Epic 20-Day Canning Stock Route & Gunbarrel Highway Expedition from Broome to Alice Springs

From Broome to Alice Springs, this 20-day Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway expedition is a slow, deliberate crossing of Australia's interior that reads like a traveler's atlas in motion. Starting in Broome, the convoy of Toyota LandCruiser GXLs pushes south through Kimberley savannahs onto the Tanami Track, then drops into the red dunes and salt flats that define the Canning Stock Route. Over two thousand kilometres of remote tracks, historic wells, desert oases and Martu rock art unfold each day. Key features include the 51 Canning wells, Lake Gregory (Paruku) with its bird-rich wetlands, the freshwater pockets of Durba Springs (Jilikuru), and the salt-crusted expanse of Lake Disappointment. You move through the Great Sandy, Gibson and Little Sandy deserts where spinifex and Desert Oaks punctuate orange sand, and geology reads in layers of iron-stained sand and weathered rock. Camp evenings open to the Milky Way; days bring close encounters with Aboriginal cultural sites and remote pastoral history. This trip is a rare blend of rugged route-finding and considerate comfort: guides navigate the toughest tracks while guests sleep on stretchers in full-height tents, use hot showers at select stops, and dine on fully catered meals. Small-group logistics mean satellite communication, Flying Doctor access, and USB power at camps — striking a balance between extreme remoteness and thoughtful support. Highlights include walking among ancient Martu art panels at Durba Springs, watching shorebirds at Paruku, and visiting restored Well 49 near Lake Gregory. The history is vivid: the route follows Alfred Canning's 1908 survey and the later droving era that stitched stock tracks across harsh country. Contemporary visits also support Indigenous communities; the itinerary includes permits and art purchase opportunities that connect travelers to local economies. Practical notes: this is a remote camping expedition with limited cell service; bring robust sun protection, layered clothing for cold desert nights and lightweight gear for daytime heat. The company provides modern camping kit and most comforts, but participants should be mentally prepared for long driving days and variable surfaces. Why book it? Few overland routes combine such depth of desert geography, living Indigenous culture, and access to places most visitors never reach. For photographers, birders, and anyone drawn to raw landscape and human stories, the Canning Stock Route to Alice Springs is an expeditional rite of passage across Australia's inland — measured not by distance alone but by the small, singular moments that only a sustained trip into the interior can deliver. Expect long light-filled days, sudden thunderstorms in interseasonal months, and the slow ritual of camp setup that becomes part of the journey; guides will brief on safety, cultural protocols, and permit rules so visitors travel respectfully and leave minimal trace when safe, always.