Birdsville Roads

Submitted: Monday, Oct 24, 2016 at 14:25
ThreadID: 133657 Views:3997 Replies:4 FollowUps:3
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Been a while since we've been to Birdsville. I've been told that the roads from Mt Isa, Boulia and Bedourie to Birdsville are now bitumen. True or not. And what about the road out to Windorah, is that sealed as well. Starting to plan our big next trip from the west with a van on this time. Thanks for any info guys and gals. Errol
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Oct 24, 2016 at 14:48

Monday, Oct 24, 2016 at 14:48
Bitumen from the Isa to Boulia, mostly single lane, then wider bitumen from Boulia to Bedourie with few passing/overtaking concerns.

Bedourie to Birdsville is NOT all bitumen yet, though I believe they have recently upgraded a further section. The dirt sections are usually in good condition, even for towing.

Haven't been right along the Windorah-Birdsville section for some years, but then the bitumen stopped about 110-120kms west of Windorah. This section is a mix of single and wider bitumen.

Bob

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Reply By: Ozi M - Monday, Oct 24, 2016 at 15:22

Monday, Oct 24, 2016 at 15:22
Windorah to Birdsville was only part sealed last year when I was there. The road was OK, it is a hard road surface, more rock than dirt which is why they bring the crowd that way when Birdsville races get washed out.
If your van is off road it would be OK, if not then you would need to take it very easy in places.
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Reply By: ian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 00:31

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 00:31
Errol,
from Windorah it is bitumen to the turn off, then usually good soil/stone road
ian
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:25

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:25
To amplify that, the 115 km of the Diamantina Developmental road to the turn off to the Birdsville Dev. Rd. is all sealed. The Birdsville Developmental road has some sections of sealed road. The rest is good gravel, it generally in very good condition. The first time I was out that way the majority of the gravel was better to travel on than the bitumen south of Boulia. Both times I have driven it I reckon I would have averaged over 70 km/h with a soft road van on behind.

Question, the last time I was out there they were bypassing Betoota (the bit being bypassed was the worst bit of gravel on that stretch.) Was that bypass sealed or is it only gravel?
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Follow Up By: ian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:35

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:35
Peter,
from memory, the bypass jump up is sealed as it is steeper, but the level sections of the Betoota bypass are graded gravel
Ian
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:41

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:41
Thanks Ian
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Reply By: splits - Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:28

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:28
I drove over those roads three months ago and they are as the others have said. I would take an on road van over them but very slowly. Too much speed is the only real problem.

It reminds me of a couple my wife and I met half way between Oodnadatta and Dalhousie Springs three years ago. The road was no more than badly corrugated rocks but they were carefully picking their way through it at around 20 kph. Their van way not a serious off road but maybe a little better than an on road model. They said they have been travelling like that for years without any problems. Unsealed roads were usually only a small portion of their trips so slowing right down on them was not a problem.

We saw them again a few days later while we were camped along the side of the Old Ghan Heritage Trail. The road was badly corrugated and they were still travelling at the same speed.
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