Old Dunmarra to Tablelands Track (Barkly Tablelands)
Flat, remote, and ruthlessly honest.
The Barkly Tablelands track network connecting Dunmarra toward the Queensland border is the kind of driving that either humbles you or bores you — until something breaks. The Mitchell Grass plains stretch so flat you can watch a dust storm build from 50 kilometres out. There are no tourists, no phone signal, and no one coming to help. Key waypoints include the Renner Springs roadhouse (last real fuel before the void), river crossings on the Barkly floodplain that can swallow a vehicle after unseasonal rain, and station gates you’re expected to leave exactly as you found them. The scale out here is genuinely hard to explain to someone who hasn’t driven it.
This is not a technical trail — it’s a logistics challenge. Stock up on fuel at Renner Springs, carry redundant water (5L per person per day minimum), and file a trip plan with someone who’ll call NT Police if you’re overdue. A well-maintained high-clearance 4WD with recovery gear and a UHF/HF radio or satellite communicator is non-negotiable. Best driven May through August before the heat peaks. The reward is solitude on a biblical scale, cattle station hospitality, and a genuine sense you’ve driven somewhere most people will never bother to go.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote |
| Length (miles) | 280 mi / 450 km |
| Duration | 2-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1150 ft |
| Best season | May-August |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with recovery gear |
| Nearest town | Renner Springs, Northern Territory |
| Land manager | Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | NT Gov – Remote Outback Driving |
| 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 LandCruiser 200 Series handle this track without modifications?
Yes, a stock 200 Series with high clearance is fine for the track itself. The real requirement is carrying enough fuel, water, and recovery gear — the terrain won't punish you, but being underprepared out here will.
When is this track open and what happens if you try it in the wet season?
May through August is the window — the dry season. The Wet (November–April) turns the black soil plains into impassable bog that swallows vehicles. Station owners close access and the NT Government advises against all remote travel during this period.
Do you need a permit to drive through station country on this route?
Parts of this track cross private pastoral leases, so you need to contact relevant station owners before you go. The NT Government's remote outback driving resources list the contacts. Don't assume open country means open access.
What's the hardest part of this track and what actually makes it difficult?
There are no technical obstacles — no rock crawling, no steep descents. The difficulty is the isolation and the corrugations. If you break down or puncture multiple tyres 200km from the nearest town with no cell service, that's your hard section.
How much fuel do you need to carry, and where can you refuel along the 450km route?
Renner Springs at the northern end has fuel, and Barkly Homestead roughly mid-route is your only reliable stop — call ahead to confirm availability before departure. Carry a minimum 50-litre spare on top of a full tank; do not run the math tight on this one.
Trail track
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