Hisco's Canning Stock Route Resource Page

There are plenty of Canning Stock Route WebPages that give detail about the preparation, conditions, scenery etc of this wonderful track. This webpage on the CSR is simply to give you a few resources that will make the mapping of the journey a little easier.  Waypoint files and simple distances between points for fuel calculations, based on our actual driving distances, are included here.  Waypoints and track data are based on WGS84 map datum, and were gained by holding the GPS over the well, or point, to get the reading. I have also included a basic table outlining distances and fuel used by an 80 series diesel Toyota Landcruiser, with roof rack and no trailer.

A small group of us travelled the CSR in July-August 2005. CSR Centennial Eve Expedition Members included John Hisco and Sue Wilson (in 80 series Toyota Landcruiser), and Tony and Debbie ("Hendy and Skip") Henderson, with young Toby (in the 90 series Prado).  We spent 22 nights on the track. The two vehicles went the distance without a single problem.  All the spares we took remained untouched in their packets.  The only thing we had to do was to deflate our tyres, then reinflate them again. Tyre pressures were dropped once when the first dunes were encountered.  The 80 series cruiser ran pressures of 22 PSI front and 26 PSI rear (Cooper ATR tyres).  Similar pressures in the Prado meant we were able to crawl over the dunes, thus preserving our shockers, and more importantly, the people's nerves inside.

I don't want you to think that I thought the trip was easy.  The hardest thing was probably the months of preparation at home.  This really paid off in the field.  Spend the time getting everything ready at home - it will make your trip all that more enjoyable.

Food and Water

We took enough food for 4 weeks - that's a fair bit when you line it up (fridge, non-fridge).  Calculate it carefully.  We took 110 litres of drinking water and were able to fill up at selected wells with "grey" water.  The grey water we found was crystal clear, but we boiled it for 5-10 minutes before drinking. Some hints on where water is on the CSR can be found in most publications.  Here is our list  (download water spots here).  No one got ill!! I have included a spreadsheet of your food preparation to help you - change it to suit your dietary requirements! .  Download food spreadsheet here.

Special recipe:  A favourite dessert on the CSR was Hasty Dick. All agreed at the end of the trip that this was an essential dietary requirement.  Download this delight HERE.

Distances and Fuel

Distances travelled by our group include a side trip to the Calvert Range.  All wells were visited, except Well 20 (this is about 10km from the track.  We had to leave something for the next trip!).  Fuel used in 80 series diesel Toyota Landcruiser is listed below, not towing a trailer.  See picture. Fuel at Fuel Dump shared between the 2 vehicles.  Lat and Long of Fuel Dump included in the resource files below.  Take your own fuel pump - the ones left there looked on the worn out side!

Fuel dump pictures included here so you have an idea of what awaits. It is a required stop if you don't want to put all your eggs in the Kunawaritji basket, or if you don't have a 200L long range tank, or carry too many Jerry cans.  I carried 2 x 20L and 3 x 10L Jerries.  I had the 3 10L on the roof and attached the 2 20L Jerries to the back of the cargo barrier inside the vehicle.  This is not recommended with petrol.  All Jerries were wrapped with the green Woollies carry bags (one over top and one on bottom for the 20L) which protected them all from any rub marks. All Jerries were first wrapped in bin liners to guard from leaky spills.  No spills occurred.

Totals: 2028km used 342.04L (which is 16.9 L/100km).  Both Prado and Cruiser used almost identical amounts of fuel.

Dump Scene 1 / Scene 2 , their worn pumps! , selecting drum (your name on top) , hot work , panty filtering (luckily we found a clear plastic home brew drum and decanted fuel into here.  We filtered it twice - from drum to brew bin, then pumped again from here into Jerry can, then tipped into car.  Luckily I had packed some of my mum's old stockings which worked a treat!) .

2 typical track pictures. A lot of sand driving! Pic1, Pic2. I bet you can't wait!

Canning Access - Permits?

 From April 2006, the holding of an appropriate permit has become necessary if you wish to visit any of the various aboriginal sites on or adjacent to the CSR.  There may be some confusion over access to the CSR since a lot of  land in this region has been handed back to Aboriginal Groups (namely the Martu and Ngurrara Aboriginal people).  These groups now have claim to over 136,000 square kilometres of land, and this includes land north of Wiluna to the Tanami Road, including the CSR between Well 1 and Well 40. Any access off the CSR 'easement' will only be by permit. For further advice, contact the Ngaanyatjarra (pronounced 'nun-an-durra') Council Native Title Unit at their Alice Springs Office on 8950 1711.  Note, a permit is now required to visit the Calvert Ranges, Percival Lakes, Lake Disappointment, Helena Springs and possibly Durba Springs (even though Durba is clearly on the easement as defined on the original Canning CSR maps drawn by Alfred Canning on the Dept of Mines map published in 1910 and reprinted in 1986).  If you stray off the easement without a permit, the Federal Court decision of a maximum fine of $20,000 could be imposed. It is strange to think of the CSR as an easement, but this may well be the case from now on.

For up to date information on permits, visit the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council website at www.anfwdc.asn.au .  (From May 2007, this has been the main spot to get permits).

Also see the ExplorOz.com CSR website for other information about the track, including Permit advice.

As a foot note, all of the people I encountered on my trek had the utmost respect for the land and the culture of those who have lived in this country for a long time.

Google Earth

The waypoint's captured (available below in Waypoint files) have been converted into a KML file that you can view in the Google Earth application.  Simply put, save this file, open up Google Earth then open the file. This should spin the earth above the CSR so you can look down and see a bird's eye view of all the wells and other CSR features.  download CSR Google Earth.  Complete TRACK FILE also available, which gives you the lower, middle and upper tracks (both files in the zipped file in the table below). Sometimes these files types may be blocked by your ISP - so download the zip file instead.

Waypoint files

 (by John Hisco, July August 2005). Files use WGS84 map datum (equivalent to GDA94 datum).  Please make sure your GPS is set to this datum. Use these with care and of course I accept no responsibility for errors.  BE CAREFUL!!  Check them out before you go by overlaying them on an electronic map, such as Hema's Great Desert Map Series, or Magellan's Discover Aus Streets and Tracks.  Basically, these files take all of the hard work out of entering the data into your GPS.  Included in the files are waypoints I created, including a couple of camp spots etc.  Check out the spreadsheet to see what is in the files to see if it is what you want. Of course feel free to edit, but please acknowledge the source when sharing with your travelling mates!  Sometimes these files types may be blocked by your ISP - so download the zip file instead.

Track Logs

Track logs are presented if you wish to overlay the CSR track we took onto your GSP.  It is recommended you upload the track from another source.  I used the Magellan Map product.  What appears below is the route I drove.  At one stage in the mid section the track goes hay-wire as the GPS signal jumped around a bit!

Videos -just some!

Yes, that's right, we managed to shoot a few thru the camera.  View them HERE!  Featuring some Camels and Savory Creek Crossing.

Images -just some!

Lots of memory cards  were filled up!! Be aware you will need memory storage and power for battery recharge when on this trip. Images from a Panasonic 5M (FZ20) and an Olympus μ-mini D camera were used.  Backups onto a laptop and portable USB hard drive occurred regularly. You need a few backups just in case one of your methods fails due to corrugation overload!!!  IMAGES HERE.

I may add to this site from time to time.