Canning Stock Route Adventure

Description

The Canning Stock Route is one of the world’s most isolated tracks – challenging 4wd travellers for adventure, preparation and self-sufficiency.

Part 2 of the montage of images showing our adventures on the Canning Stock Route – Well 33 to Savory Creek.

Since the early 1890s the pastoralists of the eastern Kimberley had been looking for an overland route to bring their cattle to the flourishing goldfields of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Their cattle were infested with tick and so were prevented from travelling through the west Kimberley to the port of Derby.

Finally, Alfred Canning was appointed to lead a survey party across the deserts from Wiluna to Halls Creek to explore the possibility of building a stock route. Their exploration was successful and in 1908 to 1910, the well-sinking expedition, also under the leadership of Canning, built 51 wells over 1700 kilometres of desert.

Today keen 4-wheel drive travellers follow the Canning’s route, tracing the history of the track, mastering the sand dunes of the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts and exploring the scenic beauty of the Breaden Hills, Lake Disappointment and Durba Springs.

This video shows a group of travellers, starting with their meeting at Wolfe Creek Crater, to their Canning Stock Route adventure across the Great Sandy Desert and the Gibson Desert of Western Australia. Most of the wells are included, as well as the grave sites, salt lakes, hills, rock formations and camping spots along the way.

The group also visited Desert Queen Baths, a beautiful oasis in Rudall River National Park.

Part 3 of the image montage of our adventures on the Canning Stock Route, showing Durba Hills to Wiluna.

There are only a few places to buy fuel and supplies on the 1700-kilometre Canning Stock Route. Apart from Billiluna, in the north, and Wiluna, in the south, at either end of the stock route, only Kunawaritji, near Well 33, and Parrngurr, on the Talawana Track (accessed from Well 23) supply to travellers. Fuel can be delivered in drums to Well 23 from Newman, but this must be arranged prior to travel.

Travellers on the Canning Stock Route must be well prepared and fully self-sufficient. At the end of the trip there is a wonderful feeling of triumph in a successful completion of one of the desert’s best adventures.

…’ I immensely enjoy your various trips. Many thanks for your wonderful productions and service’
Ron Jackson, Keilor East, Victoria

‘Another terrific adventure, and one that has me fired up to do a similar crossing in the not too distant future. Your ‘travellers’ all seem to have a terrific time, and it was another pleasure to watch, enjoy and  feel a part of.’
John Eller, Paxton, NSW

‘Once again you have excelled in producing the Canning Stock Route Video. It is always a pleasure watching your videos on 4WD  journeys.  No one does it better than you. No Prima Donnas hogging the camera, no gung ho driving, just an excellent presentation in how to make a 4wd travel video.’
Terry Everson, Cowra, NSW