Hay river 2014
Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 13:31
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oetkb
Hi All,
Been lurking here for a while gathering heaps of great Information for our up coming
Hay river trip, so now its time to say hello and ask a few questions.
We played around the edge of the Simpson last winter both with and without the camper trailer and absolutely loved it. We traveled as far as Poeppels corner from the rig track so have a good idea what conditions are like from there.
The question is what are the dunes like from when you leave Poeppels to when you start on the actual
Hay river track. I will be towing a very
well set up camper trailer with a
well set up 76 series cruiser.
I have read all the
blogs and trip reports I could find but no one makes comment on the dunes and towing a trailer, is that because its a non event?
Also just any site specific general information would be good. There seemed to be plenty of people who did the trip last year but not a lot of reports.
Cheers
Reply By: Member - Keith B (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 13:48
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 13:48
Travelling south to north should pose no problems. The dune crossings are not like on the QAA or French tracks - much more docile. HOWEVER, conditions can change and on one trip a few years ago I found the track traversing the side of a dune and the lean angles were scary. The next year the track was in a completely different place! The track changes from season to season and now follows the watercourse (dry) a lot more than it used to. Recently the wattles have invaded the track so expect to get some mild paint damage - not sure what impact that will have on your CT. Others will comment I'm sure. A good polish with cut polish got rid of almost all scratches on my Troopy.
Fantastic trip - enjoy it.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 05:38
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 05:38
Keith, are you saying S-N is easier than N-S? If so why is that?
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Follow Up By: Member - Keith B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 07:13
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 07:13
The actual
Hay R track over the dunes is almost always E to W (or v v), so the same conditions apply as to the dunes on the E - W (or W-E) crossings - French, QAA etc. That is, the dunes tend to be steeper on the east side. So travelling S to N on the
Hay R track means you cross the actual dunes from W to E - the easy way. However none of the dunes would be particularly difficult in either direction.
I think many people make up their mind on whether to go N to S (or v v) based on their crossing preference to/from Birdsville/Dalhousie.
Sorry for the S, N, W E proliferation above!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 08:05
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 08:05
Yep got it thanks Keith. Thanks for the heads up. We are heading south in 3 weeks, hence the question.
Also is it possible to explain where the wattles are a problem?
And did you do the Bush Tucker tour, if so was it worth it?
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Follow Up By: Member - Keith B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 08:18
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 08:18
There has been a lot of wattle growth following a few wet years, then fires. This is especially so on the northern end of the track. It's impossible to avoid them.
The bush tucker tour is expensive but I guess that depends on your values. I really enjoyed it and thought it worthwhile. Others have not always agreed!
When are you heading off? I am leaving
Brisbane tomorrow and heading to Alice via the Plenty (then onto the CSR and ABH). May see you up that way.
Post a report when you get back.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 18:46
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 18:46
It'll be about 3 weeks before we get to
Hay River. We are going E- W first.
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Reply By: Member - Graham N (SA) - Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 20:34
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 20:34
Just came back from the
Hay River (June 3rd)
As said above south to north should be easy you may not even notice the dunes after crossing those on the way to Poeppels Corner. The vegetation gives your vehicle a hiding in the North of the Track.
Cheers
Graham
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Crocks - Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 20:36
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 at 20:36
Hi Oetkb,
We came down the track in April. The largest dunes were around 100 km north of Poeppel. Going up will be easier. There are not that many dunes to cross compared to the other tracks in the desert. The track from Poeppel up to the old oil
well is packed with gravel and clay. Some parts are even corrugated. The sand starts once you leave from the oil
well. It's a top track, we loved it.
Have fun.
Shaun.
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Reply By: oetkb - Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 at 19:12
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 at 19:12
Thanks for your help everyone. Started to get pretty excited already for some warmer weather and desert
views.
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Reply By: olcoolone - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 12:31
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 12:31
Don't forget to get your permits....
Not many dunes along the
Hay but it can be very boggy in the wet and very sandy in the dry.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 18:44
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 at 18:44
Thanks olcoolone, permits all in order.
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Reply By: Anne S4 - Monday, Jun 16, 2014 at 20:41
Monday, Jun 16, 2014 at 20:41
We travelled on the
Hay River Track S to N last June. We towed Tvans and had no issues. Some
places were a bit narrow, no damage to patrol or Tvans. Have a great trip
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Jun 16, 2014 at 20:52
Monday, Jun 16, 2014 at 20:52
I'm taking my Tvan, are there any special issues towing?
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Follow Up By: oetkb - Monday, Jun 16, 2014 at 21:44
Monday, Jun 16, 2014 at 21:44
Not too worried about scratches and I figured the 76 series is a bit narrower than a Patrol and 100 series so hopefully some others have done some pruning before I get there. haha. Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - batsy - Tuesday, Jun 17, 2014 at 08:51
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2014 at 08:51
Boobook, no worries towing the TVan. You will hose it in. The fat little 200 series may have a little bush pinstriping but with some goop goop paint protection it should also end up happy.It is a great drive.
Cheers
Batsy
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Tuesday, Jun 17, 2014 at 11:43
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2014 at 11:43
Thanks batsy. I'm gooped up thanks to StephenL's homework. I hope a few Y62's are ahead of me to widen the track.
Nah unlikley.
Looking forward to it.
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