Oodnadatta to Alice via Mt Anado

Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
HI all,

Has anyone been on the track to Mt Anado NT. I've been trying to find a way from Oodnadatta to Alice but not on the old Ghan track. Came across a track that takes you via Mt Anado and was wondering if anyone has been along there yet.
 

Blue one

Member
Ekki,
The Missus & I came down the Santa Theresa track from Alice via Old Andado Station to Mt Dare. Great trip as there was no one around and we finally got away from all the tourists. Not a bad track though stay out of the bull dust and bog holes. The bull dust was flowing around the bonnet of the Patrol in some instances. I used the go arounds after that. Two bog holes must have had stock rutting in them as they were were very deep. If one was filled with water it would look easy, as they are not long and would appear as puddles. Though you would not come out without a tractor. Old Andado was great no one there and it is a snap shot of living on a station in the 70s. Just leave your camping fees in the tin on the kitchen table.

Mac Clark reserve is worth the diversion just for the isolation of the gibber plains.

Down to Mt Dare not a problem.

Cheers

Steve
 

Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Thanks Steve,
That puts my mind at ease. I've been wanting to put it into our agenda for some time however could find very little info about it. Now I'm onto the next stage, doing the tourist thing around Uluru then working out the most fun way to get to Katherine. Any suggestions ???
 

oznutta

New Member
old andado track

hi ekki
for info on (binns track) or the southern part of it have a look at all the w .travelnt.com or tourism central australia all the w .centralaustraliantourism.com

yes its a great track and a good drive a little rough and dustie but thats the fun of the adventure isnt it ...also have a look at the art centre in santa tersa all the w.keringkearts.com.au

happy trails
 

Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Yeah it was on the travelnet.com site I first saw it. Then did the Google map thing but it's been great to hear from people that have been along it. And I suppose that's what I'm hoping on getting out of this forum. I'm planning an open ended trip from Adelaide north to Darwin, across the Kimberleys and down the West Coast and back via the Nullabor. But as we always do, the planning of the trip is almost as fun as the doing, almost. I'm hoping to use everyone here and nut them out for the best tracks to accomplish this trip we've been planning (and practising) for.
So.....,
any suggestions on your part of this fab land.:)
 

Blue one

Member
Ekki,
Around Alice the G'Day caravan park is a nice spot to stay. When we go back we are going to go east along the Ross river road to a few of the communities and explore the district. West of Alice is very easy to get around to see all the sights. Redbank gorge is a good place to camp as it is further from the main attractions and is well set up. Drop down to Yulara via Boggy Hole if it has been dry. To get to the Kimberly the Gunbarrel highway would get you over to the right area in WA. Up through Newman and onto the Kimberley, or you can travel the Great Central Road which is in better condition and more people are about. Both of these roads starts at Yulara. A word of caution, when we travel it is just the Missus and I, we carry alot of water, a HF radio, VHF/ UHF radio and a EPIRB as well as the usual spares. I am not preaching and have never really had any issues in these remote locations though I don't under estimate the outback. Personally I prefer the remote spots and you have got me interested in the next trip. Thanks for that. Have a great trip and if I can help any further let me know. The .pdf shows some of the district.

Cheers

Steve
 

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Blue one

Member
Ekki,
This may help.

The "Gunbarrel Highway" is an isolated desert track of 1400km from Wiluna to Yulara (via Jackie Junction and Docker River). In general, washaways, heavy corrugations, stone, sand and flood plains are all typical elements of the drive, but the track is graded occasionally by the Wiluna Shire Council from Wiluna through to 180km east of Carnegie. There are excellent bush camps, and many sites have bores with water.

You can pick up the Gunbarrel from either Wiluna in the west, or Giles (Warakurna Roadhouse) in the east and so it is usually done as an extension/beginning of a Canning Stock Route Trek Note, West McDonald Ranges Trek Note or The Tanami Track Trek Note.

