Birdsville Track and the Big Red Bash

Submitted: Sunday, Apr 03, 2016 at 16:14

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lou_r

Hi All,
Myself and a group of friends are attending the bash in July and plan on travelling the Birdsville Track to Maree then back up to Innamincka and across to Cameron Corner once it has finished.

Any hints tips things to see and info etc would be greatly appreciated, I have researched but there is nothing like first hand knowledge from those that have travelled those roads :)

Cheers
Lou

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Reply By: Member - Len & Rhoda - Sunday, Apr 03, 2016 at 20:51

Sunday, Apr 03, 2016 at 20:51

Hi Lou

Why not head to Cameron Corner the other way via Haddon Corner down through Innamincka and across to Cameron Corner. If you do decide to go via the Birdsville Track I would recommend going via the inside track it was a much better and nicer drive than the Outside Track when we did them in August last year, Mungerannie is worth an overnight stop, great old pub and an artesian hot pool, Phil the publican is a classic bush publican and great entertainment.

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Follow Up By: lou_r - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 19:51

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 19:51

Thank you :)

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Follow Up By: lou_r - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 21:52

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 21:52

Hi again,

Just a quick question can you camp overnight at Haddon Corner :)

Cheers
Lou

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Follow Up By: Member - Len & Rhoda - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 22:13

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 22:13

Hi

There is plenty of room at Haddon Corner for camping, take some fire wood with you though as its a bit scarce. You can also cut by the Dig tree on the way into Innamincka.

Len

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Reply By: Member - RobnJane(VIC) - Sunday, Apr 03, 2016 at 21:46

Sunday, Apr 03, 2016 at 21:46

Hi Lou,
Which ever way you go make sure you spend a night or two at Farina, plenty to see and learn if you have not visited before. About 80 kms south of Marree.
The bakery will be operating, donkey showers in the campgrounds, walking tracks around what was the old township, and the volunteers will be onsite around that time doing what they can to keep Farina the slice of living history that it is.

Enjoy your trip.

Rob

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Follow Up By: LAZYLUX16 - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 00:30

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 00:30

Yeh Rob saw doco on Farina might have to get up there myself check it out..is Bakery only open certain times of the year ??

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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 10:27

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 10:27

Bakery should be open a LOT more often now, there's a nice dining tent set up and all.

Other things on the BV Tk ?
Marree is worth a little look around, lots of items around town of interest and the pub is like a museum !!
Lake Harry ruins
Mungerannie Hotel (good overnighter)
Mirra Mitta Bore
Diamantina River / B&W tree as you are entering BV, or just allow a half day to explore this and other while in town (pub, Info Centre, bakery, pub, town power stn, oultet bore, CAR WASH (!!), pub, interpretive walk, Waddi trees up the Eyre Dev Rd, I'm sure there's more, oh yeah the pub !

Inside Tk has been open a bit more in the past 12 months or so, but is often closed (as it is now and likely to be for some time).

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Follow Up By: lou_r - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 19:56

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 19:56

Thanks guys heaps of info here much appreciated ::) All these places are now on the list. It's looking like I may need to apply for a bit more leave from work :)

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Follow Up By: Member - JOHN C16 - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 21:15

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 21:15

The CAR WASH (!!) is unexpected and fantastic. A few days earlier I almost got bogged crossing a salt lake at the eastern end of the WAA line in May last year. To wash off the thick black mud with hot bore water was a relief.

After refuelling and restocking I drove back over Big Red at sunset to get an early start next day for Poeppel's Corner and the Hay River Track.

I was rewarded by this:

Sunrise

Another car wash

Perhaps the moral of the story is don't wash your car in a desert until you are on your way home.

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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 22:09

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 22:09

Great pics there, would love to see it raining out there . . . well, sort of !! :)

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Reply By: Member - RobnJane(VIC) - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 11:30

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 11:30

Hi lazylux,
The bakery is open for approximately 8 weeks that caver the school holiday periods of Vic,SA,NSW, more detailed on the Farina Restoration Group website.
We have volunteered there the last two years andd will be back again early-me July.
A really good group of people doing a great job I think.

Rgds,
Rob.

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Follow Up By: lou_r - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 19:58

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 19:58

Thanks for the info :)

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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 13:29

Monday, Apr 04, 2016 at 13:29

'Burgers at Mungerannie, with sour dough buns, are to die for!!! Stop at the Mulka Store ruins for a snapshot of the Tracks history.

Clayton's Camp, on Birdsville Track(about 54kms N of Marree) is a good spot, with showers, toilets and a spa. Suppose you know you'll have to go to Lyndhurst to access the Strezlecki Track to Innamincka. Get fuel there as it's much cheaper than Marree. And the toasties at the roadhouse aren't half bad either.

Unless you really want to go to Marree, you could cut across the Walkers Crossing track. About 4 hrs from turn off to Innamincka, and Cooper shouldn't cause you any dramas by early July.

Worth a look from the viewing/parking bay overlooking Moomba gas plant. Don't plan to camp there as the acres and acres of toilet paper will both sicken and depress you!!! I went about another 5-10kms, and camped about 200M off the Innamincka road. Quite busy at times, late evening and early morning, with trucks and light vehicles heading in and out of Moomba.

Some good scenic country through Saint Ann Range on Nappa Merrie, not far north of the Cooper Creek bridge, and Innamincka, if you decide to travel down past Haddins Corner. Roads were good when I cut up that way last October.

Bob