Big Red Bash

Inbound to BRB is busy but not to bad as people tend to spread their arrival over a week or so. The exit is chaos as a fair proportion of people leave in a small time frame usually via only two routes.

I'm in Innamincka at the moment.
The Strzelecki track is sealed most of the way but its in an awful condition due to the hundreds of road trains servicing the Moomba gas fields.
There are lots of corrugations on the dirt sections.
Conditions change rapidly so make sure you check https://www.dit.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads#map to see if the road is open.

Have been to Birdsville twice at Bash time.

Once, in 2013, when there was a mere 3,400 folk attending. I had a great time for the couple of days & left well before daylight to head back home & beat any traffic. I don’t believe they allow “early departures” these days?

The 2nd time, in 2021 with 10K plus Bashers, we’d come out of the desert, and arrived in Birdsville to people & vehicles everywhere. Managed to get what would have been the last 3 sites in the van park! Left early next morning, not aware of what I was about to face, travelling north to Boulia & across to Winton. Literally, thousands of 4WD’s, mostly towing, and most flat out! Wasn’t too bad to Boulia, where bitumen is wider, but through to Winton, where the single lane bitumen, meant campers & vans were throwing rocks everywhere. Even with me parked down in the table drain, they would all drop a wheel off! A nightmare of a trip for me.

I’d be taking a day or so to let the crowds disperse before departing Birdsville, get ALL the fuel you need immediately you arrive in town, so you’re not in big queues waiting for fuel.Places like Boulia, Windorah & Marree will see huge line ups for fuel, often needing an overnight stay to fill up the next day.

It’s a good experience, enjoy.
Bob

Make sure you protect your back window.
Without exception every time we travel out that way we see at least one prado wearing an emergency screen.

The exit from BRB is controlled to stop people driving into the early morning sun due to visibility issues with the dust and sun , and also to allow a shared exit from the various camping loops . So best to not plan an early exit and stay longer if possible ( but shift camp to avoid the dust clouds if the wind is blowing in your direction)

Thank you every one for your input.
We have a 2 day early entry so hopefully we will be able to set-up nicely.
We have plenty of time to get back and can take it easy on the return.
We have a stone guard on the van plus I will put some protection on the back window.
Looking forward to the trip.
William.