Back to Back to the Track 1945 - 2020 TRACKERS 6 75th Anniversary of VJ Day – Darwin 2020

ALICE SPRINGS to DARWIN Assembly Area / Camping grounds NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT HALL OF FAME ,

DAY DATE DAILY ITINERARY KLM Participants arrive in Alice Springs. Camping at National Road Transport Hall of Fame for WW2 military vehicles –

various onsite activities, explore Central ’s transport heritage at the museum 27th Mon and local tourist attractions. July https://northernterritory.com/articles/the-northern-territory-at-war

Participants arrive in Alice Springs.

Camping at National Road Transport Hall of Fame for WW2 military vehicles – 28th Tues various onsite activities, explore Central Australia’s transport heritage at the museum Jul and local tourist attractions

Participants arrive in Alice Springs. Camping at National Road Transport Hall of Fame for WW2 military vehicles – 29th various onsite activities including, explore Central Australia’s transport heritage at the

Wed Jul museum and local tourist attractions. Put your Jeep on rail tyres and drive sections of the Old Ghan line

9.00 hrs - Tag along tours of WW2 sites and relics around Alice Springs East and North and precincts 16.00 hrs – Coffee and Cammo. WW2 vehicle assembly and public display at

Lasseter’s Casino Carpark – Host – Crown Plaza, Lasseters Casino, 93 Barrett Drive 30th Thur Free camping at National Road Transport Hall of Fame for WW2 military vehicles – Jul on site activities including, put your Jeep on rail tyres and drive sections of the Old Ghan line

Tag along tours of WW2 sites in Alice Springs south and precincts – starting 0900 Hrs at 7 Mile aerodrome – Host – Alice Springs and Heritage Council NT Alice Springs branch 11.00 hrs - Form up for convoy into Alice Springs – Len Kittle Drive (South of the

gap, Alice Springs Show Grounds 31st Jul Noon – Street Parade – Alice Springs Town Council, vehicle display Aviation Fri Museum – 6 Memorial Ave, BBQ Lunch – Host Aviation Museum ($ per head TBA) 1300 Hrs - School visits / WW2 vehicle display and talks Camping at National Road Transport Hall of Fame for WW2 military vehicles – on site activities including, put your Jeep on rail tyres and drive sections of the Old Ghan line

0800 Hrs - 4x4 Tag along tours of WW2 sites in Alice Springs outlying precincts 1200 Hrs - Official opening of NRTHF Military Vehicle / North South Road MUSEUM – Lunch

JEEPS on rails / afternoon vehicle activities on site NRTHF 1st Sat 1700 Hrs - TRACKERS Reunion Dinner – NRTHF Aug Welcome Convoy briefing and safety advice Event risk management START OF CONVOY – MANOEUVERS https://northernterritory.com/articles/up-the-track---the-stuart-highway

06.30 Hrs – Dawn service ANZAC Hill – Lest We Forget 09.30 Hrs - Official Launch – ANZAC OVAL Plaque unveiling / vehicle display / Group photos Convoy departs ANZAC Oval 10.00 Hrs – Official send off Depart Alice and drive to Barrow Creek Stops at your convenience including at: Chinaman’s loading ramp / WW2 Track staging camp Highest point marker 283 Sun Tropic of Capricorn Marker, Ryan’s Well, Warburton Memorial 1 2nd Aileron Roadhouse – Lunch Stop – Host / proprietor Mr Greg Dick 5 Hrs Aug http://www.aileronroadhouse.com.au drive Ali-Curung Arts Centre and School visit time TiTree Roadhouses – Rest break - visit School – 20 min Arrive Historic Barrow Creek Hotel / Historic Overland Telegraph Station – Explore the WW2 history / Barrow Bore Staging Camp – Camp Site - Barrow Creek Hotel – Free on-site camping - evening entertainment (band) and BBQ dinner ($ per head tba) Barrow Creek Hotel – Host Les Picton.08 89569753 Hotel / Motel rooms available by directly [email protected]

0800 Hrs – Depart Barrow Creek to Devils Marbles Hotel (Wauchope Hotel) Explore the WW2 history / Barrow Bore Staging Camp (30 klm north) 91 Rest stops at Banka Banka Station Mon Wycliffe Well – site of WW2 Army farm – Lunch break 3rd 2 Hrs 2 Arrive Devils Marbles Hotel – Free Camping on cricket grounds, Host – Central Land Aug drive Council time Dinner Devils Marbles Hotel – ($ per head TBC)

