Murranji Track
Old droving country across the Murranji Waterhole.
In 1886 drover Nat Buchanan pushed cattle across a waterless stretch of Northern Territory scrub to cut weeks off the trip to the Kimberley and Top End. That dry run became the Murranji Track, and drovers called it a stock-killer. Today the track runs from Newcastle Waters, off the Stuart Highway, northwest through mulga and spinifex flats to the Murranji Waterhole, then on toward Top Springs and the Buchanan Highway. You drive past old stock yards and dry creek beds, and the corrugations here are brutal. Bulldust holes catch drivers who get complacent, and road trains share the narrow track.
It’s a Moderate drive in the dry season and a bad idea in the wet. Heavy rain turns the black soil to glue and shuts the road. A high-clearance 4WD with good tires and a couple of full-size spares is the minimum. Fuel is your real constraint. Carry enough for the whole run plus a margin, because the nearest reliable stops are Daly Waters, Elliott, and Top Springs. There’s no cell service, so bring a sat phone or a comms plan and plenty of water. Camp at the waterhole or pick a bush spot well off the road. Go in May through September and you get a stretch of the old droving country with almost nobody else on it. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote |
| Length (miles) | 150 mi / 241.4 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 800 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with long-range fuel capacity |
| Nearest town | Elliott, Northern Territory |
| Land manager | Northern Territory Government and pastoral lease holders |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Verified | |
| 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Land Cruiser do the Murranji Track?
Yes, in dry conditions. A stock high-clearance 4WD handles it fine if it has good all-terrain tires and enough fuel range for 241 km of remote dirt. The real limits are corrugations, bulldust and fuel, not technical obstacles.
Is the Murranji Track open in the wet season?
Treat it as closed from roughly November through April. Rain turns the black soil sections to greasy clay and creeks run, so the track becomes impassable and you can be stranded for days. May to September is the reliable window.
Do I need a permit to drive the Murranji Track?
Check with the Northern Territory Government and the pastoral lease holders before you go, since the track crosses working cattle country. Stay on the formed track, leave gates as you found them, and get station permission before camping on lease land.
What's the hardest part of the Murranji Track?
Mostly the surface, not any one obstacle. Expect washboard, bulldust holes, and soft or boggy black soil near the waterhole country, especially if there's been any rain. It rates Moderate, and the difficulty jumps sharply when it's wet.
Do I need to carry extra fuel and communications for the Murranji Track?
Yes to both. The track is about 150 miles (241 km) with no services and no cell coverage, with Elliott as the nearest town. Carry spare fuel beyond your normal range, plenty of water, recovery gear, and a satellite messenger or UHF, and tell someone your route and timing.
Trail track
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