Canning Stock Route
The Canning Stock Route is a track that runs from Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Wiluna in the mid-west region. With a total distance of around 1,850 km (1,150 mi) it is the longest historic stock route in the world.
Canning Stock Route CSR Western Australia | |
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| Route relative to Kumpupintil Lake. | |
The Canning Stock Route runs from Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Wiluna. | |
| Coordinates |
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| General information | |
| Type | Track |
| Length | 1,850 km (1,150 mi) |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Major junctions | |
| north east end | Great Northern Highway (National Highway 1), Halls Creek |
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| south west end | Goldfields Highway, Wiluna |
| Location(s) | |
| via | Billiluna (Mindibungu), Kunawarritji, Kutkabubba |
| Restrictions | |
| General |
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| Permits | Permits required prior to travel. Virtually all of the Canning Stock Route traverses native title lands. |
| Fuel supply |
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A 1928 Royal Commission into the price of beef in Western Australia led to the repair of the wells and the re-opening of the stock route. Around 20 droves took place between 1931 and 1959 when the final droving run was completed.
The Canning Stock Route is now a popular but challenging four-wheel drive trek typically taking 10 to 20 days to complete. A few adventurers have traversed the track on foot, by bicycle, and in two-wheel drive vehicles.
There are two small settlements on the track where fuel and other supplies may be obtained; Kunawarritji, approximately 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) north of Wiluna, and Billiluna, 173 kilometres (107 mi) south of Halls Creek.
In March 2020, the route was closed to tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reopened on 14 June 2022.