0800 hrs - Depart Devils Marbles Hotel (Wauchope Hotel) Arrive Tennant Creek. Free camping at show grounds. Host: Barkly Regional Council 116 Explore region including:

Gold Battery – Battery Hill Museum Inc. WW1 Borella Collection Tue 4th 2 1/2 3 Historic Mine sites Aug Hrs Historic 7 Mile staging camp, tyre cooling dip and bore, historic Tennant Creek Overland drive Telegraph Station time WW2 historic sites inc WW2 Hospital, RSL museum, AIM Welfare Hall. Hosted by History Trust NT and RSL 1800 Hrs – BBQ Dinner at RSL Club – ($ per head tba)

Explore Tennant Creek and region 1200 Hrs - Mary Ann Dam – BBQ Lunch and amphibious vehicle swim in Wed 1800 Hrs - Dinner at Memorial Club – pricing per menu. 4 5th Free https://northernterritory.com/tennant-creek-and-barkly-region/see-and-do/history-and- Aug day heritage

0800 Hrs – Depart Tennant Creek for Elliott Rest stops at Three Ways Road House, John Flynn Memorial Bridge over Attack Creek monument Detour of Stuart Hwy to Churchill’s Head (original N S Road) 254 Morphett Creek Army Engineers Depot / river crossing

Thur Banka Banka Staging Camp / Homestead – (103 Klm from Tennant Creek) - LUNCH 4 ½ 5 6th https://northernterritory.com/tennant-creek-and-barkly-region/see-and-do/banka-banka-mud- Hrs Aug hut drive Renner Springs time Arrive Elliott – camping on council grounds – Lake Woods Explore WW2 Elliott staging camp and WW2 sites inc Telephone repeater station along Drovers Drive 18.00 Hrs – Dinner at Community Hall 0800 Hrs – Depart Elliott for Larrimah Stops at Newcastle Waters, Dunmarra Hotel Daly Waters – explorer Sturt’s blazed tree, WW2 aerodrome, Daly Waters region and Hotel for lunch 238 1100 Hrs – Lunch at Daly Waters Hotel (93 Klm from Elliott) Depart Daly Waters Fri 7th 6 Stops at – Alexander Forrest Memorial 4 1/2 Aug Arrive Larrimah – explore region including: Hrs Larrimah Railhead – End of the Line – North Australia Railway Museum and explore drive Larrimah Siding - WW2 historic sites inc 45 Camp Hospital, Bulk fuel depot, BIPOD, time Telephone repeater station 1800 Hrs – Dinner at Larrimah Hotel – Host

0800 Hrs – Depart Larrimah for Mataranka Stops at : 0830 hrs - WW2 GORRIE Aerodrome – (10 klm north of Larrimah) to explore / group 78 vehicle photo on https://northernterritory.com/articles/gorrie-airfield

Elsey Cemetery Sat 8th 1 1/2 7 Mataranka / Mataranka Thermal Pools Aug Hrs Explore Mataranka war time history drive Free camping at Mataranka https://www.matarankahomestead.com.au/ time From 17.00 Hrs – Dinner at Jeannie’s Restaurant. Entertainment (whip cracking) and band (The Repeat Offenders) – Group booking cost tba

108 0800 Hrs – Depart Mataranka for Katherine

Sun 9th 1100 Hrs – Tour of RAAF Tindal base 8 2 Hrs Aug Arrive Katherine. drive Free camping at Katherine Show Grounds. Host: Katherine Town Council time

Mon Katherine – Tour WW2 historic sites and Katherine Museum / WW2 Aerodrome / Katherine 9 10th hot springs / WW2 Low level river crossing / Manbulloo Airfield and WW2 meat works. Free Aug Day 0800 Hrs – Depart Katherine for Adelaide River Stops at Pine Creek / China Town / WW2 railway station museum 1200 Hrs – Lunch - Hayes Creek (147 klm from Katherine) – Detour to / WW2 aircraft graveyard 206 Tue https://northernterritory.com/articles/fenton-a-piece-of-america 10 11th PM - Arrive Adelaide River – Free camping at ARSS (Adelaide River Show Society) show 4 Hrs Aug grounds. drive Explore local WW2 historic sites inc Snake Gully time https://northernterritory.com/articles/adelaide-river-in-wwii

