Tablelands and Carpentaria Highways between Barkly Homestead and Daly Waters

cjt55 · Senior Member

Tablelands and Carpentaria Highways between Barkly Homestead and Daly Waters

yobarr · Guru

cjt55 wrote:
Hello everyone. I have read the previous posts on here and researched in other mediums and get very conflicting reports on the road conditions. I understand part of the Tablelands Highway is single lane and have travelled that sort of road before. So I hope to get some more info from those on here who have travelled the road recently to try to get a better idea. I have sold my tug and large caravan and will be travelling in a new Toyota Hi-ace converted into a campervan.
Thanks
Col

Hi Colin. Whilst I didn't go that way when I travelled to Darwin, a bit of time on the internet looking at those roads from a satellite appears to show that it all is single lane bitumen with good metal verges. No guarantees, but looks great! Barkly Homestead is an absolute ripoff at $19 unpowered site and $18 for hanburger so I kept driving! Daly Waters pub has $10 campsites and $20 hamburgers, but there is a great museum opposite called Tim's junkyard. Well worthwhile if you like cars, bikes and trucks etc. Have fun. Cheers.

Cupie · Guru

It's been a fair while since I've been that way but I got tired of doing the normal way via the Three Ways so decided to give it a go.

Good decision.

A great drive on mostly single lane sealed road with good verges and only a few cattle trucks to get off the road for.

Beautiful cattle country past some of the most famous Cattle Stations like Brunette Downs. We really enjoyed the scenery.

We stayed at Cape Crawford & had a run out to the coast at Bing Bong, all sealed but we chickened out on the road to King Ash Bay because of the state of the corrugations. Helicopter flights available from the Pub At Cape Crawford if you are into Lost Cities & the like.

cjt55 · Senior Member

Thanks very much yobarr and Cupie for your replies. I have been there and done most things but now in new territory with a new HiAce campervan. the 4wd stuff has been done and dusted but just wanted to know the condition of the road as some people state it is pretty bad. But I have learnt that what some people describe as "bad" actually isn't so bad. So will do the trip and drive to the conditions. Thank you both again.

yobarr · Guru

cjt55 wrote:
Thanks very much yobarr and Cupie for your replies. I have been there and done most things but now in new territory with a new HiAce campervan. the 4wd stuff has been done and dusted but just wanted to know the condition of the road as some people state it is pretty bad. But I have learnt that what some people describe as "bad" actually isn't so bad. So will do the trip and drive to the conditions. Thank you both again.

Have to agree that "what some people describe as 'bad' actually isn't so bad" but merely a few potholes and ruts. These are the same city folk who think you need 4wd to drive across your lawn. Cheers

cjt55 · Senior Member

For those that may be interested I have just completed the Tablelands and Carpentaria Highways. The Tablelands is single bitumen MOST of the way and is in pretty ordinary condition however I have been on much much worse. It has some new double lane sections. Would I recommend the trip? Yes, IF you simply want to travel abroad untravelled like I did. It will deteriorate over the next few years if it is not maintained.the Carpentaria Highway was also single lane MOST of the way and was in much better condition. Having made these remarks I travelled in my new Toyota Hiace Campervan and as always drove to the conditions. If I was in my previous 4WD the not a problem at all but it still has some bad sections to negotiate.