Western Queensland across Simson to Uluru during Easter break

HI George I'll be curious to see what responses you get because the weather is not a predictable science. Even the BOM are under scrutiny for not being able to forecast imminent disasters. In general however, Easter has always long been the recommended earliest time frame for what is considered the start of the outback travel season but you'd need a crystal ball to have any assurances of how the weather would affect road or park/camp closures sorry.

In regards to recommendations about travel time and where to stop/stay longer this is a very personal and subjective issue and depends on factors you haven't provided such as:- who is travelling with you (any kids?), what age? what particular interests do you have? how fit are you? do you want to do any hikes, is so - long, hard, or short/easy? do you like self-managed exploring such as picking over ruins and historic sites or do you prefer sites with information signboards/interpretive information? And very importantly what type of touring setup do you have - presumably some sort of 4WD vehicle, but do you tow a camper trailer or caravan and is it offroad or are you camping in tents or swags? All this information would help to give a useful response that is more tailored to your specific interests and capabilities.
Regards Michelle

First off George, I’d suggest you travel from the Tablelands down the Hann H’way. A little shorter, but definitely a lot quicker, and you could be in Winton in 10 hours, depending if or what you’re towing. Only about 25-30kms of gravel left that way, so not much to endure.

Like Michelle said, the weather is an unknown, but as a La Niña will be in progress, the Wet may be big & lasting. Eyre Ck would be your last stumbling block, but I’d look at a Plan B and head to Birdsville from Winton, via Boulia & Bedourie. This is almost all bitumen, and even has a bypass road if the water is over the road at the Cuttaburra, south of Glengyle Station.

If roads were close to being opened when you wanted to travel, you could also do the trip in reverse, reducing the chance of being held up & wasting time, or forcing you to take a longer detour?

I was planning a run across the Simpson after Easter, so will be watching the BOM site closer to the time.

Bob



Bob

Hi George,

It sounds like a great trip, a couple of points if I may.

Firstly, you will need to check when the Simpson Desert is open to make the crossing, I am not sure of the actual date, and I know it can vary from year to year, but I have a feeling it doesn’t open until early May.

Secondly, it is not recommended to take trailers or campers across the Simpson, caravans are banned, but some people have ignored the ban in the past.

Thirdly, as someone else has pointed out, with the current climate conditions, not only could the Eyre Creek be an issue, but some of the clay pans may also be difficult to cross early in the “season”. Remember the family with the “expedition truck” that got stuck last year and had to be “choppered” out leaving their truck behind? The truck was eventually recovered.

The alternate route via Birdsville to Bedourie and Boulia may be a better choice, leaving the Simpson for another time. As a further alternative, you could try Birdsville to Innamincka via Haddon Corner and the Dig Tree, then on to Tibooburra and Broken Hill, then across to The Oodnadatta then to Marla and up the Stuart Highway to Uluru, Kings Canyon, then the Mereenie Loop road through to the West McDonald ranges to Alice Springs. Another alternative is the Birdsville Track down to Maree, then the Oodnadatta up to Marla, and continue to Uluru etc. as stated above.

Macca.

Really Jervois offers little more than fuel and a toilet. Gemtree is a better place to break journey on almost every count.

I tried to do the Simpson in 2021 over Easter. It was closed because of rain.
Good time to do it otherwise because not as much traffic but you can't control the weather.