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Destinations > Outback Oddyssey
Outback Oddyssey
Out of Alice, heading into the East MacDonnells along the Ross Highway there is Trephina Gorge after 45 minutes - beautiful, but similar to those in the west. Ndhala Gorge has some Aboriginal carvings and while beautiful doesn't offer much beyond what we'd already seen. Ross River Resort has the last fuel for a while.
Less than an hour from Ross River is Arltunga, rich in the history of goldmining. If you intend to venture into the Ruby Gap Nature Park you must register here, which takes a while but it's well worth it because the park is sensational. Allow two hours for the journey, and more if you camp well inside. It's best to get there early and/or leave late to make the most of the beautiful surroundings, which are based around a creek bed. The 4WDing is slow but not difficult and a well-driven soft roader could manage it. Trailers are not recommended but a medium 4WD with an off-road trailer will cope.
Camping at Ruby is as picturesque as it gets, and there are no facilities at all. The 4WD track extends past a 'not recommended' point to a 'prohibited' point. We suggest experienced drivers only past the 'not recommended' point, which brings you out a few hundred metres short of a fantastic gorge.
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The only way out is to backtrack to Arltunga, and then you can continue north via Cattlewater Pass. This is a 4WD track, but off-road trailers are permitted. It's another great drive of around 3.5 hours, the scenery varies from wide open plains to hills to narrow overgrown creek beds.
Cattlewater ends at the Plenty Highway, which isn't so named because there is plenty to see and do. Forty minutes of boredom should see you at Harts Range (Atitjere) where you can camp for the night. After asking a local, we found the campsite at 23° 02' 17" - 134° 55' 15", signposted to the Races campsite, but don't try and enter the Race campsite. Keep going along the road for another couple of kilometres and you'll find the general public campsite. This is free, and there are showers but no water as it's only really used during the race season.
Back on the Plenty and the only point of note are the giant termite hills around Jervois station, where you can get fuel for cash only. The Plenty is not particularly well maintained and you'll become acquainted with bulldust, corrugations and every other hazard you find on an Outback road. Two hours east is Jervois station, which has cash-only fuel and a very small shop.
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Less than an hour from Ross River is Arltunga, rich in the history of goldmining. If you intend to venture into the Ruby Gap Nature Park you must register here, which takes a while but it's well worth it because the park is sensational. Allow two hours for the journey, and more if you camp well inside. It's best to get there early and/or leave late to make the most of the beautiful surroundings, which are based around a creek bed. The 4WDing is slow but not difficult and a well-driven soft roader could manage it. Trailers are not recommended but a medium 4WD with an off-road trailer will cope.
Camping at Ruby is as picturesque as it gets, and there are no facilities at all. The 4WD track extends past a 'not recommended' point to a 'prohibited' point. We suggest experienced drivers only past the 'not recommended' point, which brings you out a few hundred metres short of a fantastic gorge.
read on below advertisement
The only way out is to backtrack to Arltunga, and then you can continue north via Cattlewater Pass. This is a 4WD track, but off-road trailers are permitted. It's another great drive of around 3.5 hours, the scenery varies from wide open plains to hills to narrow overgrown creek beds.
Cattlewater ends at the Plenty Highway, which isn't so named because there is plenty to see and do. Forty minutes of boredom should see you at Harts Range (Atitjere) where you can camp for the night. After asking a local, we found the campsite at 23° 02' 17" - 134° 55' 15", signposted to the Races campsite, but don't try and enter the Race campsite. Keep going along the road for another couple of kilometres and you'll find the general public campsite. This is free, and there are showers but no water as it's only really used during the race season.
Back on the Plenty and the only point of note are the giant termite hills around Jervois station, where you can get fuel for cash only. The Plenty is not particularly well maintained and you'll become acquainted with bulldust, corrugations and every other hazard you find on an Outback road. Two hours east is Jervois station, which has cash-only fuel and a very small shop.
next page »
