The Plenty Highway (State Route 12) stretches 498km from the Stuart Highway, 68km north of Alice Springs, to Tobermorey Homestead on the Northern Territory/Queensland border. The highway takes its name from the Plenty River, an ephemeral watercourse that runs north of and parallel to the road for almost 200km, but is not generally seen by travellers until they cross it near Jervois Station.
This mostly unsealed road traverses some of the Territory's most remote and scenic landscapes, steeped in Indigenous culture and pioneering heritage. Though perhaps not as popular, or forgiving, as the Barkly Highway further north, the Plenty draws increasing numbers of outback adventurers for its beguiling red soil plains and stunning mountain vistas.
As outback roads go, the Plenty isn't too bad. The highway is sealed to Atitjere (Harts Range) and thereafter is an unsealed mix of firm gravel and loose red dirt. Despite regular maintenance and some upgrades, there are long stretches of bulldust, potholes, corrugations, and rough, gnarly fords over dry watercourses. It is essentially a dry weather track, prone to flooding, and is often impassable after heavy rain.
ABORIGINAL CULTURE
The Plenty region encompasses the traditional lands of the Eastern Arrernte, Alyawarra and
