Thurs, 1st June, 2023 Bush camp by Sandy Blight Junction Road near Kintore to Charley Creek Rest Area, Tanami Road, NT

Sunrise at 7am, 10 degrees - we just love our diesel heater. No wind, clear blue sky.

Nice morning photo of Mt Leisler.

Packed up and headed north on the Sandy Blight Junction Road. Through the turn off we came out off from Kintore yesterday and continued on so we can get back on the Gary Junction Road. Another track to mark on our map.

Stopped at granite boulders near the turn off to Ngutjul Outstation.

No signs etc so mustn’t be a significant site though there must be a soak as there is green bushes growing out of the boulders.

No paintings or etchings visible either. Not marked on the Hema but was on Wikicamps. Steve spotted a rabbit or was it a bilby dash off a rock - lots of little poos about.

More boulders further over.

Great views back to Mt Leisler and Mt Strickland.

Continued on to the junction and drove across to the north side for a cuppa.

Found Len’s white post up the road a bit but the plaque has been removed - a lot have been stolen over the years and family and 4WD clubs have tried to put them all back. Steve walked further on to read another sign as this road isn’t marked on the Hema. It said ‘4WD only - no fuel or water for next 200km’.

Back on the Gary Junction Road heading eastward.

21km to the turn off for Willies Rockhole. Flat open grass and spinifex and low shrubs and trees. Desert oaks appear as we near the rockhole turn off.

Down the two wheel track that hasn’t been used in a while.

6.5km in, we are close according to the map but we can’t see anything. Then a rocky platform appears before the sand ridge and we can hear heaps of finches.

Quite amazing. We sat by the rockhole and watched the finches fly down and then take off again, doing it many times till they were comfortable with us being there that they would stop for a moment to get a drink. Good fun trying to take photos of them.

There is another hole a bit further over and a grassy spot that was probably a hole but now filled with dirt so the grass is growing from it.

Headed back out onto a section of rough sand corrugations. 5 bustards on the roadside as we zoomed by - trying to stay on top of the corrugations.

Back beside a sand ridge again. Flocks of budgies - first ones we have seen in NT. Thicker trees and shrubs.

A cluster of hills appear, Ehrenberg Range - one of them being Mt Lyell Brown.

No entry sign into Ilbpilla Soak. Further along we passed two dead cars right on the side of the road. One was recent as it still had its wheels and spare tyres in the back!

Turned off to have lunch below some jagged rock hills.

Back on the road. Past the hills then back beside a sand ridge again that goes on for a long time. More hills in the distance which stand out above the grass plain now.

A big blue block appears in the distance as we look down the straight tree-lined road - I think it is Mt Liebig.

Got phone reception and a text from Ray and Carol - having fun at Kurundi Station so we might go up and join them. 

A car came towards us - first one we have seen in a while. Spotted some fresh camel poo on the road then spotted the camel off to the side.

More traffic!! Now a truck heading west.

The big blue block is getting bigger and clearer.

Road turned a bit and more mountains come into view.

Turned off to find another of Len’s plaques. Found solar panels and a tank and a dry hole but no plaque.

Followed a track and found a house which the bore is for. No one was about so we drove back out another track and found a bonnet sign saying ‘Welcome to Lizard Bore’. Drove back along the track but still couldn’t find a white post or plaque so gave up. Wikicamps shows a picture of a white post and plaque saying it is Liebig Bore.

Continued on. Passed a road with a sign ‘No entry - Warren Creek Bore’. More impressive looking mountains. Mum would have loved looking at these.

Turned off onto a very rough track which went across to Mt Liebig Community. Passed another outstation - always lots of dead vehicles about.

Into Mt Liebig Community with the range in the background.

Topped up with diesel again ($2.95/L) - that will get us through to Alice Springs now. A bit neater community. Lots of dogs running about.

Found the proper entrance to the community which was bitumen and headed back out to the gravel Gary Junction Road.

Open grass land and more hills as we continue eastward. Pulled over for a cuppa and three vehicles that we had seen at the community slowed down as they passed us to check if we were ok which was nice.

Continued on. Rougher road now as it would get a lot more traffic with more people about going between the communities and Alice Springs.

The hills continue on our right but no names on Hema.

Into Papunya Community which was neat but needs more signs. We found our way out and onto the roughest, rocky road we have been on so far. Steve reckons it was worst than the Gibb! The red soil section were smoother even though they are a bit corrugated. A few pools of water in the middle of the road - maybe they had some rain recently but there is no evidence anywhere else.

Passed the turn off that goes around to Haast Bluff Community and on to Kings Canyon. We explored all that area in 1984 when we came across for the Aust Formula 500 Titles. Might have to do the circuit again one year.

Over a cattle grid and through a station. No water in Derwent Creek but lots of budgies flew up.

The moons getting fuller and is shining over the top of another mountain.

The road is much better now. Open area full of cattle then we pass the turn off into Derwent Station homestead. Met a truck heading west at Dashwood Creek which is dry.

Across another grid and the turn off to Mt Zeil Wilderness Park ($22/night/person unpowered) so we kept on as it is free at the rest area on the Tanami Road.

The road is very corrugated again. The road improved as we travel with trees on each side and one side fenced. Lots of cattle here and there. The mountains continue on our right then we turn more north away from the range. Open low scrub country again. Some cattle are along the side of the road so we slowly went past them.

We turned south east and the mountain range came back into view.

Reached the Tanami Road at 5.30pm. We drove down the Tanami in 2018 from Halls Creek. We have now finished the Gary Junction Road. Turned onto the bitumen where it was two lane then it went back to single lane (137km to Alice Springs).

Every now and then the road widens to two lane and we timed it well when a vehicle was coming towards us. Otherwise you have to pick where to get off as there is a drop off the side of the bitumen which can do in a tyre. 12 km on we pulled into Charley Creek Rest Area for the night. Only one other vehicle is here so far.

Parked by the shelter as the sun started to set.

Had our drinks then dinner inside.