Barkly Highway

[flying biker]

Anyone planning to use the Barkly Highway in the near future should take note that the road is closed because of flood damage.

See ABC.net.au for some more info.

[RogerM]

Queensland under water | The Courier-Mail# has some nice pics of NW Qld and NT affected by recent rains.

Its a bugger, I was going to use the Donahue/Plenty Highways to Alice Springs soon, I doubt they will be open for months.

[flying biker]

And now the Bruce Highway in north Queensland is apparently cut.

Must be having a particularly wet wet season up there.

[Frank Warner]

Monsoon season. Measn we get the ocasional cyclone. That dumps a lot of rain. Cuts roads. Wait 3 weeks after the rain stops and the roads are 'open' .. but still washed out meaning you travel slowly looking for where the road vanishes and take the easiest side path .. 3 weeks is requred to let the dirt dry out some so you can take the side tracks ..

A good wet season means the rivers and water falls will be flowing well for the next 9 months ... meaning good sight seeeing. For the Kimberly a 'good' wet season means at least two cyclones.

[Nickyb88]

But will a 'good' wet season (which I'm thinking this one is/ will be) mean that it's going to be tough going to travel?
I'm not planning to head north until sometime around August so I'm guessing it will have all cleared again???

At least that's what I'm hoping!


Won't hit the Kimberley's until around October? Will it be do-able?

[RogerM]

As with all things natural there are no definites. The rivers that flow South into the Lake Eyre Basin are currently in flood in Qld. and anything upto 25km wide North of SA border, they run into the Channel Country which just turns to bottomless mud when it gets that wet. If you are heading into the Northern parts of SA later this year it may be a drama South of Birdsville as water runs down the Cooper towards Lake Eyre.

In the far North which is used to substantial downpours and cyclones the land drains pretty quickly.

Kimberleys should be ok by August, Gibb River Road (if you were heading that way) is not so hard now, bitumen on many of the hills, concrete on the major river crossings, fuel available. Easy ride for most road touring bikes.

Bureau of meterology website has some useful info on river conditions, plus a few 100 radar images of current weather patterns. http.mirror.bom.com.au

[Frank Warner]

Originally Posted by Nickyb88

Won't hit the Kimberley's until around October? Will it be do-able?

Monsoon season ends around Feb .. so yes the Kimberley will be fine by end March .. or should be ..

Note that this cyclone was in the Gluf country .. not the Kimberley.. So it might be 'good' in the eastern region .. but the estern edge of the Kimberley is some 600 km fromte hwestern edge of the Gulf ..

Might get some water in Lake Eye.. possibly .. that area can really soak up water ..

[pbekkerh]

Any water on Oodnadatta track ?

[Frank Warner]

Originally Posted by pbekkerh

Any water on Oodnadatta track ?

Not that I know of.. it is on the other side of Lake Eyre to the Gulf/Queensland so would not get any from there... unless Lake Eyre over flows ) [never happen .. well not for quite a few thoushand years anyway]

[RogerM]

See Outback Roads Temporary Closures, Restrictions and Warnings Report - Area 2 - Transport SA
for Oodnadatta Track info

[pbekkerh]

Ah thank you. I'll check it regularly, hoping for it to dry, I'm going in 57 days )

Road Report Website

[RogerM]

Barkly Hwy has just reopened (21/1/09) - well sort of. Light vehicles only and daylight hours, AND maybe closed for hours at a time as the repairs continue to the sections washed away. I'd not want to be sitting on a bike waiting for the road to reopen - Mt Isa has had some high 30Cs this week.