Broken Hill ,Tibooburra, Camerons Corner, Bourke

[thevwbug]

Hi Vanners,

Has any one taken there T5 up from Broken Hill to Tibooburra then out to Camerons Corner.

Then from Tibooburra back to Bourke via Wanaaring.

Is my 2wd Multi up to the challenge if the roads a open

The Bug

[njg02]

A couple of years ago we went to Lake Mungo via Hay and Balranald in our 2wd transporter. They had rain for the first time in quite some time and it was quite boggy. We were travelling with some 4wds but we had no issues. It handled the sticky stuff well to my surprise. The electronic anti wheel spin thingy was flashing heaps. You just have to keep momentum, and only once we went down to first gear in deeper sticky stuff. Your auto should be much better at holding revs where you want. It sounds like a nice trip.

[Seano]

The simple answer is NO.....your Multi is probably not up to the job of getting from Tibooburra to Bourke via Wanaaring. It will get everywhere else on your trip but it probably won't manage that without risking damage/getting stuck or just being a really bloody interesting trip.

The road between Tib and Wan is typically better then the Wanaaring Road simply because there's usually less traffic but it is very sandy in places and at the moment it subject to many detours due to flooding in the Bullo overflow. And these detours are not well formed...

The Wanaaring Road itself can be angel or a devil and you were never sure what you were going to get. I've had some great drives on it but I've also had some shockers (50 plus km of undefeatable corrogations, bulldust holes that swallow 4x4s, washouts, deep sand....). All whilst the road is declared 'open'. And you just never knew what you are going to get until you get there..

My suggestion is to go to Tib but when you are ready to head towards Bourke, do the following....ask around in Tib about the road to Wanaaring; ring Wanaaring Pub or Police and ask about the road to Bourke; ring Bourke Shire and/or Police and ask them about the road condition to Wanaaring - and at all times tell them what your are driving (if they don't understand what a T5 Multivan then tell them it's like a Hiace)....then base your final decision on that advice. But your default position is...probably not.

I've taken my T4 out around Mungo a few times now and the Arumpo Road is a doddle by comparison to the Wanaaring Road. The road in from Balranald is even often less tough (due to a smaller traffic burden) than the Arumpo Road from Mildura.

Personally, I would attempt the Wanaaring Road in my T4 if I had to but only after doing the local research first - that makes it unique for me as a road in NSW.

[thevwbug]

Thanks Guys for your info, good food for thought.

the bug