it as a kid - but have no memories so will have to update that

 

[juddles]

Another route to consider is instead of going through Katherine, is turning off the Vic Highway just after Timber Creek and go via Top Springs and down to Daly Waters. The pub there is good and you get to go through different countryside.

kookaburra75, I had actually contemplated that route, but so far had not much info on it. One attraction was to kkep as far "south" as possible to avoid the temptation to get to Darwin - as want to save that for a future trip. When you say the "pub" is ok, do you mean one at Top Springs? Or Daly Springs?

 

[juddles]

There is an excellent caravan park just east of Fitzroy Crossing.

Halls Creek was preceded by signs suggesting people don't stop. Even getting fuel was risky, and little f*wits would damage the other side of your vehicle whilst you couldn't see it.

jb, thanks for the tips. It is as I had feared. I had already decided that in that general area we would camp away from towns, and just go into towns for resupplys, etc. But heeding your experiences I will be very vigilant even in daytime quick visits. That sort of pesky influence by "little f*wits" really upsets me. I react very badly. So as I want this to be a calm experience, your advice has most likely prevented something un-fun. Thank you.

 

[juddles]

Yes, it's a great experience. When we did it a few years back (towing a camper trailer) the road was great from
Tanamai Road house to the WA border, but slow going from there - although this can vary depending on time of year. Just be well prepared there' s not much out there, but the journey is great - watch out for traffic jams though - in the form of camels! There's lots of great outback trips to be had - it will likely be the best 5 star travel experience you have - I've tried both types and these win hands down.

tracman, two things:

the first is that "there is not much out there" is EXACTLY what we are seeking. And I mean that. My friend and I have done much time in mountains and high altitude and places full of sights and peoples - so somewhere that is flat and entirely devoid of anything eye-catching is perfect

second, when you say the road was ok up till the WA border, do you mean heading "SE" (ie starting in WA), or do you mean heading "NW" (starting from Alice)? My general understanding was that the main part of the road is better towards the east - as the mines and their influence keep that side a tad better. But I also suspect that the whole thing is a lottery - depending on weather and when the last time it has been graded.

 

[juddles]

Will the electrical system be able to cope with all those fridges?

JohnM, I can not say that it will from personal knowledge, but I can assure you my travelling companion is an absolute whiz at this sort of thing. His caper in life is to run complex machinery in very isolated places, and he understands everything mechanical and electrical, etc.

 

[juddles]

As long as the vehicle has a solar panel on the trailer and there is a good DC-DC Battery Charger (as smart alternators on modern 4WDs mean that battery isolators by themselves will not allow enough charge to go into the dual (or even two extra) and enough Deed Cycle Battery AHs (With at least one being in the trailer). Being a 1993 vehicle vehicle I am guessing that it is a smart alternator.

ie

Dual Battery Systems

These days very few people travel without a portable fridge and camp lighting, and that dictates some form of auxiliary battery power. What do you need?

www.outbacktravelaustralia.com.au

Again, I am not designing or involved in the main vehicle rebuild, but essentially all that will be left of the original vehicle will be the chassis I believe the trailer has its own solar panels, but we will have solar on the roofrack of the vehicle also, and an array of electronics and battery systems that would make a Collins-class sub look austere If you like, once the fitting-out is complete I can happily detail it if anyone is interested, and likewise report on how each component went after the fact....

 

[JohnM]

I have had no problems in Halls Creek.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Again, I am not designing or involved in the main vehicle rebuild, but essentially all that will be left of the original vehicle will be the chassis I believe the trailer has its own solar panels, but we will have solar on the roofrack of the vehicle also, and an array of electronics and battery systems that would make a Collins-class sub look austere If you like, once the fitting-out is complete I can happily detail it if anyone is interested, and likewise report on how each component went after the fact....

I am sure that forumites will be interested, as would I


However I was mainly just illustrating that it is all pretty easily accomplished these days, but there are complexities to it.


I have my own 4WD and I am well set up with my new current van (a concession to get older as I have mainly tented since being a kid), folding solar panel and deepcycle battery that I can use by itself or with the 4WD, and also the van has its own battery management system, deepcycle battery and solar panel. I have an excellent pop-up tent as well and still tent it as well as use the van depending on the trip. I also still backpack, but that means no fridge and cold beer! Having last year dropped down to working only 8 months per year has meant that I can now really ramp up my camping activities and hence the van purchase, while still indulging in overseas holidays. ( I already have award international airfares booked for a 2 week and an 8 week trip in 2020).

I have 3 way fridge in the off-road van and 12V/240V compressor fridge that can be used anywhere. Bottom line that even if it over 40 degrees fora week, That my beer will be icey cold each day

I prefer to camp off-grid with plenty of space and few or no other people about.


A recent camp at sunrise near Koonoomoo on the Murray River

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Oh, and yes I like a good campfire at night if I can. Goes down well with a cold beer, or glass of red


Firewood run...

 

[juddles]

I am sure that forumites will be interested, as would I


However I was mainly just illustrating that it is all pretty easily accomplished these days, but there are complexities to it.


I have my own 4WD and I am well set up with my new current van (a concession to get older as I have mainly tented since being a kid), folding solar panel and deepcycle battery that I can use by itself or with the 4WD, and also the van has its own battery management system, deepcycle battery and solar panel. I have an excellent pop-up tent as well and still tent it as well as use the van depending on the trip. I also still backpack, but that means no fridge and cold beer! Having last year dropped down to working only 8 months per year has meant that I can now really ramp up my camping activities and hence the van purchase, while still indulging in overseas holidays. ( I already have award international airfares booked for a 2 week and an 8 week trip in 2020).

I have 3 way fridge in the off-road van and 12V/240V compressor fridge that can be used anywhere. Bottom line that even if it over 40 degrees fora week, That my beer will be icey cold each day

I prefer to camp off-grid with plenty of space and few or no other people about.


A recent camp at sunrise near Koonoomoo on the Murray River

View attachment 185114

Is that photo un-photo-shopped? It is beautiful.

 

[juddles]

Oh, and yes I like a good campfire at night if I can. Goes down well with a cold beer, or glass of red


Firewood run...

View attachment 185115

I am a basic peasant. Fire is just so fundamental to me. I see that amazing load of perfectly-dried true aussie hardwood and I am in awe

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Is that photo un-photo-shopped? It is beautiful.

Yes no photo shop. Just taken on my Samsung Mobile. I was very happy with the composition with that shot. The smoke from the campfire helped.

But here is a similar one of my wife entering Delphi in Greece very early in the morning just this June.