The 2016 Raid has now finished, so you missed all the fun, but here are a few videos, courtesy of Janina Loos. You can also browse a few photos here.
Route and timeline
The raid commences on Monday August 1 from Gap View Caravan Park , 123 Gap Road, Alice Springs.
There will be a welcome dinner at the Gap View Hotel on the evening of July 31 and your committee will be in residence some days before the start.
Some participants may wish to visit Uluru en route to Alice Springs or take a tour in the days before the commencement of the raid.
| Day 1: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Approx. 306 km to a Bush Camp near Yuendumu. | Allow 5 hours & bring enough food for 3 days, 30 litres of extra fuel & 20 litres of water. Fuel is available en route at Tilmouth Roadhouse after 197 km. There is a sports weekend for the first weekend in August at Yuendumu and it may be interesting to see how the locals entertain themselves. | |
| Day 2: | ||
| Approx. 318 km to a Bush Camp near Rabbit Flat. | Be prepared for at least 150 km of horrific corrugations. Allow 5 hours. Camp site co-ordinates were recorded on the survey (S 20 deg 9 min 10sec, E 129 deg 52 min 6 sec) |
|
| Day 3: | ||
| Approx. 303 km to a Bush Camp. | Refuel at Lajimanu & collect firewood en route. | |
| Day 4: | ||
| Approx. 216 km to Top Springs Hotel. | Camp Sites will be prepaid & Cabin accommodation is available. An evening meal will be provided. Allow 4 hours. | |
| Day 5: | ||
| Approx. 202 km to Riverview Tourist Village, 440 Victoria Highway, Katherine. | Camp sites will be pre-paid and Hot Springs are 5 minutes walk from the back of the Park. The Barra Cafe is adjacent. Allow 3 hours. | |
| Days 6 to 12: | ||
| Individual excursions to the many destinations accessible from Katherine. | These could include a round trip via Adelaide River to Darwin, returning via Jabiru and visiting the many falls and gorges of Kakadu National Park. Nitmuluk National Park is home to Katherine Gorge which is another “must visit” while Flora River Nature Park is on the agenda depending upon the depth of the Creek Crossing. | |
| Day 13: | ||
| Approx. 294 km to Roper Bar | After stocking up for 3 days food plus excess fuel and water, off to Roper Bar where camp sites will be pre-paid and an evening meal provided. No alcohol may be taken past Roper Bar as we will travel to parts of Arnhem Land which are strictly “DRY”. Supplies may be left at Roper Bar and reclaimed on our return on day 21. More alcohol may be purchased at Nhulumbuy on day 17. | |
| Day 14: | ||
| Approx. 180 km to a Station on a Billabong about 8 km before Numbulwar. | Bush Camp. Allow 4 hours. | |
| Day 15: | ||
| Approx. 120 km to a camp on the Walker River. | Allow 4-5 hours. | |
| Day 16: | ||
| Approx. 130 km to a camp on the Wadjunga River. | Allow 5 hours. | |
| Day 17: | ||
| Approx. 285 km to The Walkabout Lodge in Nhulunbuy. | Allow 5-6 hours. Camp fees will be pre-paid. | |
| Day 18: | ||
| Rest Day in Nhulunbuy. | Evening meal provided. Shop for 2-3 days supplies including alcohol. | |
| Day 19: | ||
| Approx. 428 km to Baghetti Homelands | Allow 9-10 hours. | |
| Day 20: | ||
| Rest day in Baghetti. | ||
| Day 21: | ||
| Approx. 365 km to Mataranka Springs. | Allow 8 hours. Pre-paid camp. | |
| Day 22: | ||
| Rest day in Mataranka Springs. | Evening meal provided. | |
| Day 23: | ||
| Shop in Mataranka for 2-3 days provisions then, depart for Roper Bar. | Approx. 181km. Allow 3-4 hours. Pre-paid camp. Evening meal provided. Re-claim alcohol stowed on Day 13. | |
| Day 24: | ||
| Approx. 287 to Butterfly Springs. | Allow 5 hours. Swimming! | |
| Day 25: | ||
| Approx 82 km to Lorella Springs. | Pre-paid camping and evening meal provided. “Heli” adventures on offer. | Lorella Springs Station |
| Day 26: | ||
| Approx. 138km to Cape Crawford. | Pre-paid camping and evening meal provided. Allow 3 hours. | |
| Day 27: | ||
| Approx. 277 km to Daly Waters. | Allow 4 hours. Pre-paid camping and Bistro meals. | |
| Day 28: | ||
| Approx. 303 km to Banka Banka Station. | Allow 4 hours. Camp kitchen and bar. | |
| Day 29: | ||
| Approx 476km to Aileron. | Pre-paid camping. Allow 7 hours. | |
| Day 30: | ||
| Approx. 133 km to Alice Springs. | Return to Gap View. Farewell evening meal. | |
| Day 31: | ||
| Adieu. | So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye … | |