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Home > What's news on the travel scene in Australia > Archive 10
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Last year Parks Victoria implemented a schedule of high camping fees and a requirement for bookings to be made on many of their Parks as we outlined here
 
Good news is that as of 2nd April 2015, fees have been rescinded on the 'basic' caregory campgrounds, that is those with pit toilet only or no toilet.  Fees for other campgrounds will be reviewed.   
 
See Camping Fees Schedule.
 
From 2nd April 2015, fees no longer apply to Basic category camping sites. For all stays until 30th June 2015, you will still need to book a basic campsite, but no fees will be charged
2nd April 2015
Camping fees in Victorian Parks Campgrounds - most basic parks now free.
The latest from Main Roads Western Australia following Cyclone Olwyn.
 
Obey road closure signs and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current. If driving through heavy rain, please slow down and turn your lights on or if visibility becomes poor, pull over and park safely until the rain subsides.

 

Main Roads WA would like to advise all road users that the Mullewa Wubin Road from

Mullewa to Morawa has now been reopened to all traffic.  EXTREME CAUTION is advised at all floodways.

 

The Geraldton-Walkaway Road is open to all traffic with EXTREME CAUTION due to flooding at Short Road.

 

The road into Coral Bay was opened this morning (18th March 2015) for use with CAUTION.

 

The Minilya Exmouth Road from North West Coastal Highway to Burkett Road Exmouth Road is open to all traffic with CAUTION.

 

All other state roads within the Mid West-Gascoyne region have been reopened with extreme caution

 

Geraldton Mount Magnet Road is open with EXTREME CAUTION from Geraldton to Mullewa.

 

Updated 17th March

 

 

UPDATES: With rain falling in Western New South Wales, expect many unsealed roads to be closed.  The following closures have been announced so far:

 

Ivanhoe to Balranald MR67 OPEN

Ivanhoe to Menindee Mr433 OPEN

Menindee to Pooncarie MR68(C) OPEN         

Menindee to Wilcannia (East Side) SR10 OPEN         

Menindee to Wilcannia (West Side) MR68 (B) OPEN 

Updated 23rd April 2015 

CAUTION due to water across floodways on the North West Coastal Highway between Roebourne and the Great Northern Highway Intersection near Port Hedland. Please use extra caution when travelling across these floodways, road conditions are wet and slippery with unsealed shoulders and parking bays possibly being soft and boggy.
 
Newman to Nullagine OPEN to all traffic with CAUTION
 
Nullagineto Marble Bar OPEN to all traffic with CAUTION

Marble Bar to Great Northern Highway OPEN to all traffic with CAUTION 
due to slippery conditions and water across some floodways.
 
22nd April 2015
Following damage from Cyclone Olwyn, the community and campgrounds at Coral Bay and Coral Bay Road opened 18th March 2015. 
 
The Department of Parks and Wildlife advises that the following National Parks have been CLOSED until further notice due to Tropical Cyclone Olwyn.
 
Francois Peron National Park
Millstream sector of Millstream Chichester National Park is now OPEN
Loop / Z Bend access road in Kalbarri National Park is now OPEN
Cape Range National Park is now OPEN
Dirk Hartog Island National Park is now OPEN
Updated 19th March 2015
With some areas of Cape York Peninsula having already sustained damage such as washouts on roads, Tropical Cyclone Nathan is now expected to cross the coast near Cooktown early on 20th March as a category four cyclone and head across the Cape in a west north westerly direction. 
 
Update: TC Nathan has crossed the Cape and is now crossing Arnhem Land. It is expected to impinge on Kadadu National Park as a category 1 cyclone as it travels through on the 25th March 2015.
 
Note updates for roads within Kakadu appear on this News Page.
 
For current road restrictions in Far North Queensland see RACQ FNQ Roads
 
Updated 23rd March 2015
# An extremely popular wet-season service operates to Ubirr when the Magela Creek reaches a certain flood level preventing vehicular traffic to Ubirr. 
 
During this period visitors are able to traverse the flooded Magela on the Guluyambi boats, down through the flooded paperbark forest out on to a majestic billabong where nesting crocodiles and sea eagles can be viewed before re-entering the paperbark forest on the far side of Magela where tour vehicles are waiting to take passengers on to Ubirr.
 
This product is called the ‘Ubirr/Magela Combo’. It can only be booked locally a week in advance as the start and finish times of this product are dependent on local rainfall.
 
See Guluyambi Cultural Cruise wet season cruises for more details. For availablity and bookings please call them on 1800 525 238
 
Updated 16th March 2015
Guluyambi Cultural Cruise wet season cruises

The following cautions and restrictions have been removed at 10th April 2015.

 

EXTREME CAUTION for the Marble Bar Road from Marble Bar to Port Hedland due to water over the road at the Coongan River Crossing and Shaw River Crossing. Exercise caution at all floodways.

 

Nanutarra Munjina Road from intersection of Paraburdoo Tom Price Road to Hamersley Road is CLOSED to cars and trucks, OPEN to 4WD only. CAUTION advised at all floodways and river crossings.

 

North West Coastal Highway from Onslow Road turn off to Pannawonica Road turn off is now open to all traffic please proceed with EXTREME CAUTION

 

EXTREME CAUTION on North West Coastal Highway 5 kilometres south of Pannawonica Road turnoff due to water on and near the road.

