Connie Sue Hwy

StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesWarburton Roadhouse
FinishCocklebiddy Roadhouse
DifficultyDifficulty 3.5/5
Suitable For4WD 
Distance845.34 km
Minimum Days4
Average Speed32.95 km/hr
Travel Time1 day 1 hr 39 mins
Page Updated: 22 Feb 2023

Description

The Connie Sue Highway is one of Australia's outback tracks constructed by Len Beadell and the Gunbarrel Road Construction Party in the early 1960's. The road was named after Len and Anne's daughter Connie Sue.

Today the Connie Sue is only travelled by a few keen 4WD enthusiasts, but for adventurous types, it provides an almost straight line shortcut to Warburton providing quick access to the myriad of wonderful desert tracks in the area.

The track runs mostly north-south through the heart of extremely remote desert country and intersects the Anne Beadell Highway and also the Great Central Road. The Aboriginal Land reserve known as Yapupara is crossed near the Hann Breakaways just before reaching the junction of the Great Central Road and for this section you must have a permit to continue.

How to Use this Trek Note

  • To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP

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Environment

After heading north from Cocklebiddy, great care must be taken as there are quite a few limestone ridges that have to be crossed. These ridges have the potential to damage tyre side walls. After Rawlinna, the first 60km is through station country (Premier Downs) and is quite rough due to the track being cutup in the rainy times by the cattle and also there are numerous limestone ridges to be crossed. The track improves after this and becomes more sandy.

The environment is typical arid desert landscapes with low scrub and spinifex. Track ranges from lime stone ridges and clay to a sandy track and some small sand dunes. Only one significant sand dune must be crossed. Some ironstone ridges around Harkness and McKenzie gorges also must be crossed.

History

The Beadell name is well connected with the exploration of Australia's remotest areas and the creation of outback tracks. Len Beadell was a famous Australian surveyor, explorer and author instrumental in the surveying and building of 6,000kms of desert roads through the Great Victoria, Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts of Australia.

The Connie Sue Highway was built in two stages with the northern section being constructed by Len Beadell and the Gunbarrel Road Construction Party in August - September 1962 and the southern section built in Sept - October of the same year.

The road was named after Len and Anne's daughter Connie Sue who actually spent 5mths of her infant life living "on the road" in the harsh Australian bush as a baby during this time. The names that Len gave to some of his roads and intersections reflect the love of his family that he was absent from for up to nine months in a year.

Almost all of Len's roads are still used today by modern adventurers driving 4WD vehicles, although the Connie Sue Highway has a lower usage.

TrekID: 85

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP

Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.
There are no supplies or water along the length of this trip. So all fuel, water and food must be carried. At the time of preparing these notes the track could be travelled in 4 days comfortably but this can easily change so allow 5 to 6 days with fuel, supplies and water to match. Permits must be obtained to enter Aboriginal Land (as detailed above).

Remote Desert Country

Temperatures can rise to 50°C in summer and it has been known to rise to 60°C. Travel during summer is not recommended. This is remote desert country, so be fully self-sufficient. Keep in mind that this is not a well travelled route and there are absolutely no facilities for travellers, not even stations or aboriginal communities.

Your vehicle will need to be extensively prepared for remote area travel, with all fuel, water, food and vehicle repair equipment and spare parts. All travellers should read the 4WDriving Topic for related articles and checklists for vehicle setup and driver awareness.

We advise that you refer to the latest information and advice about outback communications in the Communications Topic. For any dune driving you should fly a dune flag from the front of your vehicle to avoid head on collisions on dune tops. Additionally, the lead vehicle in any direction should periodically make calls on Channel 10 from the top of large dunes on the UHF radio to advise oncoming traffic of your position.

Fuel Information

Please note that unleaded fuels have long been unavailable in the region in an attempt to combat petrol sniffing issues in nearby Aboriginal communities. Recently, a new fuel from BP called Opal Unleaded, has been introduced to better serve travellers interests, whilst combating petrol sniffing problems. BP Opal Unleaded is available at Warburton, and also Warakurna Roadhouse and Docker River along the Great Central Road.

Permits

Before entering the reserve you are required to obtain a travel permit to travel through the Ngaanyatjarra Lands (Aboriginal Reserve) which includes Warburton.

For people travelling through Aboriginal Land in the Central Reserves of Western Australia to,
or from the NT border to Laverton, the permit is obtained online from the the Ngaanyatjarra Council website www.ngaanyatjarra.org.au

Their contact email address is ngcouncil@ngaanyatjarra.org.au

Fuel Usage

DieselULPLPG
4cyl 115 litres *4cyl 137 litres4cyl 169 litres
6cyl 123 litres *6cyl 147 litres *6cyl 149 litres
8cyl 130 litres8cyl 140 litres
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Balgair
Distance from Trek Mid Point 232.22km S
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C33.031.829.126.222.319.018.620.724.326.929.531.3
Mean Min. °C16.416.614.611.99.06.25.15.98.110.412.814.5
Mean Rain mm20.334.629.420.721.627.618.218.415.816.723.433.7
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Map

