A travel plan for a 14 day Alice Springs to Darwin via the
Binns Track Australia
A travel plan for a 14 day Alice Springs to Darwin via the Binns
Track Australia
Note: See after Day 10 another 4 days allowed Alice Springs to Mt
Dare and Timber Creek to Darwin
Access: 4WD - 4X4 - Four Wheel Drive (Seasonal
access only)
Start: From Mt Dare
Lenght of Track: 2191km
Finish: Timber Creek
Highlights: Mount Dare, Finke River, Mac Clark
Conservation Reserve, N�Dhala Gorge, Arltunga Historical Reserve,
Pinnacles Track, Davenport Ranges, Territory�s �heart of gold�, Tennant
Creek, Devils Marbles, Aboriginal musicians at Winanjjikari Music
Centre, Threeways Roadhouse, Lake Mary Ann, Dunmarra, Humbert River
Track, Bullita Homestead, Drover's Memorial Park, Timber Creek, Gregory's
Tree on the banks of the Victoria River,
Take an epic journey on the Northern Territory�s newest
four-wheel drive route, the Binns Track. Journey through the many
guises of the Northern Territory � from sandy dunes eight metres
high to seas of rolling, grassy plains that flow as far as the eye
can see. The track covers 2191km and winds through many of the NT�s
lesser-known nature reserves and National Parks.
Day 1: Mt Dare to Alice Springs
Watch sunrise at Mount Dare in South Australia and set
off early for the 421 kms journey along Old Andado Track to Alice
Springs in the Northern Territory. Flanking the western fringe of
the Simpson Desert, the track passes sand ridges five to eight metres
high and meanders through the Finke River flood-out. Enjoy a picnic
lunch at Molly Clark�s Old Andado Homestead and unwind in its old-world
charm. Then, travel a further 40 kms to the Mac Clark Conservation
Reserve and explore its acres of rare Acacia Peuce trees, found
in only two other locations in the world. Continue your journey
northbound via Santa Teresa, an Aboriginal community renowned for
its vibrant artworks. By appointment only, from Monday to Thursday,
you can watch artists tell their stories on canvas. Drive to Anzac
Hill in Alice Springs and watch the sun descend beyond the MacDonnell
Ranges. Camp, backpack or stay overnight in the town�s many accommodation
options.
Day 2: Alice Springs to Ruby Gap
Drive to N�Dhala Gorge via Numery Road, where more than
6000 ancient rock carvings, known as petroglyphs, trace the Arrente
Aboriginal history of the land. The 97 kms route crosses the Ross
River several times and is impassable after heavy rain. Then, relive
the heyday of Central Australia�s 1980s gold rush fever at Arltunga
Historical Reserve. Located 51 kms from the gorge, here you can
explore the mine ruins, pan for gold and cook a barbeque lunch.
Camp overnight at the Arltunga Bush Hotel or drive east to Ruby
Gap Nature Park and camp on the banks of the Hale River. Although
just 38 kms from Arltunga, the drive is slow going and may take
up to 2.5 hours.
Day 3: Ruby Gap to Gemtree
The adventure picks up pace along the Pinnacles Track,
which connects Gardens Road to the Plenty Highway and offers breathtaking
views of the rugged Harts Ranges. Travel 6 kms west along the highway
to Gemtree Caravan Park � your campsite for the evening � and fossick
for semi-precious stones in the creek beds of Gemtree and Mud Tank.
Here, garnets and zircons are usually found only a few centimetres
below the surface. This is a 95 kms drive from Arltunga Historical
Reserve.
Day 4: Gemtree to Davenport Ranges
This section of the track is predominantly off-road and
travels through several outback cattle stations to link to the Davenport
Ranges � the boundary between the traditional lands of the Warumungu,
Alyawarre and Kaytetye Aboriginal people. Wake early and drive 94
kms east along the Plenty Highway. Gemtree to Davenport Ranges This
section of the track is predominantly off-road and travels through
several outback cattle stations to link to the Davenport Ranges
� the boundary between the traditional lands of the Warumungu, Alyawarre
and Kaytetye Aboriginal people. Wake early and drive 94 kms east
along the Plenty Highway. Here, the track travels along 100 kms
of station farm roads, which surround the Ampilatwatji and Elkedra
communities. The Binns Track intersects the Davenport Murchinson
Road 14 kms south east of Murray Downs in the Davenport Ranges.
Drive north to Old Police Station Waterhole via Hatches Creek and
the Frew River Loop, an alternative to the main access road. Here,
the track travels along 100 kms of station farm roads, which surround
the Ampilatwatji and Elkedra communities. The Binns Track intersects
the Davenport Murchinson Road 14 kms south east of Murray Downs
in the Davenport Ranges. Drive north to Old Police Station Waterhole
via Hatches Creek and the Frew River Loop, an alternative to the
main access road.
Day 5: Davenport Ranges to Devils Marbles
Explore the quiet and understated beauty of the Davenports on one
of the many walking tracks within the park. Then, load the four-wheel-
drive and continue along the Frew River Loop to the main access
road. This is a 9 kms journey that will take one hour to complete.
