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Home > What's news on the travel scene in Australia > Archive 23
 
South Australia - Most roads now OPEN
Yunta to Tea Tree and Balcanoona to Blinman roads are now OPEN to all vehicles
 
Roxby Downs to Bopeechee (Borefield Road) nowOPEN to all vehicles
 
The Birdsville Inside Track remains CLOSED
 
Cordillo Downs Road - Innamincka to Arrabury turn off remains OPEN with caution for 4WD and heavy vehicles only
 
Mount Barry to San Marino is now OPEN to all vehicles
 
Updated 3rd August 2016
Road cautions in Victoria due to snow and ice
Cautions on a number of roads including the Western Freeway (M8) from Ballarat-Burrumbeet Road, Warrenheip to Mortons Road, Pentland Hills due to ice and snow over all lanes of the Western Fwy.
 
28th July 2016
 
With widespread reports off snow falls across eastern and southern Victoria, exercise caution on affected roads.
 
13th July 2016
Western Australia, South West Vasse Highway RE-OPENED late afternoon 21st July 2016

Vasse Highway between Busselton and Nannup was CLOSED from Sues Road to Mowen Road to repair road surface damage from 19th July. 

 

A single lane (with lights) between Jarrahwood Road intersection and Cundinup West Road intersection has a speed limit of 40 kph 22nd July 2016.

 

Current at 28th July 2016

More rain in Western New South Wales
With rain 1st August, most unsealed roads, including almost all roads north from Broken Hill, were closed, but as at 3rd August roads north of Broken Hill have been re-opened.  Exercise caution on these and other unsealed roads following rain.  
 
Road in the shires still have closures or cautions (report superceded).
 
There is also a storm and possible flooding warning for the mid north coast
 
Updated 3rd August 2016
ROAD CLOSURES IN PERTH ON SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2016 FOR THIS EVENT Are you a cycling enthusiast?  As a spectator or competitor? 
A world class event in Perth.   The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships is an international celebration of the sport of competitive cycling where amateurs and professionals alike compete to be crowned the World Champion and receive the coveted rainbow jersey. Perth, Western Australia is thrilled to be the 2016 Gran Fondo World Championships Host City and can't wait to welcome cyclists from across the globe who will race our world-class courses on both the 1st and 4th September 2016.  There will be road closures during this event. 
 
Updated 3rd September  2016
Carnarvon Gorge Queensland OPEN
Ward's Canyon will be closed from the 9th of August until the 17th of August for essential track upgrade works.
 
Carnarvon Gorge section has been re-opened following closure due to rising levels of the Carnarvon Creek following recent rain.  The Great Walk was also closed due to access.
 
The new and expanded visitor centre is open from 7th July 2016.  New signs have been added at a number of features. 
 
Carnarvon Gorge was one of the most outstanding places we visited in Queensland, but to walk the gorge and see all the features is quite a long walk.   There are shorter walks as well.  See these all in our Travelogues.
 
Updated 28th July 2016
The latest from Litchfield National Park
Sandy Creek (Tjaynera) Falls campground has OPENED 12th August 2016 with campground upgraded. 
 
The Reynolds River Track is now OPEN for high clearance 4WD as of 18th July 2016.  Surprise Creek Falls and campground are now OPEN.  Surprise Creek can be accessed from the north via The Reynolds River Track from the Lithcfield Park Road, or from the south via The Reynolds River Track from the Daly River Road. 
 
Updated 12th August 2016
 
Warrumbungle National Park in west-central New South Wales has been designated Australia’s first IDA International Dark Sky Park, recognising and protecting its key role in Australian astronomical research.
Warrumbungle National Park joins other international parks such as Death Valley National Park in the United States and Galloway Forest Park in Scotland as officially designated Dark Sky Parks.
 
The International Dark-Sky Association works to protect the night skies for present and future generations.
 
Warrumbungle National Park in west-central New South Wales has been designated Australia’s first IDA International Dark Sky Park, recognizing and protecting its key role in Australian astronomical research.
 
Warrumbungle’s new status as a Dark Sky Park is a monumental achievement for the National Park, and a hopeful sign for the future protection of dark skies in Australia,” IDA Executive Director J. Scott Feierabend said. 

Australia may soon have another Dark Sky Park, with Karijini in the Western Australian Pilbara being favoured for it's natural enrionment and low key camping and accommodation options.  With minimal artificial lighting, Karijini may be the first of other Western Australian National Parks to be recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association.
2nd August 2016
 
 

Northern Territory fire bans

A Total Fire Ban is current for; Darwin and Adelaide River Fire Weather Forecast Area Northern Fire Protection Zone, Daly South Fire District and the Katherine Fire Protection Zone.  This includes the Darwin, Batchelor, Adelaide River, Pine Creek and Katherine Emergency Response Areas, the Litchfield Municipality and Coomalie Shire.