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Directions

Warburton Roadhouse to Elder Creek
Driving: 3.31 km
Heading: 233°
Avg Speed: 35.43 km/hr
EST Time: 05:36
  • Drive northeast on Motel Street. for: 0.04 km time: 00:11
  • Bear right onto Second Street. for: 0.1 km time: 00:10
  • Turn right onto Great Central Road. for: 3.17 km time: 05:14
Elder Creek to Connie Sue Hwy & Great Central Rd Junction
Driving: 38.04 km
Heading: 251°
Avg Speed: 36.04 km/hr
EST Time: 01:03:19
Connie Sue Hwy & Great Central Rd Junction to Connie Sue Hwy, Yapupara Aboriginal Reserve Boundary
Driving: 39.83 km
Heading: 188°
Avg Speed: 25.45 km/hr
EST Time: 01:33:54
Connie Sue Hwy, Yapupara Aboriginal Reserve Boundary to Connie Sue Hwy & Waterfall Gorge Access
Driving: 37.72 km
Heading: 200°
Avg Speed: 22.41 km/hr
EST Time: 01:40:59
Connie Sue Hwy & Waterfall Gorge Access to Connie Sue Hwy & Hanns Tabletop Access
Driving: 30.13 km
Heading: 163°
Avg Speed: 21.71 km/hr
EST Time: 01:23:16
Connie Sue Hwy & Hanns Tabletop Access to Woods Gnamma Hole
Driving: 7.16 km
Heading: 119°
Avg Speed: 23.21 km/hr
EST Time: 18:30
Woods Gnamma Hole to Connie Sue Trek & Ryans Bluff Access
Driving: 9.51 km
Heading: 215°
Avg Speed: 18.44 km/hr
EST Time: 30:56
Connie Sue Trek & Ryans Bluff Access to Connie Sue Hwy & Point Sandercock Access
Driving: 53.3 km
Heading: 209°
Avg Speed: 29.47 km/hr
EST Time: 01:48:31
Connie Sue Hwy & Point Sandercock Access to Point Sandercock
Driving: 4.24 km
Heading: 259°
Avg Speed: 20.71 km/hr
EST Time: 12:17
Point Sandercock to Connie Sue Hwy & Point Sandercock Access
Driving: 4.24 km
Heading: 79°
Avg Speed: 20.71 km/hr
EST Time: 12:17
Connie Sue Hwy & Point Sandercock Access to Connie Sue Hwy & Point Lilian Access
Driving: 5.47 km
Heading: 202°
Avg Speed: 36.45 km/hr
EST Time: 09:00
Connie Sue Hwy & Point Lilian Access to Point Lilian
Driving: 4.45 km
Heading: 292°
Avg Speed: 20.99 km/hr
EST Time: 12:43
Point Lilian to Connie Sue Hwy & Point Lilian Access
Driving: 4.45 km
Heading: 112°
Avg Speed: 20.99 km/hr
EST Time: 12:43
Connie Sue Hwy & Point Lilian Access to Sand Dune
Driving: 25.25 km
Heading: 195°
Avg Speed: 31.81 km/hr
EST Time: 47:37
Sand Dune to Neale Junction
Driving: 74.74 km
Heading: 210°
Avg Speed: 32.92 km/hr
EST Time: 02:16:13
Neale Junction to Neale Breakaways
Driving: 56.77 km
Heading: 174°
Avg Speed: 41.74 km/hr
EST Time: 01:21:36
Neale Breakaways to Connie Sue Hwy & Rason Lake Rd
Driving: 153.44 km
Heading: 188°
Avg Speed: 51.77 km/hr
EST Time: 02:57:49
Connie Sue Hwy & Rason Lake Rd to Connie Sue Hwy & Premier Downs Access
Driving: 84.1 km
Heading: 193°
Avg Speed: 43.97 km/hr
EST Time: 01:54:45
Connie Sue Hwy & Premier Downs Access to Connie Sue Hwy & Trans Australian Railway
Driving: 49.91 km
Heading: 196°
Avg Speed: 34.29 km/hr
EST Time: 01:27:19
Connie Sue Hwy & Trans Australian Railway to Rawlinna
Driving: 0.84 km
Heading: 265°
Avg Speed: 39.4 km/hr
EST Time: 01:16
Rawlinna to Connie Sue Hwy & Trans Australian Railway
Driving: 0.84 km
Heading: 85°
Avg Speed: 39.4 km/hr
EST Time: 01:16
Connie Sue Hwy & Trans Australian Railway to Trans Australian Railway & Vermin Proof Fence
Driving: 25.31 km
Heading: 91°
Avg Speed: 61.41 km/hr
EST Time: 24:43
Trans Australian Railway & Vermin Proof Fence to Cocklebiddy Rawlinna Rd & Vermin Proof Fence
Driving: 47.07 km
Heading: 183°
Avg Speed: 33.59 km/hr
EST Time: 01:24:04
Cocklebiddy Rawlinna Rd & Vermin Proof Fence to Cocklebiddy Roadhouse
Driving: 85.22 km
Heading: 144°
Avg Speed: 48.47 km/hr
EST Time: 01:45:29
Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.

What to See

Facilities

Where to Stay

No Places To Stay available for this trek

Services & Supplies

Wildflowers

Related Travel Journals

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