Great Central Road in january

Hey,

Glad to found your topic here. Myself newbie here. Opened my account few minutes ago. Wish you all the best and happy journey. Enjoy!

People have died in the outback and if something went wrong, your vehicle broke down and your satphone failed to function properly, you would likely have the conditions to find yourself in trouble.
Aside from that and the temperatures and isolation, no one can really predict the weather that far ahead with any certainty, there having been years when the Indiapacific railway has had flash flooding wash outs and such weather would likely make many outback roads unpassable.

A better place to ask your question might be the ExploreOz forum. The Great Central Road is now the "Outback Way" and has its own website.

I realise that preparation is key, and I don't take this kind of trip lightly. It would be foolish and possibly dangerous to underestimate this journey. BUT, if I can believe the internet, this particular road is supposed to be well travelled. And, in case of a vehicle breakdown that I can't fix myself, I would not have to wait days for another car to pass... But I haven't driven on that road, so I'm asking for advice and experiences of others...

I asked my question at the ExploreOz forum as well. For some reason I can't acces the Outbackway website, i get this error:

403: Access Forbidden
Your location (BE) has been blacklisted.

Thanx for your advice and input!

See how you go with http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/103657/Outback_Way.aspx?p=/treknotes/redctr/outback_way.aspx , a couple of comments at the bottom re expecting furnace like temps.
Personally, if I was going to consider a trip anywhere out through the centre December - March, I'd try and do it with at least one other vehicle and as for waiting days for another vehicle, you could be surprised.

I'd start but checking with 4WD hire companies to see if it is an option to take their vehicles on this sort of route.

I would love to do that trip and am envious of you. Depends on your experience of how you go about it, but in my humble opinion and when I go out in the scrub there are a few things I check and carry with me. A can opener and water is a given, I was stuck once in a dry river bed and digging the car out you'd be surprised how much you sweat. Toilet paper for the obvious and is good for bandaids, starting cooking fires and plugging holes in things. If you don't smoke, take matches with you.The availability of fuel and what your vehicle uses, whether it 91, 95, 98 octane or diesel, if you're doing a lot of low gear work, your fuel consumption will of course go up, and a couple of spare tyres/tubes with a small electric compressor. You can "spike" tyres/tubes on really low hard-as-nails tree roots. Make sure you have any/all the permits needed to drive through Aboriginal Community lands, some are alcohol free, don't take any booze into them. It can get hot and if stuck stay with the car, but as I say I'd love to do the drive

The road itself is wide and graded gravel or earth and usually not so bad. Some sections between the WA-NT border and Uluru are often stony and tyre damage is a real risk.
2WD would generally have no problem unless it is wet and then no one goes anywhere until it dries out. Cruising speeds are usually 60 - 80kph. Fuel range is not a problem for most vehicles, but you need to plan well.
No hire company will allow you to drive a 2WD there.
The real risk is the weather might be 50C in the shade for weeks and there is no shade. Those conditions place considerable extra stress on the vehicle and a minor breakdown can easily become very serious.
Do not expect much other traffic and most would not be able to offer assistance anyhow.
Take a Personal Locator Beacon.
2 permits are required. One for the NT side and one for the WA side. Both are free and available on line.

I would not choose to drive this road in January.

Cheers,
Peter

Thanx for the advice everyone! It looks like I will have to change my plans, as almost everyone keeps telling me it will be too hot. I don't mind and can handle heat, but 50 degrees will be a bit too much probably. I like a bit of adventure, but it has to stay fun ofcourse...