Anne Beadell Highway

Infobox Outback Track
Name = Anne Beadell Highway


caption=
General Direction = West-East
From = Leonora-Laverton Road,
Laverton (coord|28|37|S|122|24|E|region:AU-WA_type:city)
To = (coord|28|56|S|134|45|E|region:AU-SA_type:city)
Length = 1340 km
State = Western Australia, South Australia
Region =
Permit = 1 to 4 required
Fuel = Ilkurlka (coord|28|21|S|127|31|E|region:AU-WA_type:city)
Facilities = Ilkurlka (coord|28|21|S|127|31|E|region:AU-WA_type:city)The Anne Beadell Highway is an outback unsealed track linking Coober Pedy, South Australia, and Laverton, Western Australia. The track was surveyed and built by Len Beadell, Australian surveyor, who named it after his wife.

Overview

. Red sand dunes predominate for a major part of the track.

Fuel and supplies

The track is only suitable for four wheel drives and there are no settlements between Coober Pedy and Laverton. Recently, a roadhouse named Ilkurlka has opened in Western Australia 165 km (100 miles) west of the South Australia border, which is at the intersection of Madura Loongana Track (Aboriginal Business Road) and the Anne Beadell Highway. It mainly caters to local Aboriginal communities. This may be the most isolated roadhouse in Australia. Despite this, there are still no provisions for the 750 km (466 miles) between Ilkurlka and Coober Pedy. Travellers are advised to have sufficient rations and recovery equipment as incidents can be fatal.

Places of interest

172 km (107 miles) west of Ilkurlka is Neale Junction, which is where the Anne Beadell Highway intersects with the Connie Sue Highway, another outback track constructed by Len Beadell.

The track passes through the former British atomic test site of Emu Field, rabbit and dog fences, restricted nature conservation areas and Aboriginal lands, all of which require permits to pass through. Permits are available from the [http://www.dia.wa.gov.au Department of Indigenous Affairs] and are free.

Also of interest is the wreck of a light aircraft near the track in Western Australia. The road also passes through Mamungari Conservation Park, one of Australia's twelve World Biosphere Reserves [http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/biosphere/] that contains pristine arid zone wilderness and possesses cultural significance.

Timeframe

In good conditions it may take 5 days to complete the journey. However hazards such as flat tyres, breakdowns and the occasional flash floods must be taken into account. As the track is remote and not signposted, GPS is advisable and an HF radio is essential.

ee also

*Highways in Australia
*List of highways in South Australia
*List of highways in Western Australia

References

* Hema Maps "Australia's great desert track"s. Eight Mile Plains, Qld. : Hema Maps, 2005. 3rd ed. Scale 1:1,250 000 ; Lambert conformal conic proj. (E 119°00'--E 129°20'/S 024°35'--S 032°30') ISBN 1865001619

External links

* [http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/WDeserts/Anne_Beadell_Highway.asp Anne Beadell Highway (ExplorOz)]
* [http://www.outbackadventuretreks.com.au/across_australia.php Across Australia on a BMW touring Bike (Outback Adventure Treks)]