4 Wheel Driving is one of the most exciting ways to see Central Australia. The thrill and the rush of driving at speed down an unsealed road is incredibly exciting and the feeling of driving over rough terrain during a one-day or multi-day trip is exhilarating. There are several noteworthy four-wheel drive tracks around Alice Springs and the surrounding areas which can be accessed within a couple of hours’ drive.
Travellers will find the roads in Central Australia are sealed, unsealed or four-wheel drive only. Unsealed roads should only be travelled on by four-wheel drives or all-wheel drives. Four-wheel drive only roads can only be travelled on by four-wheel drives, as is indicated by their classification. All roads in the Red Centre should be driven on slowly in dry weather and wet weather alike, however, extra caution should be taken driving when it is wet.
Unsealed tracks across the Red Centre can be explored by anyone with a driver’s licence and a four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle. There is nothing quite like the feeling of blazing down a trail with dust billowing out behind your vehicle and the wheels only partially gripping the road. It’s necessary to check road conditions before attempting a four-wheel or all-wheel drive trek in Central Australia, but in good weather, the following trails can make for an explosive adventure:
Unfortunately, not all tracks in Central Australia are accessible to all-wheel drive vehicles. The following roads are too rough and pot-hole-filled for travel using a two-wheel or all-wheel drive; a four-wheel drive must be employed for the purposes of travel in:
Finke Gorge National Park
Owen Springs Reserve
Central Australia is accessible from the surrounding states of Western Australia, South Australia, the Top End of the Northern Territory and Queensland. There are sealed, unsealed and four-wheel drive only roads which snake their way into the Red Centre. The following list of four-wheel drive only roads can make for an excellent road trip given sufficient preparation:
A permit is required to visit any Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory. The Mereenie Loop is one four-wheel drive track which requires a permit to enter. To drive on this road, you'll need a Mereenie Loop Permit, which can be obtained for $5 from the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre.
Other permits for surrounding roads can be purchased from the Central Land Council, here. In some cases, multiple permits are required when travelling one road that passes through more than one council region.
When four-wheel driving in Central Australia it’s crucial to bring the correct safety equipment and recovery gear, including a satellite phone. A basic knowledge of a car’s mechanical components can also be extremely helpful when traveling by four-wheel drive in the Red Centre. If you can, buy a book which recounts common problems faced by cars in the desert and bring along the components and equipment needed to make repairs if you break down.
Recovery gear is also recommended if you are travelling long periods on 4 wheel drive tracks. Experience using recovery gear, or a 4 wheel drive course is also crucial to 4 wheel driving in the Red Centre.
There are a few safety concerns which must be addressed in order to reduce the danger present when traveling through Central Australia. On some parts of the road there are unfenced areas which can bring the risk of stray wildlife colliding with cars. A keen eye must be kept out for kangaroos, dingoes, horses, eagles, sheep and cows which may stray onto the road.
Speed limits must also be observed and adhered to when traveling in Central Australia. The limit is frequently 110km, sometimes 130km, and travellers should stick to the limit in order to remain safe and avoid receiving a fine from local law enforcement.
In general, drivers should stop every 2 hours for a 15-minute break. Driver’s fatigue is the cause of many accidents - a microsleep can kill in seconds. Be sure to remain alert while driving and take as many stops as you need to to arrive at your destination alive and in one piece.
If your vehicle does break down, stay with your vehicle under all circumstances. It is far easier to spot a car from the sky than a person in the case of an emergency. Always carry plenty of water in case you are stranded for a prolonged period and tell people where you are going so they can alert emergency services in the event you do not arrive at your destination when expected.
Make sure your vehicle is adequately fueled for wherever your adventure takes you, in some cases you may need to carry extra fuel in jerry cans. It is also smart to be prepared and know where your next fuel stop is. See our fuel stops map here.
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