Description
This Trek has been prepared as a leisurely, interesting, 3 day trip allowing plenty of opportunity to see and experience this area. Starting in Nhill, the
trek notes head north to Lake Hindemarsh and to the dry Lake Albacutya before picking up the Murrayville Track near the
Wyperfeld National Park. You will then skirt the Big Desert Wilderness Park and briefly enter the
Murray-Sunset National Park and then follow the Old Mail Route where your trip ends in Mildura.
Note - it is possible to start the Border Track literally anywhere along the border, however note that some sections operate one way restrictions from North to South.
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Border Track
From: Nhill
To: Mildura
Distance: 726.98 km
Direction: 11 °
Average Speed: 47.66 km/hr
Travel Time: 15 hours 15 mins
Using the Map
Our treks have a moving map facility, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button in the Moving map control (see Moving Map help)
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Permits
Permits are not required for this trek note.
Things to See & Do
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
 | Nhill, Rainbow, Pinnaroo, Merbein, Mildura |
Diesel | 4cyl 102 litres |
ULP | 4cyl 118 litres |
LPG | 4cyl 145 litres |
|---|
| 6cyl 112 litres | 6cyl 131 litres | 6cyl 128 litres |
| 8cyl 114 litres | 8cyl 121 litres | |
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Fuel can be obtained at Nhill, Pinaroo and Mildura as well as Murrayville and Cullulleraine. Following the route as indicated should not require carrying additional fuel.
Best Time To Visit
Early or late summer is the best time to visit, although avoid mid summer as it can be quite hot.
Closest Climatic Station
Walpeup Research
Distance from Trek Mid Point 17.72km NE
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
31.6 | 31.2 | 27.8 | 22.8 |
18.3 | 15.1 | 14.6 | 16.3 |
19.4 | 23.0 | 26.5 | 29.7 |
| Mean Min. °C |
15.2 | 15.3 | 13.1 | 10.0 |
7.7 | 5.6 | 4.8 | 5.3 |
6.9 | 8.8 | 11.2 | 13.4 |
| Mean Rain mm |
21.3 | 24.5 | 21.2 | 23.0 |
31.3 | 30.0 | 33.4 | 35.4 |
31.8 | 34.7 | 26.7 | 23.1 |
Best time to travel Ok time to travel Travel NOT recommended
Camp Sites & Accommodation
Environment
The environment is typical Victorian desert – Mallee country. Expect some scratching from Mallee scrub particularly in the Wyperfeld section and some parts of the Northern Border Track may be overgrown. Soft sand is to be found on the tracks as well as corrugations and hard gravel. Carrying a compressor may be useful due to the changing
road conditions although keeping the speed down on deflated
tyres will enable travellers to get by. If intending to camp along the Murray take a
fishing rod and enjoy a break along this beautiful stretch of river at the end of a very sandy and dusty trip.
History
The border track is steeped in history largely due to the dispute which arose from the original survey completed between 1847 and 1850. The result is that the border is actually sighted some 3kms too far West. A fascinating account of this can be obtained from John Deckert at Westprint Heritage Maps if you manage to visit whilst in Nhill.
There is an abundance of wildlife to enjoy whilst undertaking this trip, so watch out for
Emu and Kangaroo. Aboriginal rock holes can be found close to the junction with South
Bore Track.
Driving Directions
| Nhill to Woorak |
12.48 km |
NE |
60° |
N/A |
| Woorak to Four Mile Beach Camp Ground |
26.04 km |
NE |
42° |
15 min |
| Four Mile Beach Camp Ground to Jeparit |
6.66 km |
E |
101° |
15 min |
| Jeparit to Rainbow |
32.01 km |
N |
2° |
1 hr 12 min |
| Rainbow to Albacutya |
8.93 km |
N |
358° |
20 min |
| Albacutya to Western Beach of Lake Albacutya |
7.58 km |
NW |
305° |
37 min |
| Western Beach of Lake Albacutya to Billy Bore Camp |
123.54 km |
NW |
298° |
8 hr 51 min |
| Billy Bore Camp to Border Track & FireBreak Track |
54.02 km |
NW |
293° |
48 min |
| Border Track & FireBreak Track to South of Red Bluff Reserve Tk |
56.79 km |
S |
180° |
N/A |
| South of Red Bluff Reserve Tk to Pinnaroo |
80.21 km |
N |
356° |
N/A |
| Pinnaroo to Pheenys Track Camp |
87.54 km |
N |
22° |
1 hr 6 min |
| Pheenys Track Camp to Border Track & Pheenys Tk |
20.35 km |
W |
273° |
1 hr 37 min |
| Border Track & Pheenys Tk to Customs House - Murray River |
85.19 km |
N |
3° |
6 hr 48 min |
| Customs House - Murray River to Ned's Corner |
63.04 km |
SE |
113° |
5 hr 2 min |
| Ned's Corner to Merbein |
50.24 km |
E |
85° |
32 min |
| Merbein to Birdwoodton |
2.98 km |
S |
179° |
1 min |
| Birdwoodton to Mildura |
9.36 km |
E |
100° |
6 min |
| Nhill to Mildura |
726.98 km |
|
|
15 hr 15 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.
Related Travel Journals
Easter Ramblings - Wyperfeld NP, Border Track nor
After work Saturday afternoon we headed off for a much anticipated two days meandering through the desert country to our north west.
From Beulah we went west to Rainbow and then via country tracks
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