Dig Tree to Cunnamulla

BP
We recently travelled from Cunnamulla to Innamincka, the road is sealed all the way except for about 20ks on the Bulloo Development Road, but was in good nick at the time.
The road into the Digg Tree (about 14ks isn't sealed).
From the Qld border into Innamincka the road/track is a bloody disgrace.
Baz

Hey, Laurie.
Hope all is going well for you.

I find it very hard to average 80 kph. Driving at say 80-90 kph on those sort of roads, with a 5 minute comfort stop/leg stretch every couple of hours, effectively means approx 75 kph average. Ad a photo stop or two (for the Bega P't'pher) and you could well be back to 70 kph average.

520 km x 70 kph = 7.5 hours = one comfortable day.

regards
(J McD S) Rick

Wow. Google maps don't know it's sealed for 99% of the way. It's not excellent condition ( we all know that road works budget doesn't extend far past the major cities!) but it's not bad for a tarred road on the edge of the outback...
80 is more like it.
I reckon I could've done most of the trip in my low-slung Magna to be honest.
Just watch out for emus (they were very plentiful when we were out that way last September and again in April) ...and wild goats...and wild pigs...and the occasional roo...
:)

My opinion is that the road is in perfect condition for the location/traffic and provided the weather is good (most of the time is dry) can be travelled at more than 80Km/h safely, with 2wd as well. The little stretch to the Dig Tree can also be negotiated by 2wd with caution.

Laurie, we headed that way October last year. Had a great time.
If you drove at the speed limit you'd probably do Cunnamulla to the Dig Tree in about six hours. As mentioned previously, the road is sealed for all bar 22kms & it's a very good surface.
That said, if you do this you miss out on some interesting places. Make sure you take the time to stop @ Eulo. What a great little town. We had a beer at the Eulo Queen, then the kids had an ice cream from the General Store. We then visited a small shop that specialised in opals (naturally) & lots of other interesting things that may take ones interest. You may even wish to detour & stop @ Noccundra pub. $2-12 per litre for diesel was a bit rich but the beer was cold!
To give you an idea, we left Thargomindah @ 9am, sat on around 90-95kph & got to Innamincka before 2pm which is probably just under an hour further down the track from the Dig Tree turn off.
Have a great trip.

G'day Friends!

Thanks so much to all of you for that helpful info.

It's a long story but I owe you all a response. We're home again now!

The original planned trip was from home at Bega to Broken Hill, up the dog fence and on to the Dig Tree and Innamincka, Mount Hopeless, Lake Eyre South, Andamooka, Clare, then home via the Snowy Mountains, about five or six weeks.

Our travelling companions had a family commitment come up so we had to shorten the trip to end at the Dig Tree. Hence my question relating to getting home as quickly as reasonably possible. Thanks for all the advice about the track.

My question was on the eve of our departure so I didn't respond to the later replies as I switched off the computer and went to bed.

But then our friend got crook and had to visit the doctor in the morning who advised against the trip and ordered blood tests. We had to cancel the trip. It would be irresponsible for us to travel up the dog fence alone in a 2wd vehicle.

So, all excited and packed for a six week outback trip, my wife and I went to Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park, only 96km south of home, for four nights.

Three big goannas came around our camp several times. We're used to camping with goannas so were comfortable with this.

While eating lamb chops for lunch, one goanna lunged at my wife's chop and got her finger. Wouldn't let go!

I sprang from my chair like a 20 year old would and sunk a size 8 1/2 steel cap boot into it's guts, moving it's left side to where the right side had been, which had the desired affect and sent the brute scurrying off toward the bush.

It took quite a bit of bandage to stem the bleeding.

I made the camp reasonably secure to leave but as I was rolling down the canopy sides a strong wind and rain squall suddenly hit. I asked a neighbouring camper to secure the tent and we got going towards the hospital.

So with stitches, antibiotics and a bandaged and splinted hand, we won't be going anywhere rough for a week or two.

So thanks again for the good wishes and helpful advice.