Water points for cyclists

Australian Bicycle Camping Fact Sheets

www.iinet.net.au/~bikefish/ | * PO Box 3331 Rundle Mall SA 5000 Australia

Water for Cyclists: Darwin – Perth

Last updated 2006/ June 27

This is an evolving list, derived from several sources - some of them difficult to comprehend - and is continuously revised. Your own contributions and updates are most welcome - it will be helpful if you use the reference numbers in any correspondence.

Key : p/b = parking bay ; r/a = rest area; c/p = camping site; R/h = roadhouse ; H/s = homestead ; b/s = bike supplies ; P.O = post office ; t/o = turn off . Towns along the highway generally have all required services (except bike parts !)

Note : The "Wet" season lasts from November / December to March / April.

Entries marked * were confirmed 99/ Sept. ** 2000/Oct

This document is very bulky if printed in HTML format. Click here for a more useful version.

Darwin to Katherine

Darwin / Noonamah / Accacia Store / Adelaide River / Emerald Springs /Pine Creek / Katherine + 45 km – p/b

Katherine to Port Hedland

1. Katherine + 57 km W. Tank, shade, table

2. Katherine + 102 km -small "rest area" off the road, tank

3. Katherine + 126 km - cattle troughs

4. Katherine + 143 km - cattle troughs

4a. K + 155km - Campbell Springs, running water. Rubbish problem.

5. Katherine + 163 km - tank gone, shelter only

6. Katherine + 173 Km - clean water at Sullivan creek

7. Victoria River - Wayside Inn (193 km) closed in Wet season - croc's in the river.

8. Timber Creek - Wayside Inn (283 km) Police etc - nice country here

8a. Timber Creek + 10 km . Big Horse Creek c/p with tap water

9. Timber Creek + 58km E - tank, " rest area"

10. Saddle creek (Timber Creek + 119 km W) - rest area, last green tank ( Note : no fruit can be taken into WA)

11. WA border - tank etc. Agriculture officials say water is "not for drinking".

12. [Deleted 2001 ]

12a. BP @ 5 km from Kun'a - showers

13. Kununurra (May-Sep : Squash, Zucchini & Rockmelon harvesting work). B/s @ "Red Gum Camping" in arcade, and at "Retravision"

13a. K + 40 km - At intersection, rest area w/ shelter, tables etc

14. The Grotto - 2 km dirt road to waterhole

15. Wyndham

16. Kingstone rest - 20 km S of turn off. "Farm , running stream.."

17. Arthur's creek - camp ground, melons ( " did not see" 2001)

18. Denham River - may have water if winter is wet

19. "Doon Doon" Station on right @ 115 km post. R/h due late 2001.

19a Bow River may have water (170 km from Kununarra).

19aa 211 km before Halls Creek, ca 100 m after March Fly Creek turn west on track 1 km later is a water hole, nice swimming and camping

20. Mistake Creek - 195 km - NO tank in 2001

21. Warmun (Turkey Creek) - r/h, c/p, fish, groceries,

21a. Fletchers Creek (13 N of Purnululu turnoff) bush camping and creek water. Frog Hollow Creek 35 km after Warmun has water hole

21b.Spring Creek Rest Area, good spot with bbqs, and creek water. Located one Km south of Purnululu turn off on West side of hwy.

22. Ord river - nice camp, water possible, depending on season

23. Mable Creek Downs - 225 km. "Steep bank to water.."

24. Alice Downs H/s - turn off @ 310 km . 24a. 25 km N of Hall's Creek, "nice b/bong camp on W.side " - tank a little bit later on E.

25. Halls Creek * (see references). B/s. Internet at information centre.

25a. Halls Creek +20 Community near Hwy

26. Halls Creek + 80 km S - tank

27. Halls Creek + 107 km - Mary Pool River - shady c/g. May need to pay. 27a. + 12 km : Yiyili Community Bore, 5 km from road

28. Pinnacle Creek - 200 km after Halls Creek

29. Fitzroy Crossing: www at TAFE | Basic b/s | Showers @ R/h $2.00 .

29a. FC + 93 km : "..c/p at lake, not sign posted, 6 km W of Ellendale RA"

30. Fitzroy Crossing + 100 km S - windmill & tank at cattle grid. ".. There are no cattle grids directly on the highway. Saw a pond off to right at 90km, so perhaps this was it?.."

