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Post Info TOPIC: Anyone travelled the Central Road (Permit required) Leonora Wa to Alice Springs Nt? Any tips or advice please!!
Colleen4884


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Anyone travelled the Central Road (Permit required) Leonora Wa to Alice Springs Nt? Any tips or advice please!!
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A solo traveller needing advice..



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Colleen 4884
blaze


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Hi Colleen
solo traveler in what sort of vehicle, it can make a lot of difference. When I last went through there was a lot of washouts and corrugated in lots of places, I personaly would not tow a van through there and consider it 4 wheel drive but a good track.
cheers
blaze



-- Edited by blaze on Wednesday 24th of June 2015 02:24:27 PM

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Dodge


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Hi Colleen,

My wife and I went across the great central road in a 80 series land cruiser and a 22 foot caravan in tow, in 2012 we just dropped the air pressure in the van tyres, watched our speed and had no problems at all, only water crossing ( 15 cm ) was at Docker River, we went from leonora to Alice springs via Kings Canyon, we left Northam W.A on the 21/05/2012, it was a great trip.
You do need a permit to travel on some of the road, easy to apply for on line,
We would recommend this trip to every one, some really nice views and scenery
You will enjoy

Hope to see you on the road

Wayne.

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peterwm


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Hi Colleen,

Check out what Wayne went across with, tug & snail, what do you have, relevant!!

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Colleen4884


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Howdy everyone..
Thanks for comments..
I have a 2001 Mazda Bravo 4wd Dual Cab and will be towing a box trailer..
I just finished House Sitting in Bunbury for a man who just came across home from Alice Springs to Leonora along that Central Rd and said I'd easily do it.. Other people are worried about me doing it.. I would do it around end of Sept to early Oct this year.. I have friends in Alice I want to visit..

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Colleen 4884
Colleen4884


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Also need to know is the accommodation along there like caravan parks.. Are they pet friendly as my dog travels with me..

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Colleen 4884
Colleen4884


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Howdy Blaze

 

Thanks for commenting ..I think you commented on another post I made years ago..

I do have a 4wd now and would be towing a box trailer.. I just finished House Sitting for a man in Bunbury and he just came across from Alice Springs in his Nissan Navara and a camper trailer and feels I could do it too.. I just have a few people worried about me doing it.. So thought I'd ask all you guys and then can make my decision.. I wouldn't be doing the trip till end of Sept to early Oct anyway.. I am just now wondering is the caravan parks etc along there pet friendly? do you know if they are or not?

Thanks Colleen



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Colleen 4884
wendyv


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When we did it, with Landrover and off road van, we stayed in caravan park/camp areas at Laverton, Warburton and Warrakurna. Secure areas behind roadhouses - the latter two. Power, amenities etc. I am pretty sure they would accept dog - but you will need to be careful of your dog in the communities - do not let it out and about at all.
As a solo traveller, in those parts, you must have a reliable sat phone or HF radio.
We were flagged down a couple of times by groups of aboriginals with broken down vehicles. They were mostly wanting us to give them cigarettes, "drink", meat, food - but were not happy with my offerings of fruit boxes and muesli bars! One group was trying very hard to see what I might have in the van. As a solo traveller, you should be wary of stopping for this type of thing - stay in your vehicle and keep doors locked and windows up.
Hope your vehicle is diesel?

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Colleen4884


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Thank you Wendy..

That's great advice.. I am looking at getting a UHF radio, but haven't thought about satellite phone yet but maybe I should.. Vehicle is diesel..

 

Thanks again so many things to think about smile



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Colleen 4884
Mike C


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We did the trip several years back.

http://mikenshez.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/great-central-road.html

Is a bit of a write up on the road as we found it.

Cheers

Mike

 

 



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Colleen4884


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Ok thanks Mike.. It was a very interesting read and very detailed so its a great help..



