Melbourne to Birdsville in 2 weeks time.....????
Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 21:31
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fmindum
Hi Folks
Been planning a to
Birdsville via
Flinders Ranges, but just learned today that the track is closed prior to Mungerannie from
Marree..... Puts a REAL dampener on things - So the question is - what other ways are there to get to
Birdsville in a similar time frame - I'm pretty sure the Silver City Hwy is also closed between
Broken Hill and
Tibooburra.... Any other ideas ????
This is the final fling for a month and a half away with the kids before they head into VCE, etc, so they are also pretty p1ssed at missing out on
Poeppel Corner,
Big Red, etc.... How else can I get there - ??
(Oh yeah, we're in a 100 series and towing off-road van...)
Thanks - Frank
Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 22:13
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 22:13
Well Frank, you could still go via the
Flinders Ranges then
Leigh Creek, up the Strzelecki Track to
Innamincka and on to
Birdsville via the
Cordillo Downs Road. It may not have the romance of the
Birdsville Track but is still a good route.
I haven't checked on road conditions for the Strzelecki but it is more reliable than the
Birdsville Track due to maintenance for the oil field traffic. You would also need to check on the
Cordillo Downs Road.
If time did not permit the above route you could go from
Melbourne via
Mildura,
Broken Hill, Innaminka and on to
Birdsville through
Cordillo Downs.
An off-road van should handle these routes as they are no worse than the
Birdsville Track.
Of course, you would not be able to haul the van out to
Poeppel Corner but could get out there and back to
Birdsville in the same day.
Hope it works out for you and the weather is kind.
AnswerID:
512975
Follow Up By: fmindum - Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 23:01
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 23:01
Thanks Allan
I had looked at that possibility and there was a report on the
Cordillo Downs Road I read earlier today. We did the
Oodnadatta with the same van 5 years ago no dramas, just nice and steady and lower tyre pressures.
Was aiming to leave van at
Birdsville while we camped under the stars at Poeppel, rather than haul the thing there.
Birdsvill track is just one of those iconic things on the bucket list.... Good to know the Strzelecki is maintained. That might become plan B..... Either way, I really hope we get there !!
Cheers, Frank
FollowupID:
791582
Follow Up By: fmindum - Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013 at 10:31
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013 at 10:31
Thanks Allan - the overall plan is actually once we've done Poeppel Cnr,
Big Red over a couple of days we'll be going to east coast and
Fraser island for a week.... (Hopefuly the island has not washed away....)
FollowupID:
791606
Reply By: jo b1 - Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 22:16
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 22:16
Dont panic Frank, it's just local rain and the roads will probably dry out in a couple of days and be open again.
No one can predict what will happen in two weeks but I wouldn't give up now.
Jo
AnswerID:
512976
Follow Up By: fmindum - Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 23:05
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 23:05
Appreciate the encouragement . Will look at the Strzelecki as option B if things go pear shaped but really hope we get to do the B'ville Track. I don't mind driving the dirt n wet, but I'd rather not get stranded like the rains in 09... I will look to the heavens and hope the rain-gods are kind...
Cheers
FollowupID:
791583
Reply By: allein m - Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013 at 16:11
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013 at 16:11
Hi just as i said in another post last week we here in
Broken Hill are having a damp patch it has been raining for two days now and road are closed to Tiboburra this may change in two weeks if there is no more rain but I would check on the road before you head this way
ok this is what rain we have had this month
total this month
40.0mm
AnswerID:
512997
Reply By: gclan - Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 09:06
Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 09:06
We're anxiously watching the yoyo-ing road reports too. The tracks have all opened and closed several times in the past week or two, changing on a daily basis, so you probably won't know what's open until the day of travel.
Looks like you've got an alternative or two now anyway, just in case. Fingers crossed :-)
AnswerID:
513033
Follow Up By: jothefw - Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 14:30
Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 14:30
Other than staying glued to this
forum - where's the best place to check out the status of these tracks?
FollowupID:
791683
Follow Up By: gclan - Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 14:38
Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 14:38
The SA Dept of Transport etc... lists the temporary road closures/conditions/warnings and restrictions.
They seem to update it daily.
Here's the link:
http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads
Cheers
Karen
FollowupID:
791684
Follow Up By: fmindum - Saturday, Jun 15, 2013 at 11:30
Saturday, Jun 15, 2013 at 11:30
Birdsville Track OPEN !
Just checked the DPTI website and the track is blue - open to all vehicles, but extreme caution required.... Happy days. Now to keep fingers crossed it will stay blue, or better yet, turn GREEN !!!! Happy Days !!!
(Much as I know we've been in a drought till recent times, it'd be great if the heavy stuff could stay away for a couple of weeks..... please...)
FollowupID:
791823
Reply By: allein m - Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 09:43
Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 09:43
well some weather report from todays local newsaper in
Broken Hill Katapa station 200ks north of us received 90mm of rain yesterday reports from all over the local area of the far west say they got a lot of rain so the road may be be closed for a few day to weeks as road are opened and graded
sorry for the bad news
AnswerID:
513037
Follow Up By: allein m - Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 15:59
Thursday, Jun 13, 2013 at 15:59
Just spoke to a station owner he said it is very very wet and boggy out of
Broken Hill and he said it will take some time for this lot to dry out
FollowupID:
791692