The Corrugation Way

Intro

We named this trip The Corrugation Way due to the severity of the corrugations we came across on sections of gravel roads we travelled. Beginning at the eastern end of the Great Central Road near Docker River right through to Yulara in Northern Territory, corrugations were the standard condition of the roads. The corrugations continued when we left Alice Springs down to Chambers Pillar, Finke and Mt Dare. We enjoyed a small reprieve in the severity of the corrugations once we entered South Australia. Overall our bone and teeth rattling adventure didn’t end until we reached the Eyre Highway on our final leg home. We hope you enjoy our account of The Corrugation Way.

NEW! Photo Gallery – If you would like to view our full picture gallery for The Corrugation Way please click on the link The Corrugation Way Photo Gallery or you can click on them to view as you read.

The seeds for this trip were planted nearly 12 mths earlier while chatting with family. Our discussions initially centered around a trip on Great Southern Rail’s “The Ghan” from Adelaide to Darwin with a stopover in Alice Springs. All parties were interested and we came away with a tentative plan of driving to Adelaide and putting our Pajero on The Ghan. Once at Alice Springs we’d unload our car and spend a few days looking around, re-board the Ghan and head to Darwin. Finally, after looking around Darwin we would drive back to Perth while family would fly back.

Over the coming months the trip went through many changes with the final itinerary not including the Ghan at all. Factoring in to this was cost for everyone concerned.

All things considered the cost for us to put our car on the Ghan plus on board accommodation was too expensive. These costs could pay for our whole trip via car. Others in our party felt the same regarding their costs.

So our final trip plan was family would fly to Darwin then down to Yulara and see Uluru with Alice Springs being their final holiday stop. We would meet them in Alice Springs, spend a few days looking around before continuing on our way while they flew back to Perth.

Our itinerary was to leave Perth and drive to Alice Springs via the Great Central Road formally known as the old Warburton Road. We applied for our transit permits; one to travel through the Ngaanyatjarra Lands from Laverton in Western Australia to Kaltukatjara (Docker River) just over the border in Northern Territory. Permit #2 was for travel along Tjukaruru Road in the Northern Territory which goes from Kaltukatjara to Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. This second permit also allows travellers to access to Tjunti (Lasseter’s Cave) for sightseeing during the day.

Everyone kept an eye on temperatures in Alice Springs while we checked towns such as Laverton, Warburton, Warakurna, Docker River and Yulara. Well it looks like it will be nice and cool during the day with Brrr… cold nights. Additionally Alice Springs has had a few -2, -4 etc so we’ll take extra blankets and warm clothes.

Fast forward to Friday 14th Aug 2015 …..