Canning Stock Route - Halls Creek
Direct Phone Number : (08) 9168 6262
Return to Halls Creek
The Canning Stock Route was created by Albert Canning for Kimberley cattlemen to take their stock to the southern markets. Canning conducted a full survey from 1906 to 1907. He returned with a team in 1908 to sink the 51 wells along the 1850 kilometres between Halls Creek and Wiluna.
A reconstruction team, lead by William Snell refurbished all the wells in 1929.
The first complete traverse of the Canning Stock Route by motor vehicle was achieved in the 1970s. With the establishment of the fuel dump in the 1980s, travellers intrigued by the heritage and the overland adventure began to travel the Canning Stock Route in greater numbers.
The Canning Stock Route is one of the most remote and isolated four wheel drive tracks in the world and travellers should be extremely well prepared before undertaking this trek.
Preparing for the journey: The distance from Wiluna to Halls Creek is 2013 kilometres, but you will no doubt exceed that distance, particularly if you wish to visit each well, or perhaps you may need to back track on occasions to ascertain that you are on the correct route.
Best time to visit: June to September - Access is totally weather dependant.
Permits: All vehicles, whether private or in commercial tours, are required to hold permits. Travellers should note that even with a permit, access is restricted to several sites, some located within the Canning Stock Route reserve.
Permission is required to pass through the lands of the Gregory Lakes Community and Balgo Hills Community. Permits are available through the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority, 17 Emerald Terrace, West Perth 6005. Telephone 08 9322 7044. and the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council (ANFWDC) through their website www.anfwdc.asn.au.
Fuel: Wiluna, Kunawarritju Community (Well 33), Billiuna Community and Halls Creek. A Fuel Drop (200L drums) at Well 23 can also be coordinated by contacting the Capricorn Roadhouse, Newman, Telephone 08 9175 1535.
Fuel Required: 4cyl Diesel 200litres, 6cyl Diesel 382litres, 8cyl Diesel 363litres, 4cyl ULP 114litres, 6cyl ULP 395litres - fuel used based on data stored in TrekFuel
Supplies/Facilities: Wiluna, Kunawarritju Community (Well 33), Billiuna Community and Halls Creek.
Restrictions: Strictly no trailers or wide-track vehicles can be taken on the section of track between
Wells 2 to 5. In this case you must take the alternative route via GlenAyle or Granite Peak stations.
Warning: Extensive outback travel experience is required in conjunction with a very reliable and capable vehicle that has been specifically prepared for remote, long distance desert travel. Spares parts should be taken of all critical components. There are no repair facilities or habitation of any kind between Glenayle and Balgo, therefore you are entirely on your own. The station people do not have the staff or equipment to extricate people from the stock route, who find themselves in trouble.
Safety: There is a general absence of emergency support and for this reason you need to take a wide variety of emergency medications, equipment and communication devices as well have at least one person in your travel party capable of administering first aid.
All travellers should be aware of the hazards that could be encountered with lack of fresh water being the most obvious with the risk of dehydration occuring.
Medical emergencies can occur. There is one airstrip near the track at Well 33. Other airstrips are located at each pastoral lease to the south and at Cotton Creek and Billiluna community in the far north near the Tanami Track.
Communications: Take at least an UHF radio plus either an EPIRB, Satellite Phone or HF radio with RFDS frequencies.
Drinking Water and Use of Wells: Drinking water is generally available from Wells 6, 12, 15, Georgia Bore, Well 26, tank at 33 & Well 49. Well water quality is poor at many wells and you will need to be able to take on large amounts (100L plus) at wells where water is good. You will also need to take a strong bucket plus a length of rope of approximately 20 metres to draw water up from most wells.
Camp Sites: Most travellers tend to stop overnight at the sites of wells for convenience and ease of navigation. Please do not to enter restricted areas or impact upon the environment unnecessarily.
Encountered screens and fire precautions: One of the major problems likely to be encountered is fires or overheating of the engine caused through Spinifex. This can occur when Spinifex husks are drawn into the engine or cover the radiator grill or when the vehicle has stopped and the Spinifex under the exhaust ignites.
Conditions and terrain: Once out of the pastoral areas, there is no road but simply wheel tracks which have formed over the last few years. Sand ridges run from east to west while the stock route runs across the grain of the country, so there is no avoiding the dunes.
Temperatures: During the travelling season from April to September inclusive, day time temperatures are pleasantly mild, but at sundown a rapid change takes place and zero and sub zero temperatures will be experienced most nights.
Maps: Maps likely to be of most value are the geological 1:250,000 series, produced by mines department or 1:250,000 series military maps produced by the Lands Department, Cathedral Avenue, Perth. Telephone 08 9323 1222.
It may also be useful to obtain the 1:250,000 Geodetic benchmark overlays. These will pinpoint the exact location of benchmarks on the Mines or Land Department's Maps, so that when you locate a benchmark, you will know exactly where you are. There are numerous benchmarks located along the track and they have been tagged with red marker tape. The Geodetic Branch of Lands Department is located at 8 Parliament Place, West Perth. Telephone (09) 323 1228.
