Have any of my fellow nomads travelled this road in recent times. Looking at doing the trip end of April. Will be towing an 18' dual axle Supreme conventional van (not off road) with a diesel Terracan. We've travelled about 60k kms with the van and negotiated a few dirt roads eg Thargomindah to Toompine Pub, 80 Mile Beach, Barn Hill Station etc. Nothing outrageous but the van took it all in it's stride.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Cheers
Hurls
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Mark & Chris
You are only young once but, you can be immature for ever.
Haven't done it for over a year - but have done it five times to date - one trip did two tyres, one trip did three - so average one tyre a trip. the road is extremely bad with sharp rocks embedded in the ruts that cut side of tyre. Locals run Pizza cutter rims (split rims).
Leave the van at Gregory Downs pub and go in bobtail.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Friday 6th of April 2018 03:36:43 PM
-- Edited by Possum3 on Friday 6th of April 2018 03:36:54 PM
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
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Condition will depend on when graded. It has been quite wet in those parts, last month. That usually means roads will need a grade. Given the coming tourist season, I imagine it will receive reasonable priority from the Shire, but may not be done by end of April.
The last I heard - about 3-4 weeks ago - the road was open but high clearance recommended.
I have two suggestions: 1. Phone Adels Grove and ask about the road state, close to when you will be there. 2. If not sure, leave van at Gregory Downs hotel and do a day drive in - only about 90kms - and assess it for yourself.
There is a lot you can do, at the National Park and at Adels Grove. If you like to walk, and want to do the hire canoe trip through the gorge, visit Riversleigh etc, it is quite easy to fill in a week. So would be a shame to have to rush activities, miss out etc - because you did not have van.
We have spent some tourist seasons working at Adels Grove and done a lot of driving around on the area roads, on our days off. Only ever had one flat tyre - and that was a very old tyre one day when we were driving the back track to Doomadgee.
Certainly, Adels used to do a good business in tyre repairs - from talking with those affected, it seemed that the invariable common themes were (a) going too fast and bottoming out in hollows etc (b) being too heavily loaded.
Locals bring conventional cars to Adels for long weekends etc - but they know to drive cautiously!
Facebook post today from Adels Grove advises that both the roads to Adels (from Riversleigh and from Gregory) are passable currently, but have not yet been graded. Grading is expected in the next few weeks.
we can also report that road works are currently underway with the road in from Gregory in fantastic condition and the road from Adels through Riversleigh currently being improved
