TRAVEL BULLETIN
ALL THE LATEST 4X4 NEWS AND EVENTS
Events that were postponed or in doubt are coming back online, so it’s time to get out and about to enjoy this great land and support the communities. The situation is still fluid and things are changing all the time, so please check with event organisers before locking in your plans.
GO OUTBACK IN VICTORIA (VIC)
There’s no better time than now to head for Victoria’s Outback, southwest of Mildura. You can camp along the mighty Murray River or head for somewhere even more remote in the heart of the Murray Sunset NP. Rocket Lake in the northeast of the park is easily accessible to a 4WD, while a drive south on the many tracks from Lindsay Island to the township of Murrayville is a great way to spend a few days.
GUNBARREL HIGHWAY IMPROVED (WA)
On a recent traverse of the famous Gunbarrel Highway in Western Australia, the route is now better than ever with the section in the Wiluna Shire from just west of the western boundary of the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve now being a wellformed dirt road.
In addition, the GunbarrelCanning Discovery Centre in Wiluna has been greatly improved, with some fabulous displays on the history of Wiluna and displays on the Canning Stock Route and the Gunbarrel Highway. Do yourself a favour and don’t miss it if you are passing through.
CAPE YORK ROAD UPDATES (QLD)
With the amount of damage on the roads of Cape York Peninsula, it would pay to keep up to date with the latest on road closures and what work is going on.
For the best info, check the Cook Shire website: http:// bitly.ws/dwgk
GET YOUR BACKSIDE TRACKSIDE (NSW)
Carinda’s biggest event of the year is its picnic race meeting, this year slotted for July 17.
They have been racing here since 1915 and there are six races during the day; it’s Outback racing at its best!
For more info, see Carinda Race Club Facebook page.
NINGALOO STATION CAMPING (WA)
With the Ningaloo Station now being managed by National Parks – having been taken over by them a year or more ago, and with the plan for it to become a southern extension to the Cape Range NP – you can expect a few changes to camping.
Currently you can camp at five spots along the nearby coast. There are no toilets at any of the campgrounds and visitors must have a portable chemical cassette toilet to camp here. Unlike other NPS, you can take your dog, but we’re not too sure how long that will last.
For more info, check out: http://bitly.ws/dwhj
AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST NATIONAL PARK (SA)
South Australia could soon be home to the largest national park in Australia, with the proposal to create the Munga-thirri-simpson Desert National Park. The new park will be 3.6 million hectares, making it more than one million hectares larger than the next biggest National Park – Kakadu.
The National Park will be made through changing the legal status of the Munga-thirri-simpson Desert Regional Reserve and Conservation Park. In doing so, these changes will strengthen the park’s conservation and biodiversity values.
KAKADU SITES REMAIN CLOSED (NT)
The Kakadu Access Report (parksaustralia. gov.au/kakadu/access) provides daily updates on the status of key visitor sites in Kakadu NP.
At the request of the traditional owners of East Alligator region, Oenpelli Road, including Cahills Crossing and the upstream and downstream boat ramps, have reopened.
Access will remain closed to Ubirr; Merl campground; and Manngarre Rainforest, Bardedjilidji, and River and Sandstone (Badbong Wodjmeng) walks.