Old Dunmarra to Buntine Highway (Tablelands Track)
Flat, silent, and genuinely consequential.
The Tablelands Track links the Stuart Highway near Dunmarra south through to the Buntine Highway, cutting across some of the most sparsely populated land in the Northern Territory. This isn’t a scenery-collector’s drive — it’s flat, arid red earth, termite mounds, and silence. What it delivers is genuine remoteness. You can cover 200km without seeing another vehicle. The track is largely a two-wheel-rut dirt road that becomes treacherous black-soil mud when it rains, and the Buchanan Highway junction is your main navigational checkpoint heading west.
This one demands self-sufficiency above almost anything else in Australia. You need a minimum of 600km fuel range, a high-frequency (HF) radio or satellite communicator, full recovery gear, and enough water for 5+ days in case of breakdown. Mobile signal is completely absent. It’s rated difficult not because of technical obstacles but because of the consequence of failure this far from help. Best driven May to August in the dry season. No permits required on the public track portion, though station properties flank it — stay on the road. What you earn: one of the most authentically remote overland experiences on the continent.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 186 mi / 300 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1050 ft |
| Best season | May-August |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance with long-range fuel |
| Nearest town | Dunmarra, 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 Government remote road conditions |
| 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
What's the minimum vehicle setup to attempt the Tablelands Track?
A 4WD with high clearance, a long-range fuel tank or dual-tank setup, and at minimum one full-size spare — ideally two. A stock Hilux or Land Cruiser is fine mechanically, but without serious fuel range and recovery gear you shouldn't be out here.
When can you actually drive this track, and what closes it?
May through August is the reliable window — the dry season. The wet season (November–April) turns the clay and dirt sections into impassable mud, and tracks like this can be closed for weeks or months without much warning. Check NT Government remote road conditions before you leave.
Do you need a permit to drive the Tablelands Track?
No permit required for the track itself, but portions may cross or border Aboriginal land — check current land access requirements before you go, as this can change. No entry fee applies to the track.
What's the hardest part of this trail and what makes it consequential?
It's not one brutal obstacle — it's 300km of isolation with zero cell service, no fuel, no help, and corrugations that will shake your vehicle to pieces if you push speed. A mechanical failure or a tyre situation here means you're relying entirely on what you brought. That's what makes it difficult.
How do I handle fuel for a 300km stretch with no services?
Dunmarra Roadhouse is your last fuel before you head in — confirm it's open before you arrive, as outback stops can close without notice. You need a minimum 400km range to cover the track plus buffer; carry jerry cans if your setup doesn't hit that number.
Trail track
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