Road to Gove : Weather, Road Conditions & River Levels

Toby · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject: Road to Gove

Hi all, great site you have here.

I'm moving back to the Territory from Broome next month and we will be living in Gove for a bit.
Can anyone provide information on the dirt highway ie, best time to drive, boats and how wrecked it's going to get, crossings etc.

I have checked the NT website for road condition, but you can't beat the locals in the know.

I have a Nissan Navara D40 (With Winch) and a 2009 Bluefin Predator with a 60 on back.
I have full travel covers so i'm not worried about the boat.

I am also going to leave it in Darwin until the best time to get it in is available.

Any help would be great
Thanks
Toby

cuddlescooper · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

There are two ways of driving there. One is via the arnhem highway and across the East alligator river. At the moment that is impassable.

The second is via the central arnhem highway. I also believe that it is still impassible due to the Goyder River but I could be wrong.

That road is generally fairly corrigated and has big sand pits in it in spots but if you time it right when they first open it it may well be graded. Generally the first 200km of dirt after beswick and Berrunga is the worst due to the staions and indiginous traffic there.I personally would check the cost of barging it across as the road can destroy gear at times and the cost of fuel through there is bull shiit so could be worth doing the sums and comparing the costs. Take in mind the risk of blowing tyres and all which is fairly common on that trip. There will be at least 5 creek crossings that have water all year so not sure how deep they are now but something to look for on the trek if you do decide to do it. :cheers:

Can be a very scenic drive other wise but due to the laws we arent allowed to camp any where along the road due to it all being aboriginal land.

Toby · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Thanks Jedi, sounds like i have some thinking to do :bonk:

The barge is about 5k for the two and apparently gear gets damaged regulary on it and the people don't repair or pay out. My first choice is barge but i'm worried. I'd ke the fin and navra to stay in one peice if possible

Cheers mate and keep the help coming

Brent Matthews · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 9:53 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Last year at the end of June the Goyder was only just passable, good luck.

Till · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

If you can wait till august/september you will be able to drive in but we have had too much rain this year that the goyder will still be too high. We could drive out in june last year but I wouldn't attempt it in a Narva. The track is usually pretty rough so make sure you have a couple of spare tyres, trailer springs and bearings. As with camping there are plenty of good spots to camp. I cant see how they can stop you camping along the road if you are tired and it is getting dangerous to keep goin. You will have to get a permit to drive the road because it is aboriginal land and if you dont obtain one you are not covered with insurance. Watch out for donkeys pigs horses and buffalo.
As with perkins their service is @##$ing Sh#t. They do not take responsibility for any damage they have done so you need to check with your insurance company if it is covers freight by barge. There has been a brand new Razorline turn up with 2 massive forklift tyne holes in the side of it and they pretty much said :fu:

Cheers

Toby · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Typical companies like Perkins, they wreck it, take your cash and give you a great big FU. I'll store it in Darwin until Aug/Sep then bring it in when safe. I've got another car being freighted in so i'm covered there. Anyone need a deckie PM me. Can't go without fishing for that long !!!!

Thanks Guys

sheps · Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 10:39 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

there are other barge companys servicing the gove area, personally i have used pirkins
to move lots of stuff and they do a great job.

Till · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 12:46 am Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Hey sheps what other barge company is there?

barraeel · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Mate, for the best info on the track you need to ring DCI (Department of Construction and Infrastructure) in Nhulunbuy and speak to George Hutchinson the boss or Chris Hague. Sorry I don't have their number any more, but if you ring the Motor Registry, they'll put you through as they are in the same building. From experience I'd say you've no hope at the moment due to the rain. It's still raining there and the Goyder will be impassable. As mentioned here previously we could drive out of there in June last year as it was a fairly dry wet.

sheps · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

i have used these guys once with no problems but prefer to use pirkins, simply because
i have a account with them.
http://www.shorelands.com.au/

when i am fishing i see heaps of other barge companys cruseing around.

Bullet · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Had a mates dad get his boat and car barrged to Maningreata receitly, on arrival the sounder and plotter were missing,
They said stiff sh!t

topender · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

I doubt very much that there would be an issue with Insurance, its a publicly gazzetted road, so that sounds like one of the myths being perpetuated out here.

There is some debate about the legality (ie requirement) for permists since the intervention to travel on a public road, also as the NLC make it so damm hard to get one (partly due to incompetence, partly becuase they don't like anyone getting permits).

Its a very bad situation where citizens of our own country can't travel freely on a public (inlcluding being paid for by taxpayers) road. I support land rights, BUT not the sort of situation where a very small number of vested interests control exclusively and with very substantial legal powers areas the size of some whole countries (I guess thats why they are called "Nations" now) which includes, waterways, roads, seas, national parks to the exclusion of other citizens, not to mention just how damaging it is to the rights of indigenous australians to be able to ecomomically grow and ensure that these restrictions no longer damage the futures of their children.

Anyway on the road travel itself, yes as long as those River crossing levels drop to what you can cross (which depends upon your vehicle/snorkle etc) & you take it easy.

Till · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Went out to one of the rivers the other day to do some crabbin. Took just under 3 hours to do 90k. The goyder is still to high atm and there is a big swamp that is still covering the road after Gapiwiak

Brent Matthews · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

ummm....the permits are free and they are easy to get....you can get one in Darwin Katherin or Gove. In Gove they used to do them the same day.

MattyA · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Road to Gove

Hey mate

I would only take a work car over those roads if I could help it, have done the trip both over the top (Cahills) and Central Arnhem Road, both roads are shite most of the time, there will be sections where the dash of your nissan will be slapping into the windscreen and others where it is ok. I haven't done the trip this year, but you will probably need a snorkel at any rate cos the creeks will be up for some time.

I would be doing the barge thing if it was me and making sure that everything was insured.

Cheers

Matt

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