Great Central Road | Adventures

After travelling to Alice Springs for the 2009 Finke Desert Race in the Northern Territory I decided to return to Perth, Western Australia via the Great Central Road.

Unprepared

A number of other West Aussies were intending to do the same and I was invited to join their group. I had arrived in The Alice via the Eyre Highway, Stuart Highway, motels and roadhouses so, apart from a swag, I was not prepared for camping. Once I had decided to forsake the bitumen for the return journey it was then a mad rush around Alice Springs to buy sufficient camping gear for the three day (or so) drive to Perth.

Given the circumstances (no camping gear, road tyres, no permits) I was pleased with my preparations for the 2500 kilometre trip through the centre of NT/Western Australia.

Exit Alice Springs

We left Alice Springs on the Tuesday morning after the Finke Desert Race, bypassed Mt Connor, Ayers Rock and The Olgas (seen many times previously) and got straight onto the Great Central Road.

: Mt Conner from the viewing area on Lasseter Highway.

: Ayers Rock.

: Kata Tjuta from the viewing area.

Tjukararu Road

: On the Tjukaruru Road.

: Docker River Road, also known as Tjukaruru Road, part of the Outback Way.

: We entered the campsite via a creek.

: First night camp.

: My home away from home.

: Ready to leave next morning.

Lasseter’s Cave

A visit to Lasseter’s Cave is virtually obligatory if travelling the Great Central Road.

: Entry to Lasseters Cave.

: Entrance to cave.

: Lasseters Cave.

: Great Central Road.

: Rock cairn by the side of the road.

The Transform WA program came too late for these hapless vehicles.

: Signage at the border.

: So true.

Warakurna-Giles Weather Sation

: Remains of Blue Streak rocket.

: Gunbarrel Road Construction Party grader.

Camp

It was late in the day when we found a campsite. This far east, the sun set earlier. More information here.

: Second camp.

: Early morning.

: Plenty of firewood.

: Staked after leaving camp.

Breakaway Country

: Breakaway country near camp.

: Breakaway country.

: Breakaway country.

: Breakaway country.

: Breakaway country.

: Open country.

Camels

: Bull camel and his herd.

: Inquisitive bull.

: Cows and calves.

: Bull camel (light coloured) runs his herd away.

Australian Bustard

I had just taken off from photographing a wrecked vehicle when I noticed an Australian Bustard crossing the track.

: Australian Bustard.

: Australian Bustard.

: Leaving road.

: On Australia’s longest shortcut.

Torrential Rain to the Goldfields

As we travelled further west the rain started and by the time we reached the Goldfields it was torrential. We stayed at the Menzies pub and the next day it was a straight run 735 kilometres home.

For an alternative, quirky look at the western portion of Australia’s Longest Shortcut check out this article.

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