Besides wild camels, kangaroos, and millions of flies, you’re unlikely to bump into anyone over the 1,015 miles of Australia’s famous Canning Stock Route. This desert two-track took Dan Grec and his dad 10 days to traverse, which is quick for the route, as conditions worked out in their favor.
Grec is a seasoned overland traveler, having traversed the entirety of the Pan-American Highway and spending 3 years circumnavigating Africa. On both previous trips, Grec lived out of Jeep Wranglers. The Canning Stock is his final push in Australia, after circumnavigating the continent doing all the most famous 4×4 routes in his modified Jeep Gladiator.
Of all the adventures I’ve had around the world, from the Pan-American Highway to all of Africa and now Australia, this is by far the most wild and remote I’ve ever explored, and the sense of isolation was immense.
Dan Grec, The Road Chose Me
Canning Stock Route
The Grecs set out in November, which is very late in the normal season that adventurers attempt the Canning, as monsoon rains and scorching summer heat loom heavy over the desolate desert landscape.
The route was established with a series of water wells in 1910 to move cattle from northwest Australia to the port city of Perth on the west coast. These days it’s mostly used for recreational off-roading and mining exploration.
The track is a continual change of two-track across dirt, sand, dunes, rocks, and more, with the occasional lush oasis where there’s water. The miles of endless congregations are real, and they will rattle your vehicle, and your spine, to pieces. This track has been unmaintained for decades, sees massive rain events, and is primarily traveled by heavily laden 4x4s. So, it generally just degrades versus gets smoother over time.
The Road Chose Me
Grec’s Canning Stock Survival Tip: Remember to continually check and remove the grass buildup under the vehicle, as it can cause a vehicle fire as it builds up and gets close to the hot bits under your vehicle.
To follow more of Grec’s adventures, see more of his videos, read his adventure books, and get more behind-the-scenes action from the Canning Stock, be sure to check out The Road Chose Me.
Runtime: 55 minutes