Follow the main access road to Epenarra and drive 81 kms west to
Whistleduck Creek. Like Old Police Station Waterhole, this is an
ideal place to relax. After your vigour is restored, the track continues
90 kms west to incept the Stuart Highway just north of the Devils
Marbles. Drive south to this cultural wonder and explore the precariously
placed boulders that sit atop one another. Later, set up camp at
the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve and watch the sun set behind
these massive terracotta icons.
Day 6: Devils Marbles to Tennant Creek
Keen photographers should wake early to capture the marbles
illuminated in soft beams of honey-coloured light. After, drive
approximately 90 kms north to the Territory�s �heart of gold�, Tennant
Creek. Strike a beat with local Aboriginal musicians at Winanjjikari
Music Centre. Spearheaded by Jeff O�Laughlin, who has previously
worked with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Corrs, visitors are
encouraged to join a jam. The centre is open Monday to Thursday,
8-12am. In the afternoon, visit Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre
to learn more about the Warumungu peoples� connection to the land.
Immerse yourself in their story and vibrant artwork, before enjoying
a barbeque lunch and cool swim at Lake Mary Ann. Choose to camp,
backpack or stay overnight in accommodation within the town.
Day 7: Tennant Creek to Dunmarra
Set off early for an underground experience at the Battery
Hill Mining Centre � a tribute to Tennant Creek�s gold rush era.
Pan for gold and explore various artefacts from the 1930s. Then,
drive to the Pink Palace on the northern fringe of town and watch
the Julalikari women paint their stories onto canvas.
Enjoy a cold drink and bite to eat at the family run Threeways Roadhouse,
located 25 kms north of Tennant Creek on the Stuart Highway. Continue
your journey north to Newcastle Waters, 255 kms from Threeways.
Now a deserted ghost town, after rain it�s inhabited by large flocks
of water birds.
Travellers can stretch their legs and explore the remains of the
1960s Junction Hotel, museum and the Drover's Memorial Park. Travel
a further 78 kms north to Dunmarra and pull in to the Wayside Inn
- your campsite for the evening. On weekends during the dry season,
the Inn serves mouth-watering spit fire roasts for dinner and hosts
snake demonstrations.
Day 8: Dunmarra to Humbert River Track
Load the four-wheel-drive and set of on a 290 kms journey
to the Victoria River Downs � one of the largest cattle stations
in the Territory. Here, you can get your heart pumping on a scenic
chopper flight over Nitmiluk and Kakadu National Parks. Continue
55 kms west along the highway to the Humbert River Ranger Station
via Yarralin. Fuel and basic supplies are available at this small
Aboriginal community if required.
Lock the hubs and engage four-wheel-drive to tackle the Humbert
River Track at the entrance of Gregory National Park . Originally
a packhorse trail that connected Bullita Homestead to the Humbert
River, the track is slow going in sections with several river crossings
and jump-ups. Set up camp at the Top Humbert Yard site, just north
of the Wickham Track turnoff.
Day 9: Humbert River Track to Bullita Homestead
The northern section of the Humbert Track is jam packed
with more four-wheel driving thrills en route to Bullita Homestead.
Slow going in sections, it can take up to 4 hours to complete this
48 kms drive. Located on the banks of the East Baines River, the
quaint homestead is a reminder of Gregory National Park�s pastoral
history. Wander through the original timber stockyards - believed
to be one of the oldest in the Territory - and get lost in the stories
of yesteryear that don the homestead walls. Stay overnight at Bullita
Campground and enjoy a night of tall tales by a campfire.
Day 10: Bullita Homestead to Timber Creek
Make the most of your last day and wake early for an adventure
at Limestone Gorge � a picture perfect swimming hole engulfed by
soaring gorge walls. Explore the dolomite and crater formations
in the ravine and cool off, before driving north to Timber Creek,
located on the Victoria Highway. Once in town, enjoy a cold drink
and counter meal at one of the local pubs.
Later, visit Gregory's Tree on the banks of the Victoria River -
an old boab tree that is inscribed with the arrival and departure
dates of explorer Augustus Gregory and his party in 1855. Keen anglers
should wet their line in the Victoria River and prepare for a battle
against the almighty barramundi, while art lovers should visit the
rock art paintings at Joe Creek picnic area, east of Timber Creek
on the Victoria Highway. Camp or stay in accommodation overnight.
The 4 Extra days
Allow 2-3 days to get to Mount Dare from Alice Springs (14 h 15
min (526.6 km) via National Highway 87 and Finke Rd) (Ref:
Google)
Allow 1-2 days to get to from Timber Creek to Darwin (602 km.
time 6 hours 53 mins) (Ref: Google)
Binns Track from Mt Darwin to Timber Creek in Australia
- 4wd access | Credits Ranger Mr Binns and ParksAustralia
Northern Territory self drive travel information site
Kakdau
National Park , Litchfield
National Park , Katherine
Gorge,Tropical
Darwin