30a Fitzroy Crossing + 154 new [2004 ] tank and cattle through on S

31. Willare - r/h. The only water here is rain water, use sparingly. Expensive groceries.

31a. Willare + 25 tank and cattle through on N

31b. Willare + 57 private house (Kimberly Colorstones)

32. "rivers in the area have water " ??? / 2001 ".. Seems out of place. The Fitzroy River had water. Some mud puddles...this after 10cm within a week, but between Willare and Roebuck rivers were dry..."

32 a Willare + 107. Water Hole , Needs Filtering

33. Roebuck r/h @ Pt Hedland t/o - "bike friendly". C/p $12.50

33a : Destroyed , but rebuilding " Roebuck+85kms : *Eco Beach Resort (10kms off the highway on good dirt road. Resort $19 entrance, includes a big lunch.)

33b :Roebuck+188kms *Stanley Rest Area , good camping/caravan stop, no water

33c : Roebuck+95kms and 9kms on a reasonable dirt road. Barn Hill Station Stay . C/p $11, very pleasant folk, and water. * Recommended .

33d : Roebuck+128kms, approx 1km on LHS of road on sandy track. *Shamrock Vegetable Farm . open between May and September, closes at 2pm.

34. mistake

harsh country from Broome to Sandfire - "..possible June to August only.."

35.P/b @ 55 km - left & right of road .2001 : ".. Didn't see this one.."

36. Roebuck +121 km. rest area, no water

37. windmill @ 175 km (no tank*)

38. windmill @ 260 km (no tank*) far from road

38a. 26 Km N of Sandfire : bore near "Emu" sign, behind gate.

39. Sandfire r/h - bike friendly, groceries, c/p $5.50

39a. Sandfire+45kms 80 mile Beach Caravan Park. Road good.

40. Pardoo r/h - Little Oasis - bike friendly, groceries, showers. Update : cyclone damaged 2002

40aa Pardoo +6 km good bush-camping with claer water hole

40a.Pardoo + 78kms : De Grey River rest area, good shady camping .Swimming [see # 42 ]

41. Goldsworthy t/o- no water , but " good camp"

42. Pardoo+30 (?) kms, then 13kms in on 'good dirt road' Pardoo H/s c/p

43. de Grey River rest area - good camping by river [ see above # 40a]

Port Hedland - Perth

44. Pt. Hedland * strong winds possible to S. - may need goggles for sand * B/s at Sth Hedland. NB : detour required to Port Hedland.

45. Turner river 23 Km S of PH. Unreliable water

46. Yule river r/a - no tank.

47. Whim Creek - hotel, free c/p, food, showers. "..No bikes on lawn", " bike un-friendly.." but now "New management 2002"

48. Sherlock river - maybe . 2001 "..pools.."

49. Roebourne - food. Free tour at Info centre. Some B/s. Email at Library.

50/51. Karratha - Dampier r/h. " Travel Stop" - friendly, food, c/p 8km from t/o.

52. Miraee Pool - v. attractive

53. Fortescue River r/h - c/p, ? cyclist discount ? ."..Rough tap water , bottled water $2.50/litre.." .

53a. + 22km " good shady clearing to W.."

54. Peter Creek - 140 km "..just pools.."

55. (Pannawonica) shade, tables at t/o. 55a. Robe R. R/a. 55b. Info bay at Onslow T/o, shelter only.

56. Nanutarra r/h - helpful management c/g on creek, tap water, swimming.

57. ** 70 km S (?? Yannarie River may have water) 2001 : "..almost none..". Private house if you're desperate for water ( maybe pay ?)

58. (Giralia Stn - excellent food)

59. (Coral Bay - food)

60. Winning H/S : 2km off road. Water on request

61. ??? 20 km S

62. Telstra outpost @ 100 km - "..no water in 89..". Fenced.

62a. Lyndon R. R/A

63. ? now gone ? Windmills @ 100 km

64. Minilya r/h - pleasant campsite, bore water OK, bottled water for sale.C

65. Minilya + 48 , Windmill ,(was "Windmills 80 km. N of Carnarvon")

66. Gascoyne River Bridge - "..cheap fruit & veg stall ..."

67. Carnarvon - "some of the best food in Australia" - Jun-Dec : Melons, Capsicums & Tomatoes harvest work . email $5.00/30 mins at Kodak & library. Note : between Carnarvon and Gin Gin, water is trucked in and very scarce.

67 a. R/A on E side. Shelter & tables.