At the western end of the trek, Wiluna is the launching point for both the Gunbarrel and the Canning Stock Route Trek Note. It is a town quite unlike any other in Australia. Other than the few people who service the passing 4WD explorers, the town is mostly aboriginal and there's just a few dusty buildings, a store, a pub and the camping ground, which is a far cry from the 1930s when this was a prospering gold mining town of 9000 people boasting the southern hemisphere's biggest mine.

At the eastern end of the trek, Giles is actually not a town at all but the homeplace of the Warakurna people and the location of a remote meteorological weather station, known as Giles. Visitors must stay at the Warakurna Roadhouse, where modern campground facilities, fuel and basic food supplies can be obtained as access into the aboriginal community is not allowed. Most people plan a visit to the weather station while they are here, which is little different to any other weather station around Australia. Visits are free, but you need to let them know in advance that you're coming, particularly if you want to observe the launch of a weather balloon.

Conditions vary greatly in this region, depending on how much rainfall has occurred in recent days and the volume of traffic and how long its been since the road was last graded. Please read these notes in conjunction with the detailed and updated WA Road Conditions Report that have been compiled with the assistance from the Wiluna Shire Council, the AN4WDRN and the assistance of ExplorOz users who report actual conditions to us.

In general, washaways, heavy corrugations, stone, sand and flood plains are all typical elements of the terrain. The major trouble spots are around Mingkili Claypan and between the Heather Highway turnoff and Jackie Junction (extreme washaways). The "abandoned section" from Jackie Junction to Giles is deeply rutted and in places quite sandy. During the peak travelling season (late June - Oct), many people make the journey across the Gunbarrel Highway so diversion tracks around major obstacles will be in place and even the abandoned section should not be overgrown unless you are the first group of the season after rains to push through the spinifex.

The Exploroz web site has alot of information on it which I use as one of many sources for planning a trip.

Cheers

Steve
 
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Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Thanks Guys,

This is exactly what I was hoping for. Keep em coming....:D

So.... any ideas around Darwin or Kakadu that isn't over run with tour buses, we got that experience in Cairns. :rolleyes:

The Pilbara is another region of exploration while taking in Monkey Mia, a wish list spot of 25 years. The South of Perth is another area of interest, is there anyone on the West Coast that has any suggestions...

And yes please on the camping spots. And I must admit the bones need a little TLC occassionally though, so the odd good motel wouldnt be too bad either:eek:

Karen:D
 

Blue one

Member
Ekki,
When you are in the territory the Coburg peninsula is a nice spot. You will have to get a permit and ask around to see if the shop is still open as I have heard it was closed. A tinny would be handy as you could go across to Pt Essington and the fishing is great. Mitchell falls is another must do spot. Down south of WA from Margret River right down to Albany and beyond is fantastic. Summer months of February March only as it is very cold with that wind.

Happy travels

Steve
 

geoffsa

Member
Karen,

When do you intend doing this trip, as I could give you some info on most of it when we join up with yourselves, Lowlux and Dirtbag in the Flinders early next year if you wish.

We spent 3 months doing the top end, Kimberley and WA a few years ago.

We have also travelled the Old Gunbarrel, Old Andado, Oodnadatta track, Central Oz, etc.

Geoff.
 
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Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Hi Steve & Geoff,

We first planned to do this trip in 1998. We decided that by 2011 our youngest would be 19, the eldest 23 and they would be mature enough :rolleyes: to look after the house while we ran away and became reckless. So even if we have to work our way round just to pay for the petrol, we will be leaving around April and heading north to Darwin then down the WA coast, and back across the Nullabor. It may well be warm weather by then but as a true South Aussie I hate humidity and although I would love to see the North in the wet, I'm afraid I'd rather a dry 50 degree heat across the centre. :p

