Hay River - How long??

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 20:39
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Am thinking of travelling through the Hay River next year and wanted to ask those who had been there before how many days they recommend for the trip? Will not be in a hurry.

Thanks
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Reply By: chips59 - Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 20:46

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 20:46
it will depend on how fast you can swim.
AnswerID: 204975

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 20:47

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 20:47
Hi Uncle Ian
Check out my trek notes here on EO.

Without pushing it, allow a minimum of 6 days from Birdsville to Batton Hill. You will get reports of people doing it quicker. Take your time, get out to Lake Caroline and try and find Andrew Harpers plaque? We were the first group to relocate it after he went through with camels in 1999. It would be interesting to see how many other groups have found it.

It is a great trip, not hard if the weather is on your side. Like all Simpson trips, you will LOVE IT!

Regards

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 21:25

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 21:25
We found it and yeah its not as the trip notes described at that time.

But the EO notes are quites accurate in virtually all respects including time.
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 21:53

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 at 21:53
Yep, what Stephen said is our experience too. Its a nice trip.
AnswerID: 204996

Reply By: traveller2 - Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 08:18

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 08:18
Take your time, plenty to see and great country, we took 8 days between Jervois and Birdsville in June/July 06 so had plenty of time to explore and enjoy the desert.
Travelling slower avoids hammering the vehicle and the occupants which makes for a great trip. It was also pretty soft out there this year and with the sand on the move navigation was necessary in a few spots.
AnswerID: 205045

Reply By: Robin - Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 08:39

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 08:39
Hi Ian

Didn't have enough pre-trip info to plan our Hay Trip as I wished , and
below is distance data on the 5 camps and there GPS locations from our final trip report from june this year.

Conditions were excellant for us , and we had to string it out to make 5 days.
If conditions unfavorable it could easily be 6 as per other posts.

Robin Miller

HAY RIVER CAMPS and Mileage based on GPS Readings

START Birdsville km's 0
Turn off to BeachComber km's 142
Poeppel Corner km's 162
Back at BeachComber turn off km's 182
1st CAMP Beachcomber km's 248 53J 0782093 7190298
Madigan Blaze Tree @ Camp16 Km's 343
2nd CAMP Just north Madigan Line km's 345 53J 0774194 7262226
3rd CAMP km's 443 53J 0738190 7336823
4th CAMP AndrewHarper km's 546 53J 0713683 7406162
5th CAMP Batton Hill camp (arrival) km's 595 53K 0691440 7452199
6TH CAMP Batton Hill (ready to leave ) km's 680
7TH CAMP As above
Gem Tree service station km's 965
8TH CAMP Alice Springs km's 1102

Shortest distance between fuel is 550km (Birdsville-Jervious, no side trips)


FUEL USEAGE Birdsville to Alice (1133km at fill up )
4800 Patrol petrol 20.2lt/100km (228lt)
60 series diesel 15.7lt/100km
Navara 3lt nissan diesel 13.2lt/100km
4.2 Patrol diesel 16lt/100km approx.
Pajero Exceed Petrol 19lt/100km approx.
Range Rover V8 22lt/100km approx.

Desert fuel usage 4800 Patrol --> Birdsville to Batton Hill 23lt/100km

Total Trip Fuel 4800 Patrol --> approx 5800km @ 16.5lt/100km cost $1287

AnswerID: 205049

Follow Up By: Uncle Ian - Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 08:56

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 08:56
Robin,

Thanks for this information - this is exactly what I was looking for.

Just wondering what other pre-trip info would you have wanted to have had?

Thanks

Ian
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Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 09:47

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 09:47
Their were a number of points that I was uncertain about Ian.

The lower track section of track had changed and the plots we had
from this site could not be used, but we were supplied gps
waypoints of the new alternate route, but there was no visible track
and in bright sunlight the GPS's were very hard to use with the "Goto"
next waypoint function.

An important turn off east, hard to see, around 200m south of our first camp site.

The fact that at our camp 3 was the Hay river bed a couple of km
to the west which we discovered by accident and driving this bed
became a highlight.

The fact that insect count was almost zero in june 2006.

That Baton hill is not an actual community, but a campground
with 1 house and around 5 people 200m away.

The documents we received said no alcohol and no pictures and
first thing said to us on arrival was "alcohol and picture taking ok"

I did a large report for 4 wheeling oz, discussing some issues
, which I don't think is out yet but which is on our Yahoo email
list site in files section if you have a yahoo id.

Site Link

Robin Miller
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FollowupID: 464979

Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 23:22

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 23:22
Robin,

thanks for an excellent trip report, and done with candour.

Like you, I get the heebie Jeebies when my "guests" (aka mates) don't act responsibly. This may appear as trivial to them and outsiders, and it may be as simple an issue as wearing thongs around a campfire/site.

And when I request an alternate action/observe/object/criticise, I feel I am the bad guy. Yet it's me who's gunna get them & us out of the mess they got us all into!

Anyway, enough of a whinge; you have entertained me, & stretched my boundaries.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 at 08:00

Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 at 08:00
Hi Rick

I see you have felt the same pressures.

Wonder if we will end up doing more trips alone as the years go own ?

Robin Miller

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