68. Wooramel r/h . ** friendly new owners, fresh pastries ! Tap water still OK .(unfriendly in 89 , what a memory !) - Camp kitchen w/ radio. 2001 : proprietors took a copy of this list!

69. Overlander r/h -. ** Will give rainwater on request ( be polite ). basic campsite

Side trip to Shark Bay

69a. Hamelin Pool: rainwater for campers

69b. Namba Bay

69c. Denham

69d. Monkey Mia

70. Billabong r/h. ** : Rain water for cyclists 50c/litre on request. C/p.

70a. "Nerrun" sheep station . water on request

71. Rest area with Roads Dept. serviced tank @ 70 km from B'bong.

72. Galena Bridge R/a - brackish water at Murchison River, but OK for cooking, good campsite

72 a . Loop via Kalbarri ( less traffic & pretty) | b. Kalbarri | c. Port Gregory

73. Binnu - store || 74. [changed]

75. Northampton : email at Tourist B. Water at Shire Caravan Park ** from here to Perth , tap water is OK .

75 a : Drummond Cove c/p & R/H

76. Geraldton. 24 hr email at Shell stn. B/s at " Bicycle Entrepreneur" tel 08 9964 1399 < tbe@wn.com.au >. NB : new road to Perth "Indian Ocean Drive" Main roundabout on South entrance to Geraldton on maps no longer exists.

76a. Greenough Hamlet. Showers & email. Drinking Water available from tap at picnic area on Southern end of historic area 300 metres from Hwy near cafe.

76b. Seven Mile Bend - R/h, Caravan Park, Small Shop, Limited water.

77. Dongara - R/H & c/p. t/o here to avoid traffic on Brand Hwy - inland route is scenic & pleasant

77 a : Western Flora Nature Reserve. 800 m off the road. Water

78. Eneabba r/h. 2000 : Miners mess hall is great. PO, grocery & C/p. Water at oval

79 & 80. Half Way Mill r/h. or Warradge r/h

81. Badgingarra r/h - Some work available in area. C/p with tent sites.

82. Cataby r/h. Email @ Ampol.

83. Reagans Ford -r/h. C/p Do not camp south of r/h at bottom of hill in river reserve. You will probably be ejected. C/p is well equipped

84. Gin Gin – Hotel, C/p at Shell R/h and water tap out front.

85. Muchea - r/h, store, PO

86. Bullsbrook - grocery & PO

87 Perth - "..Swan Valley Tourist Pk is cheap"

Dongara to Perth - ( alternative route, coastal & scenic)

88. Dongara

89. Leeman ( supplies, van park etc)

90. GreenHead ( camping)

91. Jurien ( all facilities)

92. Cervantes

93. ( Dandaragan - shop & nice camping)

94. Reagan's Ford

95. Lancelin

96. Guilderton

97. Quinn's Beach

98. Burn's Beach - join cycle path to ...

99. Perth

Sources :

2006 : Kevin Peirce

2002 : Randy & Jody Miller, Andrea & Peter

2001 : Catherine Langbridge, Mike Vermuelen

2001 : Belinda Van Straaten

2000 Claire & Bob Rogers

2000 Bernd Lackner

1999 Pat Barley & David Fuller

1989 Notes provided to Bicycle SA by Colin Rogers

Cycling Northern Australia (1997, Bob Craine 104 pp) a highway route guide for Sydney-Cairns-Darwin-Perth written by a practical, low tech cyclist with idiosyncratic theoretical ideas. Covers mostly sealed roads. Good information about camp sites, food and water. About A $10.00. (ISBN 0 646 32077 7)

"Crossing Australia's North [by Bicycle ] " ( 1990, Julia Thorn 141 pp ) pocket size format . Detailed route guide for Townsville-to-Broome and Darwin / Kakadu region. Useful history and other observations. ( Kangaroo Press ISBN 0 86417 305 9 )

Bush Camps & Rest Areas around Australia. ( Second edition March 1998) Covers the sealed coastal highways as well as the Darwin-Adelaide route. Lists picnic/rest areas, caravan parks, Forest camps, etc. (Does not mention anything about bikes!) About A$12.00

The Gibb River Road 2000

Philipp Wuethrich <woo_trick72@hotmail.com>

Schwandenallee 23, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland

notes from a solo ride in 2000/ late May to mid June

Note: I did the ride after a very heavy wet season which lasted much longer than expected. therefore there was plenty of water in almost all of the rivers. This probably will not be the case later in the year or after less heavy rain.

