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Post Info TOPIC: East Kimberley Heads Up - Roads
2_Paws_Up


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East Kimberley Heads Up - Roads
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I already posted this in road conditions, but thought it prudent to put it here. Certain roads in the East Kimberley are not great.

The Duncan Highway, Tanami Road and the road into the Bungle Bungles are - even to the locals - interesting. The retrieval trucks are going constantly to get people who have broken down on these roads. Locals say this is the busiest they have ever been. Granted, there are more people on the road than usual, but even by those standards, things are busy. Even locals with 4WDs are getting in trouble.

The graders haven't been down these roads, so they are absolutely horrendous. The Tanami to Wolfe Crater is manageable, but after that it's a wing and a prayer. Bungles is constant horrendous corrugations, and the Duncan is rough from the start - after Old Town (Old Halls Creek) it gets really bad.

There's no mobile coverage down any of these roads, traffic is hit and miss (and many won't stop) and getting someone out to rescue you can take many, many hours.

By all reports, the Gibb isn't bad. Regardless, be careful.



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bomurra


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So everything is about normal for this time of year.. ???

Or are we running a month ahead of schedule on the road conditions.

Bungle Bungle road has been horrendous since 2018, Gibb  is constantly bad as is the Tanami

Don't forget they had quite a good wet this year, which means a lot of repair work had to be done to get some of these roads open.

Drive to the conditions and all will be well.



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Warren-Pat_01


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Hi 2_paws,
There's different ways of looking at our out back roads.
Some prefer them as they find them to tell their friends about their adventures if & when they get home. Others prefer to have bitumen everywhere so they can see all of the good sights, just by following the white slotted lines. But they fail to acknowledge the cost of maintaining the roads - a bad sealed road can be far worse than an unsealed one.
We flew by helicopter over the Bungles a few years ago - the views were 2nd to none & the flight from Timber Creek was not expensive. However SWMBO decided we had to see the Cathedral Cave. Luckily we could leave the camper in the ear camp ground. That drive in was rough - very rough & also the AAPT tour buses believe they own the road & drive accordingly! And the cave? It wasn't worth the bone shattering drive in.

If you can time your trips to follow the graders, you may have a smooth trip but you may also get a puncture or two as bits of wire, nails may get pushed back onto the road.

Research & planning as well as driving to conditions is essential if you want to get to the "outback" & back safely. Travelling with others is one way you can reduce the risks of breakdowns, isolation.

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Whenarewethere


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bomurra wrote:

Bungle Bungle road has been horrendous since 2018, Gibb  is constantly bad as is the Tanami

 We were there then, the road was not the best, but as long as you let the tyres down it's not an issue.

Exiting Purnululu NP, after pumping up the tyres, Wifey cleaning the car with compressors.

IMG_5423.jpg



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2_Paws_Up


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Graders are on the Gibb. Works on Duncan were stopped, graders havent been down that or the Tanami since the Wet. Duncan had parts washed out.

Just be aware is all I am saying. Getting stuck in the middle of nowhere is not always fun.

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Accept it as it is or stay away. Simple decision.
We prefer it "as it is", however that is.
Cheers,
Peter



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Aussie1


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"Accept it as it is or stay away. Simple decision. " Absolutely spot on. Just like you, we prefer it as it is also. Like camping near folks operating their genny's !! :):):)

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