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Border Track
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Border Track

Difficulty: Trek rating 1.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 1.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD 2WD Caravan Camper Motorhome Bike 
This track follows a section of the state border between Victoria and South Australia. A mostly sandy track with dunes provides you with a remote location for testing self and equipment without travelling deeper into the outback.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesNhill
Trek
FinishMildura
Distance726.98 kmMinimum Days3
Average Speed47.66 km/hrDriving Time15 hr 15 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 17 Jan 2008
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 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.

 Interactive Route Map

NhillWoorakFour Mile Beach Camp GroundJeparitRainbowAlbacutyaWestern Beach of Lake AlbacutyaBilly Bore CampBorder Track & FireBreak TrackSouth of Red Bluff Reserve TkPinnarooPheenys Track CampBorder Track & Pheenys TkCustoms House - Murray RiverNed's CornerMerbeinBirdwoodtonMildura
Nhill
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 141.6501ºE   36.3333ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Woorak
Distance: 12.48km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Woorak
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 141.7651ºE   36.2797ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Four Mile Beach Camp Ground
Distance: 26.04km
Average Speed: 99.52km/h
Features: Caravan Park
Position: 141.9283ºE   36.1333ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Jeparit
Distance: 6.66km
Average Speed: 26.38km/h
Jeparit
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceCaravan Park Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
Position: 141.9882ºE   36.1425ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Rainbow
Distance: 32.01km
Average Speed: 26.38km/h
Rainbow
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Position: 141.9979ºE   35.8958ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Albacutya
Distance: 8.93km
Average Speed: 26.38km/h
Albacutya
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 141.9949ºE   35.8149ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Western Beach of Lake Albacutya
Distance: 7.58km
Average Speed: 12.26km/h
Features: Camp FreePoint of Interest Toilet
Position: 141.9353ºE   35.7809ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Billy Bore Camp
Distance: 123.54km
Average Speed: 13.94km/h
Features: Camp FreePoint of Interest
Position: 141.3220ºE   35.5154ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Border Track & FireBreak Track
Distance: 54.02km
Average Speed: 67.16km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 140.9669ºE   35.3900ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: South of Red Bluff Reserve Tk
Distance: 56.79km
Average Speed: 0km/h
South of Red Bluff Reserve Tk
This location is just south of the Red Bluff Reserve Track. Kate is driving a Nissan Patrol along the Border Track and this is the second sand dune she had driven over.
Features: Track,Road
Position: 140.9636ºE   35.8988ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Pinnaroo
Distance: 80.21km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Pinnaroo
Small town with most facilities, close to Ngarkat National Park and Murray Sunset National Parks.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Quarantine Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 140.9120ºE   35.2616ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Pheenys Track Camp
Distance: 87.54km
Average Speed: 78.67km/h
Features: Camp Free
Position: 141.1803ºE   34.7163ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Border Track & Pheenys Tk
Distance: 20.35km
Average Speed: 12.51km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 140.9669ºE   34.7081ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Customs House - Murray River
Distance: 85.19km
Average Speed: 12.51km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 141.0116ºE   34.0258ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Ned's Corner
Distance: 63.04km
Average Speed: 12.51km/h
Ned's Corner
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 141.5367ºE   34.2065ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Merbein
Distance: 50.24km
Average Speed: 93.02km/h
Merbein
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 142.0591ºE   34.1690ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Birdwoodton
Distance: 2.98km
Average Speed: 93.02km/h
Birdwoodton
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 142.0595ºE   34.1956ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mildura
Distance: 9.36km
Average Speed: 93.02km/h
Mildura
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 142.1383ºE   34.2068ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

Permits are not required for this trek note.

 Things to See & Do

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolNhill, Rainbow, Pinnaroo, Merbein, Mildura Diesel4cyl 102 litres ULP4cyl 117 litres LPG4cyl 145 litres
6cyl 112 litres6cyl 131 litres6cyl 128 litres
8cyl 124 litres8cyl 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 49.01km E
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 31.631.227.822.8 18.315.114.616.3 19.423.026.529.7
Mean Min. °C 15.215.313.110.0 7.75.64.85.3 6.98.811.213.4
Mean Rain mm 21.324.521.223.0 31.330.033.435.4 31.834.726.723.1
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Nhill, Jeparit, Rainbow, Pinnaroo, Merbein, Mildura
Nhill and Pinaroo are the main towns until arriving at Mildura but also enjoy stopping in Rainbow and Jeparit

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

Pinnaroo   RatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Quarantine Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Small town with most facilities, close to Ngarkat National Park and Murray Sunset National Parks.
Billy Bore Camp   RatingRatingRatingRating
Camp Free Point of Interest
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Rainbow   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Nhill   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Jeparit   
Populated Place Caravan Park Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Pheenys Track Camp   
Camp Free 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Merbein   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Mildura   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 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

Time
Direction
Distance
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 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 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.

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What Others have Posted

Wandy1977 : 12 Jun 08 21:18
We have just returned from a week's holiday on the Border Track. We ...
ourjayco1 : 21 Jan 08 20:47
Is it ok to tow an 4x4 off road camper trailer along the Border Tra...

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