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Map: RACWA ( Kimberley) or Hema

1. Derby - roadside bush camp (114.7 km)

water in Derby, no water along the road;

road sealed for the first 69 km, then good, hard dirt road. flat, straight

2. bush camp - Windjana Gorge (35.9 km):

water, showers, telephone at Gorge campground, water in Lennard River (crossing 5km after turnoff to Windjana Gorge);

road good, hard to Windjana Gorge turnoff, then rocky and corrugated

(21 km). recommended sidetrip to Tunnel Creek (37 km from Windjana Gorge)

3. Windjana Gorge - Apex Creek bush camp (87 km)

water in Lennard River (bridge after 22 km) and Apex Creek at camp;

road very sandy for about 10 km after turnoff to Windjana Gorge, then good, hard and smooth.

4. Apex Creek camp - roadside bush camp (65 km)

water in Lennard Gorge (sidetrip 7.5 km one way , beautiful gorge, turnoff 7 km past Apex Creek, rough track, had to walk last 1.5 km) ; water at Bell Creek, groceries and drinks at Imintji Aboriginal store (39 km past apex creek), water at Grave Creek (5 km past Imintji store);

road to Bell Gorge (29 km one way) was closed.

road very rocky for the first 14 km after Lennard Gorge turnoff, then sealed for about 3 km and better after that.

5. bush camp - Galvans Gorge (61.3 km):

water at Adcock Gorge (sidetrip 5 km one way, rough track), & at Adcock River crossing and Galvans Gorge.

road corrugated, but wide

6. Galvans Gorge - Manning Gorge (Mt Barnett roadhouse):

water at roadhouse & at Manning Gorge (7 km from roadhouse).

camping at Manning Gorge (sidetrip 7 km) or free at Barnett River, 1 km past roadhouse on Gibb River Road.

road sandy in places

7. Manning Gorge - North Creek (91.7 km):

water at Mt Barnett River Gorge (5 km sidetrip, camping possible), Hann River (60 km past Manning Gorge ) and at North Creek .

road sandy in places

8. North Creek - Dawn Creek (84 km)

water at Campbell River (camping possible) ; and Dawn Creek.

road from North Creek to Kalumbura Turnoff (road to Mitchell plateau) , for about 20 km very sandy, quite unrideable in places.

9. Dawn Creek - Jacks Waterhole/Durack River Station (53.5 km):

water at Durack River (24 km after Dawn Creek), Bamboo Creek (42 km after Dawn Creek) and

Durack River Station.

camping at the station (showers, toilets, small shop)

road good, had just been graded

10. Jacks Waterhole - Home Valley Station (61 km)

water at Bindoola Creek (40 km after Jacks Waterhole),

Home Valley Station : water, showers, small shop

road sandy in places

11. Home Valley - Kununurra (126.3 km)

water at Pentecost River (crocodiles!), King River, Emma Gorge and Kununurra.

no camping at Emma Gorge only expensive, upmarket apartments

road corrugated like hell after El Questro turnoff.

Pilbara - information from Pat & Sharyn (1999)

Port Hedland+67kms and 9kms off road Indee Station Stay

Pingu Creek, Port Hedland+146kms(aprox), - appeared to be permanent water.

Yule River, Port Hedland+166kms - pools both sides of the bridge, appeared permanent

Bea Bea Creek, Port Hedland+201kms , , good permanent water over about 10kms.

Auski R/H, Port Hedland+303kms

Tom Price (town)

Bellary Creek - Tom Price+20kms (several crossings - first at approx 20kms) - good permanent water.

Paraburdoo - Tom Price+80kms

Paraburdoo to Nanutarra, Local has advised good water , but will confirm next message.

Links

Australian Bicycle Camping Fact Sheets – Kimberley

Outback WA : Daphna Bienstock & Alon Lev http://www.odyseus.com/

Water Points : Pt Augusta to Darwin

The Stuart Highway : Coober Pedy to Port Augusta

Bicycle Travel & Harvest Work in Australia

Goolarabooloo People (Broome Peninsula)

Claire & Bob's narrative is at http://www.HearingCommSys.com/Bob-Claire/

Updated information should be addressed to Grace Newhaven by email or PO box 3331 Rundle Mall SA 5000 Australia

This information is provided and maintained by grassroots cyclists without funding of any sort. No responsibilities can be accepted for errors or omissions.

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