Well, there is a hell of a joke to start with - calling this track a highway. I have this mental picture of a truck driver arriving in Alice Springs from the USA and given a truck load of goods and a map and told to get himself to Perth. Looking at the map would show this alleged 'highway' across the centre of the country. Although I have heard of a person doing it in a 4WD, but only using 2 WD all the way - it really is a remote desert stretch of track. A high clearance Holden ute with a couple of keen young blokes would probably get through without too much trouble, but it wouldn't be my first choice of vehicle.
It starts at Laverton in West Australia (or finishes, depending which way you are travelling) and finishes at Coober Pedy in South Australia. 1800kms with one fuel stop - and that is fairly recent.

This was done in a Toyota Hilux that we bought on the internet, no special suspension - just your average vehicle. It did have a 60 litre LPG (propane) tank, and the standard 67 litre petrol tank. We carried three 20 litre jerry cans, and 80 litres of water.

Lots of interesting information on this link.

We needed to apply for permits to enter three bits of land, and this is a problem. We had to apply before we left Tasmania, at least two months before expecting to be on the Anne Beadell. But all the permit issuers require you to enter a date, and you have to stick to that. In theory if you are caught on the land on the wrong date you can be fined and taken to court. It's a crazy system and we did not end up passing through those lands on the date we had given. But then, who is out there checking anyway?

The road from Laverton to the South Australia border was excellent, probably because it had been graded recently. The South Australian side doesn't seem to have been graded in its life except when it was originally pushed through by Len Beadell in the 50's - and is extremely corrugated in long stretches. The normal method of dealing with corrugations is maintaining high speed over them, but that is impossible on parts of this. You very quickly have to change down to 1st gear and creep along at 5 km an hour, otherwise the vehicle is likely to disintegrate.

But it was interesting and worth doing. We had the Hema Desert Map Series.

This was what it was like most of the way.

'Old Yeo Homestead' - but they never actually ran stock here. Good place to stop.

Very hot. Extra fly to shade the vehicle - the fridge is inside.

The cartop tent and solar panels.

Restored well at Old Yeo.

Getting water for washing.

After dark we noticed little shapes running round under our feet - mice.

And decided to give them a drink.

Sunrise from Old Yeo.

An alternative route before getting back onto the Anne Beadell Track.

This had us worried for a while - but it stayed up there.

The occasional blip on the horizon to break up the view.

Even the curvature of the earth is noticeable from up here.

Spinifex, and more spinifex.

We decided to locate some of Len's original survey markers.

Refuelling along the way.

The obligatory visit to the plane wreck - a few kms off the track.

Sand dune country.

We carried three spare tyres - but generally repaired them at the time.

Refuelling at Ilkurlka Roadhouse.

The corrugations were too much for this wimpy vehicle.

Part of the largest wild herd of camels in the world. (more info)

Some of the long stretches of corrugations on the South Australia section.

Bigger and better corrugations.

If you get too close to the side of the road you can easily pick up a mulga root, and destroy a tyre.

Give way???? To whom. Not another vehicle for 500 kms.

Woomera rocket range.

A Highway??? They're dreaming.

The end of the track - Coober Pedy.