MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek -
Outback Safety,
Outback Driving Tips,
Outback Communications, and
Vehicle Setup for the Outback.
TIP | Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability. |
This trip should only be undertaken by EXPERIENCED outback desert travellers ONLY! Over 90% of this route does not follow any wheel tracks and there is no signage. This is a pure offroad expedition and not suitable for the majority of travellers. Archaeologists and historians are main people who would be interested in this route as there are numerous sites of significance to investigate. The route provided was recorded by an ExplorOz Team expedition party. Your expedition group should all be highly experienced in previous
Simpson Desert trips as you will need to navigate your own path across the dunes, taking care to identify a path that will not cause tyre punctures from vegetation lying just below live sand.
For well over 400km, you will travel over pure virgin desert terrain and you will need to rely on your GPS plotted course from one side of the desert to the other.
Because of the very remote nature of the area to be travelled, trip leaders must be very competent in map reading and should be using the best topographic maps (
EOTopo 2021) together with the
ExplorOz Traveller app. By using this provided Trek Note, your route is pre-planned and you will get prompted guidance. In addition, with the
ExplorOz Traveller app you will see where you are on the map as you travel and have access to all the documented POIs around you at the time. However do not be complacent as you may encounter any number of hazards that restrict you from following the provided route.
All supplies of food, water and fuel, must be taken before the trip is started. Do not under-estimate your fuel and water usage, as there are no back up supplies to be obtained along the way between
Birdsville and Mt Dare. Any sort of vehicle recovery would be very difficult and extremely expensive so carry your own spares and be prepared to carry out your own repairs.
Vehicles must be in first class condition, as well as tyres, and
suspension. Make sure that you carry extra tyre plugs and tubes, as you will be guaranteed many punctures, mostly side wall type. It will be the first few vehicles in the group that take the lead that are going to be guaranteed punctures, clearing the track for the following vehicles. First and second gear low range is the usual gearing - progress will therefore be slow.
As well as vehicle preparation, participants’ health issues must also be catered for. Visit your local GP prior to the trip and take a selection of medications that may be needed for such a remote area.
Permits
When travelling through SA Desert Parks, a valid Desert Parks Pass is required. A Desert Park Pass can be purchased online directly from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources SA.
Note: if you deviate from this route or stop to
camp on the Queensland side of the QAA Line, a permit is required from the Queensland National Park and Wildlife. Contact Don Rowlands, National Parks
Ranger,
Birdsville.
Fuel Usage
For diesel vehicles a minimum of 300L should be taken for this trip.
Diesel | ULP | LPG |
---|
4cyl 109 litres | 4cyl 125 litres | 4cyl 155 litres |
6cyl 119 litres | 6cyl 140 litres | 6cyl 136 litres |
8cyl 119 litres | 8cyl 128 litres | |
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.
Best Time To Visit
May to October
Closest Climatic Station
Birdsville Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 204.67km E
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|
Mean Max. °C | 40.2 | 38.1 | 35.2 | 31.8 | 25.6 | 21.1 | 21.8 | 24.7 | 29.9 | 32.9 | 36.0 | 38.5 |
Mean Min. °C | 26.4 | 24.7 | 21.7 | 17.1 | 11.2 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 8.7 | 13.6 | 17.0 | 21.2 | 23.8 |
Mean Rain mm | 20.9 | 33.0 | 40.5 | 1.3 | 6.4 | 11.8 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 7.2 | 11.4 | 18.2 | 8.4 |
Best time to travel Ok time to travel Travel NOT recommended