Desert Flags
Submitted: Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 10:47
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Member - Brian H (QLD)
Just a quick question is a flag needed to do the
Birdsville track and say the Strezlecki (spelling). Also is a Desert Pass required to go and stay at Coongie Lakes.
Brian
Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 10:53
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 10:53
Flag? Nope. Both those tracks are just dirt roads, no dunes, plenty of rocks. ;-p
AnswerID:
221201
Reply By: markeaust - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 11:47
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 11:47
As above, however you DO need to have
the Desert Parks Pass to visit Coongie Lakes. It is worth it...a great spot.
Cheers,
Mark
AnswerID:
221207
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 11:49
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 11:49
Flag not required for anything other than travelling though Dune country. You only need a flag where driving in undulating country on narrow tracks allows you to be seen by others (and vica versa) as you approach the tops of
sand dunes.
As for Coongie Lakes, YES you will require a Desert Parks Pass.
Coongie Lakes is part of the
Innamincka Regional Reserve.
As
well as the pass itself, you get some great maps of SA's Desert Regions and a comprehensive Handbook with valuable information in it.
AnswerID:
221208
Follow Up By: Mark & Jo, S/side, Bris - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 12:05
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 12:05
ey Sandman!
Was asking those same questions to myself also. So what is involved to get a pass? I'z wouldn't ave a clue!!!!!!
Cheers
Jo
FollowupID:
481930
Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 12:13
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 12:13
Jo, search for Desert Parks Pass in the Exploroz
shop. $95.
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481931
Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:50
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:50
Mark & Jo
Desert Pass' can be obtained en-Route at
Birdsville and the
Pink Roadhouse, and at Mt Dare, not sure about where at
Innamincka if they have them ,
Site Link
Site Link
FollowupID:
481946
Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 15:38
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 15:38
There is a Parks Office at Innaminka (just behind the public shower) where you can get your pass.
Jack
FollowupID:
481967
Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 18:27
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 18:27
Three times we have been through there, and each time the causeway has been too high to cross to Coongie lakes.
So we camped on the town common for the usual $5.00 fee.
Don't need a desert
park pass to
camp there.
Once we did get a desert parks pass and only used it to
camp a little further up the cooper where it was a little quieter.
Get to those Coongie lakes one day. :o)
Wonder how long the cooper will be up for this year with all of the
water coming down it?
At least the bridge outside Inamincka is all weather, even if the cooper crossings coming in from
Thargomindah can be cut. Once we had to wait a day or so for it to be opened, and then paddled through.
FollowupID:
481998
Reply By: Diver1 - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:44
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:44
we had one on for around
innamincka upto
birdsville etc.....better safe than sorry for some area's....
Laura
AnswerID:
221223
Follow Up By: Member - Brian H (QLD) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:47
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:47
Laura,
Was that via the
Cordillo Downs track?
FollowupID:
481945
Follow Up By: Diver1 - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 14:00
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 14:00
na...we went
walkers crossing....we kept our options open depending on what they told us....girls at the trading post said c.d.r was really corrigated and walkers was a little wind blown....couldnt see the track a few times but it was ok hey!! lots of
sand dunes for a bit , then wild flowers, then totally different country again..then gibber.....its one of those ways that there is no stopping for the night until you get to
birdsville...
we left dig tree 9.30am, left trading post at 11am, lunch at the actual
walkers crossing at 2pm.....
birdsville at 6.15pm, dinner at the hotel at 7pm!!
sand flags are just a way of life i think out there....they arent law but boy did i feel safer with one on even going down the
oodnadatta track....
Laura
FollowupID:
481948
Reply By: Shawsie (Bris) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 13:53
Reply By: Crackles - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 17:19
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 17:19
Brian no need for the full blown Desert Parks Pass. If the only place you are visiting in the SA desert parks is Coongie, then a short term
camping pass would be far cheaper & available from
Innamincka.
A flag would be a bonus for the trip into Coongie (a couple of small dunes) although not really nessesary (definately not needed on the main roads). Just keep the speed down & stay to the left.
Cheers Craig......
AnswerID:
221259
Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 18:24
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 18:24
Craig
I vaguely remember some trees close to the road to Coongie which may take a sand flag out.
I have been using a 5 meter telescopic fibreglass Wog Pole(Squid pole) but it has succumbed to the rigors of desert travel and now down to about 3 metres in size...lol
Cheers
FollowupID:
481997
Follow Up By: Crackles - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 20:50
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 20:50
Yes the squid poles being hollow do tend to snap occationally which is unfortunate as they are nice & tall ,not too heavy & pack away for the trip home. I've settled on taping a 5' fibreglass ex CB antena to the top of my GME 6' UHF. The big spring base lets it fold down without wiping it off (so far).
Cheers Craig...........
FollowupID:
482038
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 22:05
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 22:05
Birdsville,
Oodnadatta and Strezlecki "tracks" are really HIGHWAYS.
All the Beadell "Highways" are really TRACKS.
AnswerID:
221315
Follow Up By: RichieK - Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 at 10:40
Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 at 10:40
Haha - I like it!
Rich
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