Plenty Highway
Encyclopedia
The Plenty Highway is a 498 kilometre outback mostly unsealed track cutting across to north-western Queensland
from the Stuart Highway
.
The track leaves the Stuart Highway 68 kilometres north of Alice Springs, follows the Sandover Highway
for the first 27 kilometres and finishes in Tobermorey Homestead on the Northern Territory
/Queensland
border. The track then continues on to Boulia, in Queensland, as the Donohue Highway.
The first 100 kilometres from the Stuart Highway to Ongeva Creek is sealed. The remaining 178 km to Jervois Homestead is unsealed as is the rest of the track to Boulia. Information about the condition of the track may be obtained from the Harts Range police station, 112 km from the Stuart Highway.
East of Jervois Homestead, the road is formed earth, deteriorating to rocks and bulldust as you near Tobermorey, 213 km from Jervois Homestead. The road north to Urandangi and thence to Mount Isa bears left just before Tobermorey.
As at other Northern Territory / Queensland border crossings, the road becomes a goat track east of the border into Queensland. Travellers should be aware of deep potholes and bulldust. It is 242 km from Tobermorey to Boulia and good camping may be found at the Georgina River, at about the 125 km mark.
Fuel and food may be obtained at Gemtree, Atitjere community, Jervois Homestead and Boulia. As of June 2009, fuel and camping is no longer available at Tobermorey. Travellers should note that the Donohue Highway is not suitable for ordinary caravans and that road train
s up to 53 metres in length use both highways.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
from the Stuart Highway
Stuart Highway
The Stuart Highway is one of Australia's major highways. It is a segment of Australia's Highway 1 extending from Darwin, Northern Territory, in the north, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta, South Australia, in the south—a distance of...
.
The track leaves the Stuart Highway 68 kilometres north of Alice Springs, follows the Sandover Highway
Sandover Highway
The Sandover Highway is an outback unsealed track cutting across to north-western Queensland from the Stuart Highway.Its total length is about 550 kilometres and it passes through semi-arid deserts and Spinifex blacksoil plains...
for the first 27 kilometres and finishes in Tobermorey Homestead on the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
/Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
border. The track then continues on to Boulia, in Queensland, as the Donohue Highway.
The first 100 kilometres from the Stuart Highway to Ongeva Creek is sealed. The remaining 178 km to Jervois Homestead is unsealed as is the rest of the track to Boulia. Information about the condition of the track may be obtained from the Harts Range police station, 112 km from the Stuart Highway.
East of Jervois Homestead, the road is formed earth, deteriorating to rocks and bulldust as you near Tobermorey, 213 km from Jervois Homestead. The road north to Urandangi and thence to Mount Isa bears left just before Tobermorey.
As at other Northern Territory / Queensland border crossings, the road becomes a goat track east of the border into Queensland. Travellers should be aware of deep potholes and bulldust. It is 242 km from Tobermorey to Boulia and good camping may be found at the Georgina River, at about the 125 km mark.
Fuel and food may be obtained at Gemtree, Atitjere community, Jervois Homestead and Boulia. As of June 2009, fuel and camping is no longer available at Tobermorey. Travellers should note that the Donohue Highway is not suitable for ordinary caravans and that road train
Road train
A road train or roadtrain is a trucking concept used in remote areas of Argentina, Australia, Mexico, the United States and Canada to move freight efficiently. The term "road train" is most often used in Australia. In the U.S. and Canada the terms "triples," "turnpike doubles" and "Rocky Mountain...
s up to 53 metres in length use both highways.
See also
- Highways in AustraliaHighways in AustraliaThis is a list of highways in Australia, listed alphabetically along with each highway's route number and location. Note that some highways service more than one state or territory.-Route numbering systems:...
- List of highways in the Northern Territory