Direct 4WD - Tours in the Australian Outback


		Canning Stock Route - 2008

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Canning Stock Route

2008

The Canning Stock Route one of Australia's last frontiers. The ultimate challenge to any Four Wheel Driver. We are doing this in 2008. This is a 23 Day tour from Alice Springs to Halls Creek, down the Canning Stock Route, from Well 51 to Willuna.

Full itinerary for the July trip, plus an 'INFO PAC' give Jol a

call for specific information, jol@direct4wd.com.au

or ring on 08 8952 3359.

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Introduction: The Canning Stock Route is one of the greatest icons of off-road 4WD travel in Australia.

It traverses nearly 1900 kilometres of some of the most remote country in Australia, and offers 4WD expeditioners one of the greatest challenges of their lives.

The route was created by Alfred Canning, who was commissioned to find a route from Halls Creek in the Kimberley to Wiluna so that Kimberley cattlemen could overland their cattle from the rich grazing lands in the north to the lucrative markets of the south. This was necessary as the Cattle Tick which was prevalent in the northern part of the country. Travelling through the drier areas they just fell off.

Caning conducted his survey in what was dangerous and inhospitable country in 1906 and 1907.

He came back the following year with a team which worked until 1910, sinking 51 wells to provide precious water for traveling livestock.

The wells were constructed about one day’s march apart so that cattle could be water each day.

Many of the wells were based around water resources which had been used by the local Aborigines for thousands of years.

Extra wells were later in the southern part of the route to accommodate limited droving for sheep areas.

But by 1929, the original wells had deteriorated by fire, termites and the occasional act of vandalism.

By then, only eight big mobs of cattle had actually used the route, because drovers feared attacks by Aborigines.

In 1929, a reconstruction team led by William Snell set out to refurbish all the wells although this task was never completed.

Then Canning (now aged 70) was called in to complete the task.

The earliest recorded use of vehicles on the route was by Snell in 1929, and the use of the track became more prevalent after the Second World War when 4WD became more common.

However, it was not until 1970 that the first full traverse of the CSR was made by a vehicle. Today the Canning Stock Route is a challenging overland adventure for the well equipped and resourced 4WD enthusiast.

The Canning trip starts from Alice Springs on July 1, 2005 heading up the Tanimi to Halls Creek calling in on the Old Mt Doreen Stn, past the Granites and Tanimi Gold mines to the WA border, on to Wolf Creek Meteorite Crater then Halls Creek. Here fuel and food supplies are topped up and the last minute shopping.

Then it’s down the Canning starting at Billiluna then to Well 51 following the Stock Route and the Wells as we head for Willuna.

Fuel can be picked up at Kunawarritji Community near Well 33 and again at Well 23, if necessary.

Travel will be for approx five days with one day off, and Durba Spring will be a well earned break.

Willuna will see us finish the Canning; by then corrugations will be a dirty word, so we will be coming home via Leonora, Laverton and the Great Central road to Warburton, Warakurna, Giles

Cross the WA NT border again onto Uluru and the black top, finally back to Alice Springs.

A specific day to day Itinerary with an idea on what to expect will be on the net (www.direct4wd.com.au) come mid year. Cost for this trip will be TBA / vehicle.

Please feel free to contact me about this trip, I'll send you an Info Pac on the trip, with fuel stats, distances and itinerary. Ring me on 08 8952 3359 or email, jol@direct4wd.com.au

Allow a few extra days in this trip to cater for the unexpected, weather, slow travel, repairs etc. Campers and trailers are permitted, but all specifications are to be submitted to Jol prior to the trip for approval.

To Join Tread Lightly phone 1800 650 881 or try the website