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Shire of
Ngaanyatjarraku
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Tourism
Main Attractions
Accommodation
Climate
What You Need To Bring
Protocol
How
To Get To Tjulyuru (Road & Air)
Tourist
MapMain Attractions
Also see the Tourism Map for further details. |
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Accommodation
Three major roadhouses are available:
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| Warburton
Roadhouse twin room |
Warburton Roadhouse fully self contained units |
topClimate
The area you will be passing through is known as the Central Australian Aboriginal Reserves which forms the Ngaanyatjarra
Lands and you will pass through The Great Victoria Desert and The Gibson Desert. The temperature in the Desert can rise above 50 degrees Celsius in the summer and can plunge to as low as sub zero degrees in the winter. So please pack appropriate clothing for the season you are travelling in. The most popular times to travel are between the months of May to September.
What You Need
To Bring
Adequate
food, water and supplies are available from various roadhouses.
Warburton has a medical clinic but we strongly recommend you seek medical advice before making the journey to Tjulyuru if you have any specific medical needs.
We recommend that all travellers be well equipped to handle most situations in case your vehicle breaks down on route or you have an accident.
- In the event of a breakdown you must stay with your vehicle.
- Carry an emergency supply of water.
- Carry at least two (2) spare tyres, tyre repair kit and an air pump.
- Notify a friend or relative of your daily ETA, if you are overdue they can notify the Police and they will assist.
- Carry enough fuel to ensure you can reach your next refuel destination without running out. Distances between fuel stops along the Great Central Road (Outback Highway) are:
Laverton to Tjukayirla Roadhouse 315km
Tjukayirla to Warburton 260km
Warburton to Warakurna 225kmNote: Please note the above distances are approximates only, the Great Central Road (Outback Highway) is subject to road realignments which may vary the distances.
Protocol
The Ngaanyatjarra people of the Central Desert are strongly committed to
their Society & Culture. They are pleased to have other persons travel through their
Lands (Aboriginal reserve). However they ask that you observe the following
rules:
- Do not photograph Aboriginal persons unless given permission to do so by the individuals.
- Bury all camp fires and dispose of your rubbish at one of the three roadhouses (Warburton, Warakurna and Tjukayirla) off the Great Central Road (Outback Highway).
- Camp no further than 50 metres off the road.
Important information for all travellers
The following are actual law and any contravention may result in a
prosecution:
- Before entering the reserve you are required to obtain a travel permit for the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australian (WA) to travel through the Ngaanyatjarra Lands (Aboriginal Reserve) permits may be obtained from Aboriginal Affairs Department Contact (08) 9235 8000 or Ngaanyatjarra Council (Aboriginal Corporation) on (08) 8950 1711. We ask that you do not vary from your approved route.
- It is prohibited to travel the abandoned section of the Gunbarrell Highway.
- It is prohibited to supply any form of petrol to persons.
- Consumption or supplying of liquor is prohibited.
- Use of firearms or killing wildlife is prohibited.
These laws were introduced by the Aboriginal people for the Aboriginal people. However, for the laws to be successful everyone is required to abide by them. The wongi
(Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal) people chose to live culturally based away from the influences of alcohol.
Petrol sniffing is a problem that is currently being dealt with by the
Ngaanyatjarra people and it is for that reason that they ask that you
assist them with this problem by not bringing leaded/unleaded petrol or
supplying petrol in the reserve. At all roadhouses diesel is available,
and Avgas as a substitute for leaded petrol.
How
to get to Tjulyuru
By Air:
Major Australian domestic airlines such as Qantas
fly to major cities surrounding the region, and we suggest you contact
your travel agent or airline direct for further details. Air
charter services direct to Tjulyuru are available by contacting
the centre.
By
Road:
Please see map information. The Great Central Road is the
major route.
Road Conditions
The Great Central Road or otherwise known as the
"OUTBACK HIGHWAY" is the main service road into the Ngaanyatjarra lands and extends some 890 kilometres
from Laverton (WA) to the Northern Territory border
near Docker River Community (NT). The road is generally a cross section Type 2 & Type 3 formed road which have been defined by Main Roads Western Australia in their Roads Regional Development Strategy 1997 as
"Type 2 Road earthworks are constructed using local road-making material and improved drainage control. Formed (raised) and drained road without imported material or a constructed pavement
Type 3 - When maintenance costs increase to unacceptable levels or when economic or social
benefits are evident, a type 2 road can be improved by sheeting the surface
with suitable gravel material. Paved Surface road construction"
Which simply means it is an all dirt road, which makes its condition subject to change depending on the weather. Therefore, it is always a good idea to contact us (Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku) on (08) 8956 7966 and the Shire of Laverton on (08) 9031 1202 to get an up to date report on the condition of the Great Central Road before commencing your trip.
Helpful Travel Tips For Gravel Roads
- Look well ahead on the road for possible trouble spots, eg water can pool on the road after heavy rain in some locations, but generally is well drained.
- Watch for rising dust in the distance as this generally indicates other vehicle using the road to.
- Drive to the conditions at the time.
- Enjoy your surrounds and do not speed, slow down on bends and crests.
- Corrugations can cause a vehicle to slide.
- Stay off the edge of the road as they often soft and will drag your vehicle off the road.
- When a section of road is covered by water it is generally safest to pass through the centre of the road as it generally the hardest section of the road and you are less likely to get your vehicle bogged.