We completed the Tanami Road on 12 June 2016 with a 150 series Prado and nearly 2.5 tons of caravan with independent suspension. The start of the road near Alice Springs is single lane bitumen with large stones on the sides. Make sure you slow down and move well over to the left to minimise stone damage, particularly on this section.
About 20km before Tilmouth Well Roadhouse the road widens to an excellent 2 way sealed road. About 20km before Yuendumu the road turns to very corrugated gravel and sand. This section should be sealed by the end of 2016.
After Yuendumu the road is a little less corrugated but still has some stretches of bad corrugations. After the Granites Mine the road is very good and it is easy enough to do 80kph for good stretches.
For about 2km between the Tanami Mill and the Tanami Quarry the road is rocky requiring reduced speed. After the Tanami Mine the road goes back to intermittent corrugations. At about the Balgo turnoff the road is more corrugated. After Billiluna the road improves but has many dips, minor washouts and humps.
Near the Halls Creek end the road is covered with large gravel where it traverses the ranges until the last 20km or so where it is very smooth. The Wolfe Creek Meteorite road has sections of more severe corrugations than any on the Tanami Road.
Any creek crossings with water had dry crossings at the edge of the road.
Generally speaking you will minimise potential for damage if you get your tyre pressures down to the 20s and count on an average speed of no more than about 60kph for the Tanami Road.
We camped at Tilmouth Well Roadhouse (good priced pub meals and unpowered camping), East side of Floodout Creek on LH side of road , Sunset Gravel Pit and Wolfe Creek NP. All good camps for this type of trip.
Cheapest diesel is at Tilmouth Well Roadhouse ($2L). If you want toilets at Yuendumu (diesel $2.20L) buy something like takeaway food in the Big Store and ask nicely for permission to use their toilet out the back. The alternative is not nice. Diesel at Billiluna is $2.60L but store is closed 11am to 2pm. We had the door pulled shut in our faces as we tried to enter at 11am on the dot.
Given the distance is is good to team up with another vehicle.
Hope this helps anyone contemplating this trip.
-- Edited by Greyingout on Tuesday 14th of June 2016 05:43:52 PM
Just looked up Google Maps. It's 1051 kms from Alice Springs to Halls Creek on the Tanami Rd. The estimated time is 36 hrs so I'm guessing it's careful going. Same trip via Katherine is 2050 kms and estimate is 23 hrs.
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GRANDPARENTS & GRANDCHILDREN GET ON SO WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMMON ENEMY
Sorry, no newer info and haven't done any research for this year. The people at Tilmouth Well Roadhouse are friendly and helpful. They will know the conditions from the trucks going through.
