Old Marqua Bore - Christmas Dam Track

The road

Old Marqua Bore - Christmas Dam Track runs through the Plenty Highway country east of Alice Springs - one of the most isolated inland corridors in Australia. The 17-kilometre track crosses red sand ridge desert with mulga and spinifex, connecting historical pastoral bore and dam infrastructure that dates from the era when this country was worked as station land. The difficulty of 4.5 and RRI of 6.03 reflect both the terrain and the extreme remoteness. The Plenty Highway itself runs from Alice Springs to Boulia in Queensland and some months sees fewer than a dozen vehicles. There is no margin for error in this country - minimum 30 litres of water, 300 km fuel range, satellite communicator and a detailed route plan shared with someone who will raise the alarm are all mandatory, not suggested. The reward is complete isolation in one of the world's great desert landscapes.

The region

The Plenty Highway crosses the Northern Territory from the Stuart Highway near Alice Springs to Boulia in Queensland - one of Australia's most remote inland routes. The country around Marqua is sandstone and sand ridge desert with mulga and spinifex. The bore and dam infrastructure dates from the pastoral era when the land was worked as station country. The landscape is ancient and barely changed from the days of the first European drovers.

Before you go

Fuel in Alice Springs. The Plenty Highway region requires full expedition preparation: minimum 30L water, 300km fuel range, satellite communicator, detailed topographic maps and a PLB. Inform park rangers or a trusted contact of your complete route plan. Dry season only - June through August ideal.

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