Simpson Desert

Hi Wayne,

Yes, it's our first attempt to cross the Simpson’s. I have already been reading up on the topic and received the Desert Park Pass as you mentioned. It has plenty of good info indeed and it does mention that the west-east direction is the easiest. However, I was just curious to know if anybody have any real experience crossing the desert in the east-west direction as it will suit me better.

Thanks,
Jones

Wim, we'll join you for the southern part of the trip!

Ruth I will be with Willem coming in from the west, will be great to meet you finally.
And lets face it what a great place to meet! (In the middle of the Simpson) LOL.

John, that will be terrific to meet with you finally. Time constraints prevent us from doing the rest of the trip but I gave Willem an interesting co-ordinate the other day - really looking forward to that part - hopefully we can get away. Weather much better and a few people about. See you then.

Bob007, don't forget that when you crossed there had been many many vehicles before you because you were later in the season. At this stage no-one has crossed all summer and I can tell you the dunes are enormous with huge lips.
Early May should still be very interesting for travellers and until such time as someone gets out there to have a look - east/west or wst/east isn't going to make a lot of difference - it's going to be hard until the first vehicles "grade" it!! LOL LOL.
Bring it on!
Wim - we will probably meet up with you for the southern journey!

Ruth

LOL good point, I miised the early May bit....is it called speed reading??

David

Hi Rob, this is a very good response. Birdsville Police no longer doing hire of satphones but the Wirrarri Information Centre in Birdsville is.

Rob, should have put in the phone number for the Wirrarri Information
Centre in - (07) 46563300 in case people would like to book a phone - gets very busy in winter across the Desert.

Hi Ruth, I am sure you see a lot of travelers dropping by the Caravan Park (more or less prepared for the crossing). Do you think it would be wiser to travel W2E instead of E2W as we are going early in the season (early May) where the track has not been "graded" yet? Or do you think it would be a challenge either way? We are traveling on our own.

Thanks,
Jones

Jones, one of the main reasons I prefer to travel west/east is simply that after several days/weeks in the Simpson when travelling east it gives you Birdsville to look forward to - hot showers, cold beers, good food, bakery, art galleries, laundry, groceries. Not all this is available when travelling from the east to the west! LOL.
Don't stress too much about early May. There is all of April yet and Queensland School Holidays commence one week before Easter and then NSW holidays - traditionally this starts the season so I'm sure there will be others before you.
Also a lot depends on how much experience you have - been in sand before (or mud in case it rains whilst you are out there). No, I'm not trying to put you off at all - but when it rains out there it's marvellous, settles the sand on the dunes down beautifully and makes mud pies in the middle of the dunes (known as the swales).
We'll talk you when you get here - and if you find after a few dunes it's too much or not what you expected, no-one minds if you come back and go another way. There are always options. If your tyre pressure is right it'll be a breeze.