The Madigan Line (East to West) in 2019 - Seeking Info & Advice

Yes, that is their phone number, but give Adria Downs an email, works well apparently . . .
Don & Judy Rayment - adriadowns@activ8.net.au

Unless there is something very unusual going on with stock, you will get the ok to go up from Eyre Creek junction (or bypass if wet) and do from camp 22 onwards counting down the camps.
With Annandale ruins, and some very picturesque counbtry to the vorder, it is well worth while.
I think camp 18 was a favourite of mine, was our last camp heading east a couple of years ago.

Madigan permit clc online application . . . http://forms.clc.org.au/OnlinePermits/ApplicantDetails.aspx

Madigan is WELL travelled now and the track very obvious, easily followed on any of the navigation maps showing the camps / track.
Camp 2 is now off limits as it detours through the range from Marshall Bluff, but you then go north to camps 3, 4, 5 are still ok before heading east again.

It is very much like French Line crossing now but you will have a few dunes that could prove difficult, we often looked back and thought, that'd be a tough dune going the other way.
Sometimes, you may find it easier (or may need to) to make your own track over some of these, it's not hard to go a hundred meters ans find the right terrain to amble over, pressures of 12 or so might be needed travelling that way.

If you've done the SA lines like French, I would allow for that 900km Mt Dare (Finke has fuel but a little closer, only 20km in it I think ? Not much anyway, and the sop is open irregular hours, check Hema maps for info / phone) . . .
New Crown (or Andado - Peter) may have fuel, their number is in the book, but it's only 29km from there to Finke anyway.

Witht the family aspect of the trip, you should plan to go lightweight, really cull the gear list as much as possible !

I would take a few lt/100 more over a normal crossing fuel use, and add a decent safety margin in case detours are needed, or the going is harder than expected.

Pretty much all camps are on very flat claypans so the 3 second tents are ideal, or swags on stretchers / under awnings, etc.
Most cams are fairly large, or not much further is there is a crowd, or the 'wrong' crowd.
There are many dune corridors to camp in too, but most camp at the Madigan camp markers.

Do it mid year if possible to avoid heat, flies, and much safer for being drier too.

2 vehicles would be ok, lots do it solo, 4 vehicles is ideal in case of breakdown etc for logistics / knowledge / labour pool.
Take a sat phone (or hire Birdsville, return Mt Dare), at the very least a personal PLB is very prudent.

Enjoy.
It is a good run.

hey Robmac
we travelled the Madigan Line in june from west to east
only as far as camp 17 as we though it was closed in the QLD
section , the track is not like the French or QAA its not as defined or worn
but is very clearly easy to follow . Its a lot slower travelling than French line
,the dunes aren,t as tall an closer together an a lot rougher ,
we averaged about 10 /15kph . all the camps are nice an flat plenty of room for
a group ,not much wood , no water so going without a shower for several days
my GQ td42 averaged high 17s l/p 100ks , 100 series fully loaded averaged high 18s an Tritan averaged high 15s .no tyre issues make sure you secure your water containers ect as lot of the dunes are so rough the tritan has its back wheels in the air numerous times because of the speed needed to crest them
very enjoyable trip though ,did not see anybody on the Madigan
cheers mechpete

Hi RobMac

Just got back from a West to East crossing.
It’s very well defined now, the approaches were quite badly chopped up.( both sides) the sand was firm-ish although I think earlier x-ings may have found it a bit softer.
As with anything sand, tyre pressure is the key, had 15 in mine as soon as we hit the dunes.
Only used three gears 2,3 & 4th Low..found the approaches to chopped up for any real speed.
East to West will probably be a tad more difficult.
I just posted a trek with a few notes. Type in....Madigan Line Warrnambool to Warrnambool if you wish.

Regards

TrevorDavid

Rob,

We did Madigan W-E in both 2016 & 2017. Didn't do Camps 2,3 or 4 either year. Did the Hay from Camp 16 to QAA Line in '16, and Camps 17-22 last year. Kudderee Waterhole was dry, but there still a bit left in the Annandale 'hole.

Am in awe of some of the eastern approaches of sandhills especially around Camps 8 & 9, and to a lesser extent from Camp 20 to 16. Travellers, in their wisdom, have put a few bends in the slopes, making it more difficult for E-W travelling. People manage it so low tyre pressures definitely help.

Plenty of good camps, though some of them don't always mesh with when you might want to camp. I'd take some firewood, as the increased numbers doing it would be depleting what little wood is out there.

In 2016, I used 129L & in 2017, used 117L, in a 2015 Landcruiser s/c V8 ute with alloy canopy., over 3.5tonne, from Mt Dare to Birdsville. Took 4 spare jerrycans but didn't need then. A Dmax extra cab ute, with alloy canopy, travelled with us in '16 and only used about 165L for the entire Birdsville-Mt Dare-Birdsville trip!

Bob

Tyres.... Do most people take 2 spares only or 2 spares + tubes, etc?

How often to people get flats "if" sticking the main track?

Interesting fuel figures people have gotten coming from West to East. I'm assuming more will be used heading in the other direction but I'm also mindful of room and weight as there will be 5 in the Defender plus all the gear. I'm hoping to carry about 180ltrs of usable fuel under the car and was thinking of taking 2x25ltr plastic Fuel Jerries on the roofrack, totalling 230ltrs. Not sure if that would be enough to get us to Alice or whether we would have to turn south to top up @ Mt Dare....
My '09 Defender Puma's economy offroad is a bit unknown at this stage but my old Defender Tdi300 gets fairly good economy offroad. Worst I got with it was in the 17 bracket towing a CT through the Vic High Country on some seriously steep/rough tracks....

What's the average number of days people take to do the full length of the Madigan Line? 5 or 7, or less or more?