0600 Hrs – Dawn Service – Adelaide River War Cemetery Explore local WW2 historic sites inc Snake Gully and Adelaide River Homestead WW2 vehicle maintenance pits Depart Adelaide River Arrive Coomalie Airstrip – Free camping / showers / toilets / good cooking facilities / party

central – two nights stay – Host: Richard Loxton, who has reconstructed a complete WW2 42 Wed Bomber and Fighter Base complete with WW2 Hospital, Chapel and control tower. This is

11 12th the site of the last bombing raid on Australian soil (1943) 1 Hrs Aug https://31squadronassociation.com.au/coomalie-creek/ drive

time

Alternative camping at Coomalie Creek. (Make your own booking if desired) https://www.australiancaravanclub.com.au/budget-camping-hidden/1222-coomalie-creek-rv- park The park was originally an Intelligence Army Base during WW2.

Coomalie Airstrip activities – This is an operation airfield with light / experimental and ex- military aircraft and taking off and has been reconstructed as a complete WW2

Bomber and Fighter Base complete with WW2 Hospital, Chapel and Control tower. This is Free the site of the last bombing raid on Australian soil (1943) Time

Thur to Explore local WW2 history site / sites / relics 12 13th explore Outings to Batchelor Aerodrome / / Strauss Airfield Aug region https://northernterritory.com/articles/australias-air-war and

ww2 Gateway to National Parks – including Litchfield National Park for swimming and sites waterfalls and Robin Falls

0800 Hrs start – Depart Coomalie Airfield 1000 hrs - Arrive Palmerston Gateway Shopping Centre – form up convoy for POLICE 87 escort into Robertson Barracks and onto Fortress Darwin Fri Convoy arrives Fortress Darwin city 1 1/2 13 14th 1200 Hrs – Street parade – official welcome, vehicle display Darwin waterfront Hrs Aug 1300 Hrs – Explore WW2 Darwin historic sites inc. East Point Fortifications, Stokes Hill drive Wharf, Bombing of Darwin museum, Old hanger, Underground oil storage Time tunnels, Doctors Gully Flying Boats base PM – Free camping for WW2 Military vehicles for one week - Lawned area (toilets and showers) next to Darwin Military Museum – East Point. (Gated access)

AM - Darwin – VJ Day commemorations and Remembrance Services Back to the Track 2020 Plaque unveiling – RAAF Base Sat Sporting Oval vehicle parade and display 14 15th 1800 Hrs - Red Cross VJ Day Dinner / Ball – Black Tie or WW2 Uniform – Charity Aug Fundraiser

Fortress Darwin Military Camp – Public display Sun 1000 hrs – Drive through Larrakeyah Military Barracks – Main base for the Australian 15 16th Defence Force in the NT Aug 1800 hrs - Participants Auction / Presentations / Awards / Farewell

Free Camping for WW2 vehicles for one week – Lawned and tree shaded area (toilets and Sat showers – limited power) next to Darwin Military Museum – East Point. (Secure gated 15th to access) Sun https://northernterritory.com/articles/darwin-harbour-in-wwii

23rd We are providing a living history public display - Fortress Darwin Military Camp. Hosts: Aug Darwin City Council and Bombing of Darwin Military Museum. Campers to maintain an authentic WW2 military camp setting (Media focus) Army providing common area tentage (shade/water/ dining/meetings) TOTAL KLM 1486

ALICE SPRINGS

ROAD TRANSPORT HALL OF FAME TRUCKERS REUNION Fri 27th 25 Year Museum Anniversary Sat 28th Truckers / Transport Reunion Sun 29th Transport Hall of Fame Inductees Aug Weekend of Vehicle parades and reunion dinner 2020 Bookings https://roadtransporthall.com/

You will encounter may types of road users travelling at different speeds and under different conditions whilst driving through the NT.

Drivers need to plan their trips. Driving safely in the NT https://nt.gov.au/driving/safety/driving-safety-checklist Driving tips for visitors to the NT Visitors should also read the driving in the NT guide (1.5 mb)