Old Dunmarra Track (Plenty Highway)
Pure outback isolation across the Red Centre.
The Plenty Highway runs east-west across Australia’s Red Centre from Boulia in Queensland to the Stuart Highway north of Alice Springs — one of the most remote sealed and unsealed routes on the continent. The unsealed sections between Alice Springs and Boulia can stretch corrugated, bulldust-filled, and rutted for hundreds of kilometres with virtually no services. The Harts Range and the rolling mulga country east of Alice demand a focused driver. You won’t find many other vehicles out here; the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) knows this road for a reason.
This is genuine remote travel — treat it like an expedition, not a weekend run. Carry a minimum of 200 litres of fuel if your vehicle can manage it; the gap between Gemtree and Boulia is punishing. Water, sat comms, and two full-size spares are non-negotiable. Best travelled May through August when temperatures are survivable and flash flooding risk drops. The Northern Territory and Queensland outback reward those who prepare properly with absolute solitude, extraordinary night skies, and landscapes that most Australians never see. It’s not glamorous — it’s real.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 460 mi / 740 km |
| Duration | 5-7 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2100 ft |
| Best season | May-August |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD with long-range fuel and recovery gear |
| Nearest town | Alice Springs, Northern Territory |
| Land manager | NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | NT Government — Plenty Highway |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Land Cruiser or Patrol handle the Old Dunmarra Track, or does it need a lift?
A stock 4WD with decent ground clearance handles most of it, but corrugations, deep sand patches, and rocky creek crossings favor at least a mild suspension lift and all-terrain tires. The trail punishes low-profile tires and anything without solid underbody protection — bash plates are not optional out here.
When is the Plenty Highway actually driveable and what happens if you go at the wrong time?
May through August is the window — dry season, manageable temps, firm enough surfaces. Go in the wet season (November–March) and you risk flood closures, impassable creek crossings, and getting bogged in red clay with no one coming to help for days.
Do you need a permit to drive the Old Dunmarra Track or camp along it?
No permit required for the highway itself, but sections cross or border Aboriginal land — stay on the formed road and don't enter without the appropriate land access permit if you're detouring. The NT Government remote road page has current status and any access advisories.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what actually makes it dangerous?
The toughest stretches are the deep sand and corrugated bulldust sections mid-route, particularly around the Harts Range area and beyond — corrugations can shake your rig apart and loosen every bolt you forgot to check. The real danger isn't one gnarly obstacle, it's cumulative mechanical punishment over 740km with zero services and no cell coverage if something breaks.
How much fuel do you actually need, and is there anywhere to resupply along the route?
Fuel stops are extremely limited and unreliable — carry a minimum 500km range, and ideally closer to 700km worth, with jerry cans. Don't count on remote roadhouses being open or stocked; treat anything out there as a bonus, not a plan.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.