 

During a Total Fire Ban no person shall light a fire or cause a fire to be lit in the open in the portion of the Northern Territory within the fire ban areas. The Fire Ban is valid from midnight to midnight.

 

Updated 16th August 2016

Purnululu National Park OPENS following a bushfire.
NOW OPEN Purnululu National Park was CLOSED 11th August 2016, until further notice due to a bushfire.  Purnululu National Park and the Spring Creek access track remain CLOSED on 19th August 2016 but DPaW hope to have the park open within a few days.
 
With a number of fires along the Great Northern Highway and Gibb River Road CAUTION is required due to smoke and emergency service vehicles.  Lennard Gorge was closed due to fire risk and reopened 20th August 2016. 
 
ALL CLEAR  The Great Northern Highway has been kept open with EXTREME CAUTION. Anyone in rest areas between Warmun and Halls Creek are asked to leave the area.
 
ALL CLEAR by afternoon 15th August 2016.  A separate fire burning four kilometres of Halls Creek has seen a short term closure of the Great Northern  Highway.  There is a lot of smoke in the area as well as movement of firefighting vehicles.  Please avoid non essential travel in the area.   
Updated 20th August 2016.
POSITION FILLED.  Looking for a base in Queensland?   This position could be the one.
Caretakers Wanted THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED
 
Seeking retired/active couple for central Queensland property close to Blackall. This cattle and sheep property covers 40,000 acres.  It is currently running minimal stock due to the drought and numbers are expected to increase with the prospect of improved seasonal conditions.
 
The role centres on checking waters, monitoring the stock and checking fences and some gardening/lawn mowing etc.  Some mechanical experience will be well regarded for basic repairs such as, changing oils, filters, plugging tyres and repairing poly water pipes and similar.
 
The role comes with a furnished air-conditioned cottage, power, water and TV and a small wage commiserate with experience and agreed tasks. An internet connection is available but a download plan is for the applicants cost.  Eggs are supplied and some meat when stock is slaughtered.  There is a Mazda work vehicle supplied with limited private usage.  There is room for a veggie garden for applicants with green fingers.
 
The role would suit an active retiree couple with some background in farming, station, stock work or other relevant experience.   Applicants are required to have a current driving license.  Only couples that can commit to a minimum six month contract can be considered – preferable longer.
 
Applicants should initially respond with a comprehensive resume/CV outlining their previous work history and skills to:
 
John Mack
themacks1@bigpond.com.  Mob 0429 679 671
POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED 6th September 2016
Rain has again closed the outback unsealed roads in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. 
Birdsville Races may have a small audience this year due to these road closures.
 
The latest from Bridsville is that due to rain and the state of the track, races scheduled for Friday 2nd September 2016 have been transferred to Sunday 4th September. Saturday Races including the Birdsville Cup are currently proceeding as scheduled.  Those already there camped in a huge mud puddle have serious doubts. 
 
1st September 2016
 
The Outback Way - Australia's longest short cut  - sections to be sealed
The Northern Territory government has promised funding for the Outback Way within the territory, with $28 Million through the Northern Australia Infrastructure fund and a further $100M election commitment for sealing priority sections of the Outback Way. With more than $200million allocated to the Outback Way until 2018 serious sealing of up to 400 kilometres is underway, and equates to the majority of the unsealed Plenty Highway.    
 
The Outback Way encompasses the Great Central Road from Laverton Western Australia, through to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory, then using sealed roads until the mostly unsealed Plenty Highway leaves the Stuart Highway to Gemtree, into Queensland where it becomes the Donohue Highway to Boulia
 
24th August 2016
SUPERCEDED, NOW CLOSED: Garnamarr campground (near Jim Jim Falls access track) and Jim Jim Falls are now accessible again, including the Barrk Marlam walk, Jim Jim day use area and Budjmi Lookout walk. NO SWIMMING due to crocodile risk.   With more rain forecast, be aware that the track may close again. 
 
Due to rain access to Twin Falls has been CLOSED.  Jim Jim Falls has also been CLOSED.
 
Anbangbang Billabong walk has been RE-OPENED 2nd September 2016.  13th SeptemberNawurlandja Lookout has been re-opened.
 
Due to extensive fire damage, Nawurlandja Lookout and Anbangbang Billabong will remain closed until further notice.  These are near Nourlangie.
 
Bardedjilidji and the Sandstone River walking tracks atUbirr have been RE-OPENED following feral animal control.