McCann's Road
6 km
distance
1h
Contour time
2.5
difficulty
Unsealed
surface
Scenery
New South Wales
The area northwest of Narrabri is classic Liverpool Plains country - flat to gently rolling landscape with some of...
Road quality
Grade 2.5
Every segment scored on 40+ data signals.
Accessibility
Fully sealed
Best in 4WD. Peak season: Dry season (Apr-Oct).
7-day forecast
Black soil terrain in the Liverpool Plains/Namoi catchment. The difficulty is almost entirely surface-dependent - in dry conditions a capable stock 4WD handles it without drama. After rain the clay becomes deeply rutted and a standard vehicle can become hopelessly bogged. Tyre choice matters here.
Recommended gear: Recovery boards, Snatch strap, Hi-lift jack, Tyre deflator/inflator.
The road
McCann's Road is a study in surface conditions. The 6-kilometre track through the Liverpool Plains black soil country northwest of Narrabri is straightforward in dry weather and nightmarish after rain. The black cracking clay that makes this region one of Australia's most productive agricultural zones also creates driving conditions that can strand experienced 4WD operators for hours. In dry conditions the surface is firm and a capable stock 4WD handles it comfortably. After rain, the clay becomes deeply rutted and so adhesive that wheels can pack solid within minutes. The contrast is dramatic enough that local farmers sometimes cannot reach their own gates. Recovery boards are essential regardless of conditions - the surface can transition from firm to soft within a few hundred metres. For 4WD enthusiasts, this track offers something most mountain and forest tracks do not: the experience of terrain difficulty generated entirely by surface conditions on flat ground. The Narrabri district itself is worth the trip - the CSIRO radio telescope array on the plain and the volcanic geology of Mount Kaputar are both within day-trip range.
McCann's Road is a study in surface conditions.
Why this road
The region
The area northwest of Narrabri is classic Liverpool Plains country - flat to gently rolling landscape with some of Australia's most fertile agricultural soils. The black cracking clay that makes this country so productive makes it equally treacherous after rain. The Namoi River drainage feeds the plains and the farming here is predominantly cotton, wheat and sorghum. The track passes through private and grazing land at the plains fringe.
Before you go
Fuel in Narrabri. Absolutely do not attempt in wet conditions - the clay surface becomes unpassable and recovery can take hours. Best in summer dry weather or during the autumn-winter dry period. Carry boards regardless of conditions - the surface can vary within a few hundred metres. Check road conditions with Narrabri Shire Council.
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Flag itWorth stopping for
Sawn Rocks
One of NSW's more unusual geological formations - basalt columns that look like giant organ pipes, 40 minutes west of Narrabri in Mount Kaputar NP.
Narrabri Observatory
CSIRO's Australia Telescope Compact Array - six radio telescopes in a line across the plain, open to visitors with an interpretive centre on site.
Route
Start
Narrabri region
End
McCann's Road upper
Gallery
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