Gunbarrel Highway Western Australia to Northern Territory

The Gunbarrel Highway is one of Australia's toughest long-haul treks. The distance is considerable and the area extremely remote, so even more meticulous when organising all the usual desert trek precautions.  The trek was most rewarding and well worth all our efforts.


Lost a dust cover, so made one out of an empty beer can



Permits are required to traverse Aboriginal lands. No fees applicable but include restrictions on movement into communities  except when needing to refuel vehicles. 

Len Beadell and his team were the  first to surveyed and opened up the Gunbarrel during the 1950's and 1960's bisecting the  Western Australia's Gibson and Great Victoria deserts.

We passed through Giles Meteorological Station on the old Gunbarrel Highway. Well worth a visit. Giles have visitors' times to see  Weather Balloons dispatched and then give a tour of the complex and explain the proceedures. Very interesting and informative indeed.

One of the many creek crossing made

Camping along the highway is permitted anywhere or at the established campsites of Harry Johnston Waterhhole, Carnegie Homestead ( nice shower) Camp Beadell and Lassesters Cave (Tjuntil). There are caravan parks at Wiluna, Warrakurna Roadhouse and Yulara Resort.

Campsite beside a waterhole