-- Edited by Colleen4884 on Thursday 25th of June 2015 03:18:20 PM

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Colleen 4884
TommyG


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Colleen,
If possible get someone else interested to also do the trip. You have plenty of time and there are many who want to do that trip. It's about 1100 Km. 800 WA 300 NT
We went across with two other motorhomes, no problems at all, just drive to the road conditions, don't try to go too fast. Road is corrugated especially NT side.
There are other vehicles several times every day, one way or other, fuel stops are plentiful. They say you do need a permit to travel on some of the road, but it's a gazetted road and as long as you don't go into the native settlements there's no need and it isn't checked anyway but as Wayne said easy to apply for on line if you want to. They give you three days to do the trip. We took 8 because we were not in a hurry and the scenery is outstanding. Be carful if you pull into Docker River to shop. Villains are quick and will take advantage if they can.
Have a great trip & travel safe.

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wendyv


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Colleen4884 wrote:

Thank you Wendy..

That's great advice.. I am looking at getting a UHF radio, but haven't thought about satellite phone yet but maybe I should.. Vehicle is diesel..

 

Thanks again so many things to think about smile

 Be aware that a UHF radio is a CB radio - in my opinion, essential for country highway travel - to communicate with trucks, hear wide loads chatter before you see them, etc.

A HF radio is the "Flying Doctor" radio - different altogether. Not always easy to operate, and signal can be a bit iffy. We had one in the Landrover, (set up in 1997) but if I was setting rig up today would only have sat phone and an EPIRB gadget, plus the CB of course.

Good that vehicle is diesel, for a number of reasons. The roadhouses across the Great Central Rd have diesel and the Opal fuel (non sniffable petrol).

The advice about seeing if you can find other travellers to tag with, is good. I consider myself fairly adventurous, and experienced in remote travel - there are a number of the less used roads I would travel alone, but don't think I would do the GC solo.



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Mary


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Colleen
Sat phones can be hired for short periods. If I was in the west at that time would love to tag along on that trip.Will give it some thought
Mary

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Colleen4884


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Ok thanks so much Wendy.. I already just learnt something new the HF radio..

Thanks heaps for all your advice..



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Colleen 4884
Colleen4884


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Thanks Mary

It would be great if I found someone who wants to do the Central Road at the same time as me.. I will put a post up abit closer to the day and hope someone is going the same way..

I will definitely check out hiring a sat phone.. I didn't know you could so thanks smile



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Colleen 4884
Moonraker


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Collen,
I dont think it has beem mentioned. You will need 2 permits both WA and NT.
You can get them on-line. Cant remember the web sites but if you google Great Central WA and NT permits it should come up.
It is probably on the GC web site also.
On the GC its easy to go too fast and kick up stones on the WA side as the road has big hard stones but is usually straight and flat so keep you speed down for less damage to your rig and others passing.
Have a good trip.



-- Edited by Moonraker on Friday 26th of June 2015 09:34:20 AM

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Oma


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Check out our blog from 2013.

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Oma


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bkmcl.wordpress.com/2013/06/. Here it is- should have added to above post.

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Colleen4884


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Thank you Moonraker

I didn't know about 2 permits..



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Colleen 4884
Colleen4884


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Thank you Oma

 

Wow it looks like such an interesting road..



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Colleen 4884
Colleen4884


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Thanks TommyG

Thanks for those tips.. I will post up on here closer to the date if anyone else will be willing to meet up and convoy..



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Colleen 4884
Colleen4884


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Thank you so much for everyones tips.. Very much appreciated.. If I get the permits: Does anyone know the cost of them?

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Colleen 4884
Dodge


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Hi Colleen,

The permits are free, you just fill in the details, such as name, rego, vehicle make and model, date you are going then print them off.
Real easy

regards

Wayne

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21 ft Billabong van

Dodge ram  6.7 litre turbo Cummins.

 Life is like a toilet roll, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.
Colleen4884


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Thanks Wayne (Dodge)

That's easy.. Well after everyones tips and advice I think I can conquer the Great Central Road around end of September :)



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Colleen 4884
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