Arrabury Road and Cordillo Downs Road-July 2022?

Thanks Peter,

Was after some feedback from someone currently in the area - aware of the various reports but QLD Government website shows no alerts for the Nappa Merri or Arrabury Roads.

Only way into Birdsville at the moment appears to be 4WD only on the Birdsville Track.

David,

Went up the Arrabury road late 2015, and there’s nothing to stop you, from effects of flooding, in Diamantina or Cooper.

What I did read today is that the Diamantina Developmental Road is open to 4WD only, that is between Windorah & Bedourie. This will be an “out” for you, or should that be an “in”, if the Diamantina is still over at Birdsville when you start your journey. Only adds a few hours to the journey, over the direct route.

Enjoy, wish I was heading to the Simpson in 2 weeks,

Bob

Thanks Bob,

we traveled from Nappa Merri to Birdsville via the Cordillo Downs Road in 2018 on our way to the Bash and thought we'd try the Arrabury Road this time as I had heard it was slightly better.

We would prefer not to have to come in via the Birdsville Track or spend too much time on the Birdsville Development Road as many travelers going to the Big Red Bash don't drive to the conditions - our convoy of Amaroks from Victoria got overtaken on the Development Road by multiple vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road, into dust clouds with no idea about oncoming vehicles.

Very lucky there were no head-ons - no excuse for the impatience as we were well spread out and were traveling at a decent pace.

I believe those who came up the Birdsville Track experienced similar - which is not unexpected I suppose when you've got 12,000 people heading for the same place in a short period of time........

NB: like your quarter (?) horse!

Thanks David. Know where you’re coming from re bashers travelling to the event last year. Was unlucky enough to pass the other half of them, travelling Birdsville to Boulia, then to Winton. Not too bad on wider bitumen to Boulia, but on single lane section to Winton, suffered many windscreen chips ‘n stars. I was indicating, pulling right off the black stuff & into the table drain, but most of them still dropped a wheel off, while their hybrid/camper/caravan showered rocks everywhere!

Couple of photos of Arrabury road, it’s pretty good.





That horse was a good type, more Australian Stockhorse type, rather than quarter horse. Worked him in ‘72-73, on Auvergne station NT.

Bob

Hi Bob. Heading your way next week. Hopefully it's a bit warmer than southern Queensland. And dry!

We only got home Tuesday arvo, Allan, and understand we missed some frosty weather?

Country looks fabulous out here at the moment, after recent rain!

I’ll send you a msg.

Bob

Hi Wildmax,

thanks for your message - what you experienced is pretty much what I suspect it may be like this year.

I wasn't planning on doing the Cordillo Downs Road again unless it is better than the Arrabury Road. We did Cordillo in a day in 2018 with the T-Van on the back and it was fine although a couple of others with camper-trailers found it a bit tough (not AOR, Track or Kimberley campers) and we thought one of them traveling ahead of us was going to end up on its side!

Plan is to probably do the Arrabury Road over two days if conditions are OK when we get into the Wilcannia area but will see how it shapes up after next week's weather.

Cheers,

Hi Macca,

was planning on contacting both later next week when we get to Broken Hill after Menindee Lakes.

Queensland website ( https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/) today still shows the Eyre Development and Birdsville Development Roads closed into Birdsville so there's no way of getting in at the moment.

4WD only on the Birdsville Track to the South Australian border with no fuel at Birdsville.

If the Development Road is not open the week after next it's going to be interesting to see who actually gets to the Big Red Bash!


Cheers,

Hi Dick,

thanks for the link - wasn't aware of that one.

Fingers crossed there is no more rain in the area over the next few weeks....

(We had planned on Coongie Lakes as part of this trip but Port Augusta tell us the track out there will be closed for at least another month and a half - will only be visiting Innamincka for fuel now).

Cheers,

Thanks Trevor,

you have a local contact on the ground?

Cheers,

dp

Yep

I’m currently in Bedourie.

Regards

TrevorDavid