Road worse than normal, soft roaders would get in but need help to get out.
Plenty of water at Burrows Waterhole – this surprised me. The toilets are getting pretty full, the ranger plans to build new ones.
Red Rock Gorge track in good condition, no problem for soft roaders.
Reedy Creek track in poor condition – similar to Rat’s Castle.
Rat’s Castle road in usual condition. Soft Roaders need not apply. Standard Nissan Pathfinder managed the loop, but be prepared to use plenty of right foot.
“The side road” Mr Robert made so famous with his snapped axles, 10 snatch strap, 4 vehicle recovery is in fair but overgrown condition. I got down and back up OK, but had to drop tyre pressure to 24psi and use full lockers. Lots of flower fluff in the radiator. You really should have a winch to do this road just in case. There are no big steps at the moment, but plenty of very very loose shale. I followed it through to a creek and nice waterfall that was dry. 500M further along there is a steep climb that would be rather nasty and is *supposed* to bring you out to an open gate near the track. I know the gate, but didn’t try the hill as my rear locker chose that moment to blow a seal. There are two side tracks I sw off this one, but didn’t have time to investigate. One is *supposed* to lead to the old mine.
Casualties – sliced a sidewall on my Cooper AT’s. Slice 45mm long repaired by sending away to be vulcanized – $30. Doing the side road without a spare was nerve wracking. Slice was from a rock corner cutting along the sidewall bulge. Normally my sidewalls fail from pinching between rock and rim, so this is a new one for me.
Spoke to the ranger and he said the old road from Rats Castle down to the south end of the park was destroyed in the ’76 floods. Someone tried it this Easter and ended up smashing a diff or similar judging by oil stains found by hikers. Apparently there are 30 – 40 river crossings and it is not passable. Maybe with a few extreme cars w/ 35’s, winches, lockers, shovels and chainsaws it could be opened, but this would be rather frowned upon. Chainsaws being banned and it being a National Park.
Plenty of wildlife. Saw the usual Deer, Grey Kangaroos, Pretty Face Wallabies, Goats and heaps of bird life.
Great place, great food, great people. It was a good trip.
Soft roaders can manage it – but need help. They were happy for me to help with towing the trailer, but not so fussed on letting us sleep in it….
Rats Castle circuit is a little rough
OME articulates better than I thought
Burrows still has plenty of (cold) water
This is a view most won’t see of “the hill”. Bring Lockers, and a winch, and axles for any Discovery’s in your party.