The Great Central Road

The Great Central Road (aka The Outback Way) is the shortest practical way from southern WA to Cairns via Central Australia. 

The section we travelled was from Laverton in WA to Alice Springs, distance of 1,541km and mostly gravel from Laverton to Yulara near Uluru (Ayers Rock).  The gravel road goes through a very isolated region with only a few roadhouses supplying fuel and basic needs.  Forget about mobile phone reception and listening to the radio.

We took 4 leisurely days to cover the distance and camped in some amazing spots.  We had brumbies and camels run across in front of us.  The small sand goannas and lizards tried the same thing but crossed the road more slowly so we managed to drive around them.  We saw more budgies and finches than previously but this time only a few wildflowers.

Some parts of the gravel road are fairy corrugated and have taken a toll on cars and caravans.  We saw far more abandoned cars that were burnt out and pushed off the side of the road than on the road driving along.  There were many, many shredded tyres, numerous wheel rims, mufflers, a very bent flexible solar panel and a lot of other hardware, including a complete alloy bullbar.

We saw only 3 caravans and in 4 days we were overtaken by only 1 vehicle and he did that fairly slowly.  Having said that we could often travel at about 70kph and very occasionally up to 80kph but sometimes we were down to 30 or 40kph with the sandy corrugations.

Glad we did it but probably wouldn’t do it again.


A relic of a bygone era?  Recently a lot of money has been spent on government infrastructure

 
Picnic spot under the Laverton TV tower

My TOMTOM wanted to go via Port Augusta instead of the shorter 1,541km route

Still haven't found his gold - or is it a myth?

Lasseter's Cave - tiny accommodation but at least it's out of the sun

View from one of our campsites

Sunset from the same spot

It must be 5 o'clock somewhere

A relaxing drink after a dusty drive

An EJ wagon - restorable but a long way away

Kata Tjuta / The Olgas (and Maree)

Curious camels. Nice eyes

Busy budgies

Fursty Finches

A nice sunset from our camp site


 

Comments

  1. Maree S29 September 2021 at 23:25

    Love your photos, it shows reality.
    5 O'Clock somewhere, yea, who likes Alan Jackson?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Willie30 September 2021 at 00:08

    Great photos yet again. Thanks for travelling with us. It made it much more fun, and safer!
    The Willies

    ReplyDelete
  3. Catherine30 September 2021 at 15:33

    What a fantastic journey you've had!! Thank you for all the wonderful photos and very interesting stories, it made me feel like I've been there too. Have a safe, uneventful trip home. Look forward to catching up in the not too distant future! xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown30 September 2021 at 19:42

    We did enjoy your travel blog David & Maree - thank you for sharing it! x x

    ReplyDelete
  5. GeoffO4 October 2021 at 17:00

    Looks like you have had a wonderful trip, with great photos.
    My best friend from MCEGS is doing voluntary work in and around Alice Springs, having retired as a GP in Berwick. His name is Michael Beech - with his French wife and his daughter who is a Doctor at the hospital. He loves it there. He may be out at one of the aboriginal settlements. If he is in Alice Springs you may be able to chase him up and give him my best wishes. It would be a good trip to drive the new Skoda Superb Scout to Alice Springs.

    ReplyDelete

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