Steve, I've wondered how friendly the Cobourg Peninsular area is to travel alone. I've read many articles however there is nothing like first hand knowledge. Mind you, it would be great to meet up with a few fellow 4x4 Earthers that would like to jump on & off the adventure and then some more of these places that really shouldn't be travelled alone (even with all the safey gear) would become accessible. ;)

Geoff,
It would be great hearing your stories and any info you could give me/us would be wonderful. I'm a sponge now that I'm starting to piece together the route. We've spent the last 8 years getting to know our old girl. Geoff has done most of the fixup repair work himself so he has a real good understanding of how our "Ekki Thump" (the Echidna-machine) works. We knew when we bought her that we would probably have to rebuild her from bumper to bumper but this has given Geoff a great understanding of how to pull apart/fix/put her back together again, as he has done most of the work himself.
We've also travelled a fair bit, across all sorts of environments, staying in all sorts of places getting our confidence slowly on what we and Ekki are capable of.

We've decided to tent where we have to and want to and stay in hotels/motels if we can. A sort of compromise. Hence we are now down to buying tent and camping gear. We don't want to tow as the less stress on the old girl, we think, the better. So am thinking the trip to Flinders next year will be a good first tester for our tenting ability, and again get some suggestions on the goods and bads, while staying in the comfort of Rawsley Park, before tackling bush camping.

Karen:)
Karen
 

Blue one

Member
Karen,
There was nothing difficult with the track though you have to get permits from the local lands council. Lots of those big lizards around so no swimming anywhere as the buggers also go cross country. We were walking along the beach looking at some dingo tracks about 3 metres from the waters edge, croc slide and nomore tracks!!

We use a roof top tent as I am lazy and being able to quickly set up / pack up appeals to me.

Cheers

Steve
 

Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Hey Steve,
Have heard I need to be careful of those long nosed, short legged Australian Terriers, and sleeping in a tent on the ground is a bit daunting in some of the areas we want to go see. We''ve looked at the roof top tents, but to be honest I'm "middle aged" and ladder climbing is not my greatest skill........:eek:

Karen:D
 

Blue one

Member
Karen,
Fair enough, each unto their own. I have camped in the Territory in a tent without a problem (50 metres from the waters edge). I just like the roof top as we don't get muddy with the rain and it is easy to pack away.

Cheers

Steve
 

Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Steve,
Makes a lot of sense. Must admit here I'm new to tenting, Geoff's done it a bit, (when he was younger). He's been very patient with my accommodation needs so feel it's only fair I give his a go but we still haven't fully decided which type to get. :confused::confused::

But all part of the fun..

Karen :D:D:D
 
hey karen dwellingup through to harvey collie and waroona great 4x4 tracks and plenty of good camp sights with much running water and swimming holes and marron in the right seson all free just goota take your rubbish with you we have just gott back from a 4 day trip still much more to see

quinn
 

Ekki Adventurers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Thanks for that guys.:D:D:D
I've just plotted it into my google map. So now I'm off to research this area a bit.
Thanks again guys, keep them coming if you have any more
Karen:D
 

Grey Ghost

5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Hey Steve,
Have heard I need to be careful of those long nosed, short legged Australian Terriers, and sleeping in a tent on the ground is a bit daunting in some of the areas we want to go see. We''ve looked at the roof top tents, but to be honest I'm "middle aged" and ladder climbing is not my greatest skill........:eek:

Karen:D

Karen, a short story for you, my brother-in-law moved up to the top end a few years ago and on hid first camping rip about 100 km sth of Darwin they were really glad they had a roof top tent as one night they were woken by some strange thuming noises down at ground level. On looking out of the tent they found a nice little "terrier" wandering around looikng for something to chew on. Needless to say it was a long night for all not being able to answer natures call.
I know next time we travel north we will be seriously looking at something roof top or otherwise solid, just in case.
Brian.
 

Sandman

New Member
Thanks folks. I will be adding this to the ever expanding list of tracks to take.

Why would anyone want to go overseas when there is so much to see in Australia.
 
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