Description
Birdsville Track was established during the 1880’s and was the main stock route between
Marree in
South Australia and
Birdsville in
Queensland. Back then, the route had taken approximately a month to complete and because of the long and harsh environment, many cattle didn’t survive the trip. The track these days is passable with many conventional vehicles and many people like to undertake the journey to discover the route the old stockman used to take.
There are two routes which heads into
Birdsville from the south and that is the Outside and the Inside track. The Inside Track saves considerable distance than the more commonly used Outside Track, however the route traverses through some treacherous soils of Goyder Lagoon and must be undertaken by 4WD at all times. The biggest threat is from the floodwaters of Goyder Lagoon and Cooper Creek -- if northern monsoonal rain is excessive, flooding from
Queensland's rivers will close the Inside Track and the
Birdsville Track well into winter. Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often.
Interactive Route Map
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Birdsville
Birdsville is a small town located in Western Queensland, Australia. The town is located 1590 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane, and 720 kilometres south of the city of Mount Isa. Birdsville is situated on the edge of the Simpson Desert, and the climate is very arid.
Position: 139.3534ºE 25.8990ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Birdsville Inside Tk & Birdsville Access
Distance: 1.47km
Average Speed: 50.15km/h
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Features:
Position: 139.3323ºE 25.9126ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Birdsville Inside Tk & New Alton Downs Access
Distance: 73.16km
Average Speed: 81.16km/h
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Features:
Position: 139.2754ºE 26.4723ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Birdsville Inside Track
Distance: 20.9km
Average Speed: 83.14km/h
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Birdsville Inside Track
From the Turn off just North of Clifton Hills the Inside Track is Gibbers for about 10/15klm then runs into a reasonable track , A few small dunes to the sides ,and the track is wind blown in places , the track will end where it intersects the road to Big Red 2.4klm S.
Features:
Position: 139.1349ºE 26.5944ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Warburton Ck, Birdsville Inside Tk
Distance: 24.31km
Average Speed: 85.41km/h
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Features:
Position: 139.0367ºE 26.7830ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Birdsville Tk & Birdsville Inside Tk
Distance: 25.61km
Average Speed: 81.11km/h
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Features:
Position: 139.0249ºE 26.9981ºS (GDA 94)
Things to See & Do
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
 | Birdsville |
Diesel | 4cyl 20 litres |
ULP | 4cyl 24 litres |
LPG | 4cyl 29 litres |
|---|
| 6cyl 22 litres | 6cyl 26 litres | 6cyl 26 litres |
| 8cyl 23 litres | 8cyl 24 litres | |
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Moomba Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 209.46km SE
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
38.3 | 37.0 | 34.0 | 29.2 |
23.5 | 20.1 | 19.4 | 22.5 |
27.4 | 29.9 | 34.1 | 36.4 |
| Mean Min. °C |
24.5 | 23.8 | 20.5 | 15.9 |
10.8 | 7.5 | 6.6 | 8.4 |
12.7 | 15.8 | 19.5 | 22.2 |
| Mean Rain mm |
16.9 | 25.3 | 10.8 | 7.8 |
10.8 | 11.3 | 18.7 | 4.8 |
14.4 | 11.8 | 13.0 | 16.1 |
Best time to travel Ok time to travel Travel NOT recommended
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
Birdsville
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
| Birdsville to Birdsville Inside Tk & Birdsville Access |
1.47 km |
SW |
234° |
1 min |
| Birdsville Inside Tk & Birdsville Access to Birdsville Inside Tk & New Alton Downs Access |
73.16 km |
S |
185° |
54 min |
| Birdsville Inside Tk & New Alton Downs Access to Birdsville Inside Track |
20.9 km |
SW |
226° |
15 min |
| Birdsville Inside Track to Warburton Ck, Birdsville Inside Tk |
24.31 km |
SW |
205° |
17 min |
| Warburton Ck, Birdsville Inside Tk to Birdsville Tk & Birdsville Inside Tk |
25.61 km |
S |
183° |
18 min |
| Birdsville to Birdsville Tk & Birdsville Inside Tk |
145.46 km |
|
|
1 hr 54 min |
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
Trek Search
ExplorOz Trek Notes are detailed, factual reviews of destinations in Australia to which you can plan a self-drive camping trip. This page will enable you to access over 100 of these trek notes, using various search methods and at a glance you can see what treks we have in each area across Australia.
[Feature Story]
Simpson Desert WAA Line
This track is similar to the French Line and although it has smaller dunes, it is very picturesque especially after rain. While in this area take a look at the Knolls, which is a scenic but fragile part of the Simpson so please stay on the track.
Simpson Desert French Line
The French Line is the most direct route across the desert and traverses directly across the tops of over 1200 red sand dunes, with Big Red being the major challenge.
Simpson Desert Rig Road
The Rig Road is the most southern access across the Simpson Desert. It is a longer route because it winds along the edge of dunes and crosses at the lowest points. Old clay-topped track is now eroding, but was once used for moving heavy equipment.
Simpson Desert
The Simpson Desert can be crossed via the French Line, WAA line or Rig Road. This trek provides a route using a combination of all 3 routes.
Innamincka Memorials and Markers
This trek which lies purely in the Innamincka Regional Reserve follows the memorials, markers and waterholes along Cooper Creek. It is a trek filled with history and culture from the Burke and Wills Expedition to protected Aboriginal sites and artefacts.
Walkers Crossing
Route for driving between Birdsville and Innamincka through the flood plain country of the nothern overlow of the Cooper Creek before rising onto the Sturt Stony Desert on the Birdsville Track.
Strzelecki Track
The Stzrelecki Track is strictly the route form Innamincka to Lyndhurst, however our trek note is for travellers starting at Innamincka and travelling down to Arkaroola Village in the heart of the Flinders Ranges.
Birdsville Track
The Birdsville Track runs south from Birdsville to Maree and passes through the Sturt Stony Desert. It is an extremely remote region but is strikingly beautiful in its harshness.
Oodnadatta Track
If you’re a history buff you’re going to go nuts crossing the Oodnadatta Track. The track follows the orignal Ghan line from Marla to Oodnadatta and then on to Marree. There's stacks of ruins, mound springs, excellent conservation park information & railway sidings/rubble.
Dig Tree Circuit
This loop trek from Innamincka will take you on a historic adventure, heading towards The Burke and Wills "Dig Tree", which is one of Australia's national icons and an enduring reminder of our pioneering spirit.
Cordillo Downs
This is the main route from Innamincka to Birdsville. The track is about 420km and conditions vary greatly. The countryside is a seemingly endless gibber plain but this is Australia's prime cattle country - the Channel Country.
Bore Track
The Bore Track is an access road for oil company vehicles and for property owners. This track is a great alternative to the wide gravel road of the Strzelecki Track which is more a highway than a track.
Mt Dare to Oodnadatta via Dalhousie
This trek provides an easy opportunity to access Dalhousie Springs, one of the main icons of the Simpson Desert without a significant detour if touring between South Australia and the Red Centre.
Dalhousie to Finke via Bloods Ck
This trek connects the Red Centre and the Simpson Desert but also intersects the Old Ghan in numerous places and provides an interesting drive.
Painted Desert
The Painted Desert has to be the highlight of the South Australian Desert experience. This trek from Coober Pedy takes as little as one day, but if you are a photographer or painter, you may choose to spend an entire week in the Painted Desert.
