Simpson Desert via Geosurveys Hill

Simpson Desert via Geosurveys Hill From the stone workings of our ancient aboriginal past to the routes undertaken for the old oil exploration surveys, this very remote one-way trek starting at Mount Dare to Birdsville is for experienced desert travellers ONLY.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesMount Dare Hotel
FinishBirdsville
DifficultyDifficulty 5/5 Suitable for4WD 
Distance773.23 kmMinimum Days4
Average Speed28.53 km/hrDriving Time1 day 3 hrs 6 mins
Rating Be the first to rate this item0 Reviews
Page Updated: 23 May 2011

Go to top Description

Seeing the Simpson Desert as a true remote wilderness area, that has seen less than a hand full of people ever venture into the true heart of the Worlds largest parallel dunes system. See Aboriginal stone chippings and grinding stones, left where they were abandoned hundreds of years ago. See dramatic changes in desert vegetation and dune shape and construction as you slowly crawl across the desert.

SPONSOR MESSAGE Become a Sponsor
This could be an advert for your business!
Sponsorship of this page is available now – and for much less than you might think. Find out how you can reach Australia's largest online audience in the 4WD/RV/Camping industry.
www.exploroz.com/Advertising/Default.aspx

Go to top Interactive Route Map

Loading...
Loading
Selected Item is not in View - Zoom Out, Pan or Click to Show....
Places

Zoom & Scale Help

Point Control


Point Features










Linear Features



Member Features


Overlays


Place Name Search Help

Enter the place you are looking for.

Address Search Help

Enter the full or part address you are looking for.
Locate Address

Lat/Lon Search Help

Enter the Lat & Lon you wish to view.
Show Position

Route/Driving Directions Help

Enter an address in the 'from and to' then click 'Create Route'.
Create Route

Select Data Format

GPX GeoRSS OziExplorer
CSV
Hema Navigator WKT
NOTE: All downloads are strictly for personal use, all download activity is recorded and limits may be imposed.
Your download is being generated, you will be promoted to Open or Save this file
Full Screen

Show

Simpson Desert via Geosurveys Hill Help

From: Mount Dare Hotel
To: Birdsville

This trek supports moving map, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button.
Map Legend
Mouse Position:

Go to top 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 here: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Park_Entry_Fees/Parks_Passes Permission is also required to enter Andado property, from the owners Jo and Robby Bloomfield.

If camping in 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.

Go to top Things to See & Do

Go to top Preparation

This trip should only be undertaken by EXPERIENCED outback desert travellers ONLY! Because of the very remote nature of the area to be travelled, trip leaders must be very competent in GPS navigation, as there are no tracks to follow for over 90% of the trip, being pure off road travel at a very slow pace.

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. Any sort of vehicle recovery would be very difficult and extremely expensive. 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.

With the nature of many of the dunes to be crossed, I would also highly recommend using the GPS in conjunction with a moving map programme, such as OziExplorer, and a Laptop computer for real time moving mapping. There will be many times that GPS navigation will not be enough, and the moving map will help you to navigate safely around some of the larger dunes that will be impossible to cross. First and second gear low range is the usual gearing, showing how slow your progress will be. Also recommend a minimum of 2 GPS units and 2 laptop computers, as well as a standard compass in the group, in case of GPS failures.

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.

Your vehicle will need to be extensively prepared for remote area travel, with all fuel, water, food and vehicle repair equipment and spare parts.
All travellers should read the for related articles and checklists for vehicle setup and driver awareness. We advise that you refer to the latest information and advice about outback communications in the

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolMount Dare Hotel, Birdsville Diesel4cyl 109 litres ULP4cyl 125 litres LPG4cyl 155 litres
6cyl 119 litres6cyl 140 litres6cyl 136 litres
8cyl 119 litres8cyl 128 litres
Note: For safety reasons, carry a minimum of 300 litres of diesel per vehicle

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Mount Dare Hotel, Birdsville
Basic supplies are available from Mount Dare, with nothing available until the finishing point of Birdsville, nearly 2 weeks later.

Go to top Camp Sites & Accommodation

Go to top Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Mount Dare Hotel to Mt Dare Tk, SA-NT Border 13.98 km NE 47° 16 min
Mt Dare Tk, SA-NT Border to Andado 73.09 km N 356° 1 hr 39 min
Andado to Old Andado 17.2 km E 78° 19 min
Old Andado to Mac Clarke Conservation Reserve 47.14 km N 13° 45 min
Mac Clarke Conservation Reserve to Madigan Camp 1 32.67 km NE 55° 56 min
Madigan Camp 1 to The Twins 26.02 km N 17° 49 min
The Twins to Hale River Flood Plain 25.34 km SE 115° 2 hr 6 min
Hale River Flood Plain to Geosurveys Base A, Old Fuel Dump 75.1 km E 110° 4 hr 46 min
Geosurveys Base A, Old Fuel Dump to Geosurveys Hill 42.24 km E 85° 5 hr 32 min
Geosurveys Hill to Old Fuel Dump 51.2 km SE 119° 6 hr 27 min
Old Fuel Dump to Geographical Centre of Simpson Desert 27.52 km S 169° 2 hr 21 min
Geographical Centre of Simpson Desert to Grove of Gidgee Trees 55.51 km SE 134° 4 hr 57 min
Grove of Gidgee Trees to Large Open Cut Pit 18.11 km E 105° 2 hr 27 min
Large Open Cut Pit to Thomas No 1 Oil Well 40.36 km SE 157° 3 hr 56 min
Thomas No 1 Oil Well to French Line & Thomas Track 27.63 km SE 151° 1 hr 12 min
French Line & Thomas Track to Poeppel Corner 26.02 km E 83° 1 hr 10 min
Poeppel Corner to Narrow-leafed Hop Bush, QAA Line 31.16 km NE 23° 1 hr 4 min
Narrow-leafed Hop Bush, QAA Line to Salt Bush Flats, QAA Line 23.41 km E 96° 48 min
Salt Bush Flats, QAA Line to Georgina Gidgee Interdunes, QAA Line 20.97 km E 95° 33 min
Georgina Gidgee Interdunes, QAA Line to Spinifex Dune, QAA Line 17.69 km E 94° 26 min
Spinifex Dune, QAA Line to Eyre Creek, QAA Line 18.66 km E 86° 31 min
Eyre Creek, QAA Line to Big Red 18.72 km E 84° 28 min
Big Red to Birdsville 43.51 km E 94° 1 hr 1 min
Mount Dare Hotel to Birdsville 773.23 km     1 day 3 hr 6 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.

Go to top Trek Feedback
ReviewCreate a Review/Discussion
You must be registered and logged in to 'Have Your Say'



Registration is free and takes only seconds to complete!
Loading...