 

CAUTION on North West Coastal Highway 32 kilometres south to 51 kilometres south of Pannawonica Road turn off.

 

EXTREME CAUTION on Minilya-Exmouth Road from Learmonth to Exmouth town, due to current rainfall there is water on and near the road.

 

EXTREME CAUTION North West Coastal Highway10 kilometres south of Minilya Roadhouse to 10 kilometres north of Minilya Roadhouse, due to water on and near the road.

 

Great Northern Highway Meekatharra to Newman CAUTION at floodways

 

Updated 5th April 2015

With major storms in Eastern New South Wales over the past few days, many roads are closed, or have some flooding.  Particularly in Sydney and surrounding areas, and in the Hunter Valley, as well as Woolongong and Newcastle.  Traffic may be delayed in some areas due to partial road closures and detours.  Check latest conditons in your area of travel on Live Traffic NSW.
 
23rd April 2015

Road conditions due to current rainfall in the northern parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory

 

With recent rain and rain currently falling in much the north of Western Australian, the Northern Territory and through central Australia as well as inland South Australia and area of Queensland, travellers are reminded to respect signs restricting use of roads and road closures.  Further areas will be impacted with a cyclone at present in the vcinity or Arnhem Land

 

Mainly unsealed roads have been closed, or weight restrictions apply.  In these circumstances a closed road means you may not travel on it, and large fines may apply for those who do.  A number of roads that are open with restrictions are not able to be used as thoroughfares due to flooded river crossings being impassable.   Roads which have been opened require extreme caution due to water on the road and washouts. 

 

The Duncan Road is now open in Western Australia from Halls Creek to the Northern Territory border, but impassable at the Negri River.  The Tanami Road is now open to in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory.  The Plenty Highway, Tablelands Highway are now open to high clearance 4wd and weight resptrcition may apply. TheBuntine Highway is open with caution and load limits apply.  The Roper Highway is impassable at the Wilton and Roper Rivers and the Wollogorang Road from Borroloola to the Queensland border remains closed. The Buchanan Highway is impassable at Dashwood Crossing. The Barkly Stock Route, Kurundi Road and Dorisvale Road remain impassable. 

 

Many unsealed and dry season roads in Central Australia have been closed. 

  

On roads which are open such as the Great Northern Highway, Victoria Highway, Barkly Highway and Stuart Highway, exercise caution at floodways and be aware that conditions can change quickly.  Read depth markers to assess risk where there is water on the road.

 

Extreme caution at all flood ways on the Great Northern Highway from Kumarina to Meekatharra.

The Great Northern Highway is closed to light vehicles between Meekatharra and Capricorn (Near Newman) due to flooding. 

 

Caution on the Great Northern Highway between Halls Creek and Kununurra due to water on the road at a number of places.

 

Check road conditions and closures state by state from links on this page.  You can also print a card with the Road Conditions telephone numbers for each state.

 

Reports of closures in Kakadu National Park see more recent updates in this News section.

 

Updated 7th March 2015

Great Northern Highway between Auski Roadhouse and Port Hedland CAUTION with unsealed shoulders and parking bays being soft and boggy.
 
Pilbara -Nanutarra Munjina Road from Paraburdoo Tom Price Road to Auski Roadhouse - CLOSED – flooding.   The Nanutarra Munjina Road isCLOSED to all vehicles from Paraburdoo Tom Price Road to Auski Roadhouse due to heavy rain fall.  Update:  Now OPEN to 4WD and trucks only.

 

Pilbara - Paraburdoo-Tom Price Road - Wet Weather - CAUTION ADVISED when travelling on the Paraburdoo-Tom Price Road.

 

Pilbara - North West Coastal Highway - Karratha to Nanutarra - CAUTION Wet and Slippery Road conditions.  ?Due to recent rainfall the North West Coastal Highway could experience some localised flooding with wet and slippery conditions from Karratha south to Nanutarra. Please use extra CAUTION when travelling across these floodways with unsealed shoulders and parking bays possibly being soft and boggy.

 

North West Coastal Highway on kilometre north of Nanutarra Roadhouse - EXTREME CAUTION - water over road

 

North West Coastal Highway 85 kilometres north of Nanutarra Roadhouse - EXTREME CAUTION at Peedamulla Creek floodway.

 

Pilbara - North West Coastal Highway - Roebourne to Great Northern Highway intersection

There is currently water across floodways on the North West Coastal Highway between Roebourne and the Great Northern Highway Intersection near Port Hedland. Please use extra CAUTION when travelling across these floodways, road conditions are wet and slippery with unsealed shoulders and parking bays possibly being soft and boggy.

 

Gascoyne area - EXTREME CAUTION all floodways in the Gascoyne Area, due to adverse weather and water on or near the roads.

 

Gascoyne - Minilya-Exmouth Road at Lyndon River Crossing - CAUTION - water on road

 
5th May 2015
Following Tropical Cyclone Quang, there are cautions and closures on many roads in the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions.  This report was lasted updated on 5th May and roads are now open to all traffic.
Flooding is still affecting roads in the Pilbara, Northern Wheatbelt, Gascoyne and Mid West, and Goldfields regions.  The latest warnings are:

EXTREME CAUTION on North West Coastal Highway from Nanutarra Roadhouse to 5 kilometres north due to damaged road surface.  Speed restrictions of 40 km/hr are in place.

 

Updated 13th April 2015