Thursday, Mar 21, 2019 at 11:03
The short answer is yes. You are looking at a total of approx. 403 kms from
Windorah to
The Dig Tree, add to that approx. 10 kms into Haddons Corner & return, so approx. 423 kms in total. Timing will depend on how fast you are travelling. The Diamantina Developmental Road between
Windorah & Canterbury (114 kms) is sealed, so you should make good time on this leg.
At Canterbury, you take a left onto the
Birdsville Developmental Road, this is mostly good high speed (80 - 90 kph) gravel road, and follow this for approx. 42 kms, then take a left onto the Planet Downs/Arabury Road.
Follow this road for approx. 40 kms and you will come to the Haddons Corner turn off (right turn). It is not
well marked, so keep a look out for it. This is more like a track than a road, and depending on the weather can be quite rutted. The two sand dunes are right near the end of the track, and are fairly easy to get over, even with an Off Road Van. We did it with a Goldstream Off Road Camper a few years ago.
Returning to Planet Downs/Arabury Road, turn right and follow this for approx. 88 kms. and turn left onto Arabury Road. Follow this all the way to the
Innamincka Road, approx. 103 kms and turn right. There are a couple of spectacular
views along this road at a couple of steep jump ups, these sections are sealed. The condition of the Planet Downs & Arabury gravel road varies depending on the weather, but we found it in fairly good condition the four times we have used it.
The road out to
the Dig Tree is just past this intersection.
The Dig Tree Campground is a pay at the
gate envelope honesty system. The local landowner does come out and
check to see who has paid and who hasn't from time to time, so be warned, if you do not pay, you are very likely to get caught. Plan to spend an hour checking out
the Dig Tree and surrounding monuments, we tend to do this in the morning of the following day. You can then push on to
Innamincka approx. 56 kms of both sealed & unsealed road. As this is a mining area, there can be some fairly large trucks on the road, and the gravel sections can be corrugated. Just before
Innamincka there is a turn off to the right that takes you to Burkes Memorial where his body was located. Just out of
Innamincka on the way to Goongie Lakes is
Wills Grave.
John Wills Grave.
If you don't have a Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas, I strongly recommend you get one, even if you have an Off Road Navigator (Hema or other). It is an extremely useful tool when planning trips.
Macca.
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