Epic shortcut brings days of elation

Great Central Road between Laverton and Tjukayirla Roadhouse. Photo credit: @seanscottphotography.

Travelling interstate from Western Australia by caravan is no simple feat, as many follow the country’s perimeter along Great Northern Highway or across the Nullarbor Plain’s Eyre Highway.

But if you want to try following in the footsteps of past Australian explorers, look no further than The Outback Way – a series of connected highways stretching from WA, through the Northern Territory and ending in Queensland.

Not so ironically known as Australia’s Longest Shortcut, the first leg of this expedition begins with Great Central Road from Laverton in the Gold elds to Yulara in the NT, providing a fantastic opportunity for caravanners to immerse themselves in the natural and human histories of WA’s nal frontier.

With the total length of The Outback Way spanning about 2700km, Great Central Road makes up around 1100km of this, with 736km being unsealed road.

YouTube personalities Wayne and Debbie May, who completed the legendary route in their Nissan Patrol and Mobi Nomad off-road caravan over four overnight stops, werefsurprised by how rough it was.

“On Facebook, people said you could do it using a two-wheel drive, and we were well equipped with upgraded suspension but it was not exactly a comfortable ride,” Mr May said.

“I recommend anybody to do it, but I wouldn’t take it on using a standard road car.”

According to Shire of Laverton shire president Patrick Hill, the reason four-wheel drive vehicles are best for tackling Great Central Road is they have enough clearance to avoid rises and rocks on the way, not because of any serious four-wheel driving requirements.

Before putting pedal to the metal, Great Beyond Visitor Centre manager Laurinda Hill advised caravanners to make the most of the dump point at Laverton, as the next was at the other end of the long ride to Yulara.

Adam Range, about 29km from Laverton on the south side of Great Central Road. Photo credit: Great Beyond Visitor Centre.

Though Great Central Road is dotted intermittently with roadhouses, Mr May recommended getting your supplies together as early as Kalgoorlie.

Ms Hill agreed it was important to make sure all your gear was in hand, with Laverton being the final chance to do a proper stock-up.

“The roadhouses do carry a lot of basic supplies, like bread, water and milk, but Laverton would be your best bet,” she said.

“We also suggest people get spare tyres and puncture repair kits for their caravan and vehicle before heading out.”

Mr Hill gave another preparation tip for caravanners – ring ahead to the roadhouses you want to pull over at.

“If you know where you’re going to stop, whether it be Tjukayirla Roadhouse or Warakurna Roadhouse, it pays to give them afcall to make sure they have fuel,” he said.

“Nearly all of the time they have plenty butfon some occasions – for example, if inclementfweather a ects the area – they might still befwaiting for it.”

Once your checklist is ticked off and your tyres hit the dusty highway, it is time to keep both your eyes and ears open for the many wonders to take in along Great Central Road.

“The Outback Way has a free app you can download, and between Laverton and Uluru in the NT, there’s a number of spots with interpretive panels giving a lot of history about the particular area,” Ms Hill said.

“Some are about Aboriginal Australian history, how the Aboriginal Australian people survived out there, and how they continue to live and thrive in communities along the road.

“You can also download podcasts on the app, and when you’re getting closer to a site of interest or where that podcast is relevant, it noti es you when you’re a certain distance away.”

Some of the best natural gems require a detour.

“If people want to know what they can do with a week to spend, I say hook your caravan up at Tjukayirla Roadhouse, drive o Great Central Road and about 60km to the north, you come to Empress Spring’,” Mr Hill said, adding that the Breaden Bluff breakaway about 40km from the roadhouse is also worth visiting, featuring cathedral-like arches formed from wind erosion over thousands of years.

As otherworldly as these destinations are, Ms Hill said it was the landscapes by the road itself which made the journey so mesmerising.

“One minute you’re in spinifex plains with bright red dirt and beautiful gum trees, then the next you’re in mulga country,” she said.

“The closer you get to the NT border, you start to hit the Rawlinson Ranges, which people don’t expect to be so huge and green.”

As it appeared in the 2025 May 18 edition of The Sunday Times.