Tjukayirla Road House
Just a few metres east of Tjukayirla Road house keep your eyes and ears alert to low flying aircraft, the Outback Way is a registered airstrip used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service when medical emergencies arise. Enjoy the few moments of bitumen!The landscape east of the roadhouse is common to the Great Victoria Desert with rolling plains dominated by spinifex grasses, mulga woodlands, spindly grevillea and the occasional feature tree.
Lone Kurrajong tree
About 17km east of Tjukayirla, you will encounter a most unusual and distinctive sight – a lone Kurrajong tree immediately on the roadside. This is the only one you will see on the Outback Way. This Desert Kurrajong is visible from a great distance, a true sentinel to travellers. The species is scattered across the central deserts, but there is no finer example than this. Stop and enjoy the delights of this magnificent tree, highly valued by Aboriginal people.For those interested in exploring off-road, the Wahlgu Rockholes located 17k from Tjukayirla are worth a visit. The holes can be found about .5km from the highway on the south side. Listen and look for the finches. The access track junction is located just below a hill when heading east and just before the rise heading west. This is an excellent site to explore a minor breakaway, birds, waterholes, lateritic terrain and perhaps find a shady spot for a camp.
Wahlgu Rockholes
For those interested in exploring off-road, the Wahlgu Rockholes located 17k from Tjukayirla are worth a visit. The holes can be found about .5km from the highway on the south side. Listen and look for the finches. The access track junction is located just below a hill when heading east and just before the rise heading west. This is an excellent site to explore a minor breakaway, birds, waterholes, lateritic terrain and perhaps find a shady spot for a camp.
Camp Paradise
92 Km from Tjukayirla Roadhouse and 157km from WarburtonThe stop is a ridge to the north side of the road, great for picnic, a nights camp, a little exploration-go and look for a deep Gnamma Hole in the laterite slopes.Adjacent about 1km are shady mulga woodlands.
Desert Surf Central
Coordinates: 26°50.232S;125°39.546EDesert Surf Central is a spectacular breakaway, sometimes called a jump-up, on the north side of the road located about 126km west of Warburton and 119km east of Tjukayirla. Don’t miss it – stop! The access track is directly opposite Mananytja gnamma hole immediately adjacent to the highway on the south side. Look for the ring of white painted rocks. The safest place to climb the ridge is on the east side. Be careful as the rocks can be jagged or loose.This extraordinary site demands exploration. Check out the surf-like caves and cliffs along the base of the ridge, the panoramic views from the summit, the profusion of wildflowers, birds, reptiles and small mammals. There is a good chance you will spot friendly miniature bats or a rock wallaby or two. The views from the ridge at sunset or sunrise are superb!The mulga woodland around the base of the breakway offers wonderful places to rest, picnic or camp.
Elder Creek
3km west of WarburtonCoordinates: 26 08.45S 126 32.54EYou are now in the Gibson Desert bioregion – this landscape forms the transition between the Great Victoria Desert to the west and the Central Ranges to the east. The region is characterised by distinctive red sandhills and lateritic outcrops separated by dry rolling grassland, grevillea, hakea and mulga plains. The changes in vegetation composition are subtle but the presence of more sand hills and uplifted ridges is quite dramatic.3km west of Warburton is the dramatic Elder Creek crossing. After hundreds of kilometres of arid landscape, this semi-permanent creek with towering river gums is a welcome respite. Stop and explore the riparian vegetation, aquatic animals and refreshing micro-climate. The first mission was located about 700m northwest of the river – across marks the site in a nearby grassy field.The approach to Warburton from the west can be a bit confusing as there is a proliferation of signs. Stay left for the main highway and roadhouse.
Warburton
Warburton is a welcome oasis in the desert. It is home to a large Aboriginal community, the Ngaanyatjarraku Shire offices, a splendid art gallery and well-provisioned Roadhouse with a range of facilities, camping and accommodation. There is a ‘no photo’ policy around the Roadhouse.A Caravan park can be found in the compound behind the Roadhouse. They also have very comfortable cabins to stay in, if you don't have a van...The Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku ( nan-yat-jarra-koo) have a visitor information centre and shop where local artworks can be purchased- very impressive glass blown plates, art and baskets.Don’t miss the Tjulyuru Art Gallery, an exhibition and performance centre that aims to be the regional centre of Ngaanyatjarra culture. The permanent collection is impressive!
