The Great Northern Highway is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the state's capital Perth with its most northern port, Wyndham. It is 3,204 kilometres (1,991 mi) in length, with 3,144 kilometres (1,954 mi) being Na0onal Highway. It is constructed as a sealed, predominantly 2-lane single carriageway (excluding a number of single lane bridges in the Kimberley). This highway is the longest intrastate highway in Australia and also the longest Australian highway in absolute terms. In parts, it is among the remotest sealed roads in the world. Some sec0ons are several hundred kilometres in length without so much as a roadhouse. Economically, it is a vital link as it provides access to the resource rich regions of the Pilbara and Kimberley. In these areas, the key industries of mining, pastoral sta0ons and tourism are all dependent on the highway.
Great northern highway rest areas In order from East to West. There are also a number of parking bays, some of which have bins &/or picnic tables. Rest areas can be seen on the map on the previous page, corresponding to numbers below. 1.
Muluks Rest Area - 17°20’31”S, 128°03’16”E. Shaded picnic tables, bins and wood BBQ’s. On Fletchers Ck.
2.
Spring Creek Rest Area - 17°25’98”S, 127°59’33”E. Toilets, shaded picnic tables, bins and dump point, 300m west of the Bungles turnoff.
3.
Leycester Rest Area - 17°28’86”S, 127°57’04”E. Shaded picnic tables, wood BBQ’s and Bins. On the Ord River. This rest area was named in honour of Rochford Leycester Devenish-Meares, a 13 year old Halls Creek boy who tragically died here in a single vehicle accident in 1999.
4.
Li7le Pandon River Rest Area - 17°52’58”S, 127°49’91”E. Shaded picnic tables and bins, access either side of the bridge via the old highway.
5.
Mary Pool Rest Area - 18°43’62”S, 126°52’30”E. Toilets, bins, wood BBQ’s dump point and a large area with large shady trees. 500m south of the GNH on the east side of the Mary River (across old crossing). The crossing is impassable when the river is flowing making the rest area inaccessible aFer heavy summer rain. This is however a great 0me to catch barramundi that have moved upstream from the Fitzroy River.
6.
Ngumban Cliff Rest Area - 18°44’90”S, 126°06’53”E. Shaded picnic tables, bins, wood BBQ’s, toilets and dump point. 600m dirt track (suitable for caravans) on the south side of the GNH, magic views.
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