simpson crossing

5 days from Mt Dare to Birdsville seems OK. Suppose it all depends on time of year and the other variables like what vehicle, towing anything and the like. We found the flies a little testing so did the distance in 3 days but didn't feel rushed at all.

Kind regards

I take it you intend giving Dalhousie a miss.

Good idea if you don't want to was time exploring and having a good time swimming in the mega large hot springs, or make a telephone call if you need to etc etc.

Also you will only need about 4 hrs foe the Birdsville - Mungerannie leg of the trip.

Gossy,

The forth day might be a bit long. The last part of the crossing heading into Birdsville is the quickest part of the crossing compared to the rest of the trip.

I will average 16/18 kph on a good day on a good run. If the wind should come up like last October or you have or come across someone with a problem, the average will go out the window.

Drive to the conditions and not the itinerary.

What time of year are you going to do the crossing?
How many vehicles in the convey?
What tracks do you plan to use?
What vehicle are you driving?
Are you towing a trailer?
Auto or manual?

All these variables will also impact on the amount of distance travelled per day.

Wayne

About the ony thing to add is that Birdsville to Mungarannie is not average dirt. That is the rockiest sectin with plenty of creeks crossing the road and filled with gibbers. As the graders have been working up there for a while after all the flooding you have the potential to experience cracked gibber which acts to neatly slice open tyres. Given the only puncture I have experienced was on that section of road it can be a trap. Check with Birdsville Auto on suggested tyre pressues but on that section we run 26psi and no faster than 90 kph. Works for us

As you will be purchasing a desert parks pass take the time to read all the really good information in the handbook

Regards and have a great trip

RobA

a) no trailers
b) 2 bikes and 2 cars
c) 1 x V8 land rover and 1 x 96 GQ 2.8td patrol (mine)
d) both manuals
e) plan to start on french line, down to rig rd, then back up K1 to Poeppel corner then across to Birdsville
f) crossing in July. Day 3 is 3rd July
g) yes going to Mt Dare to pick up the satellite phone and then drop this off in Birdsville.

I guess we are not committed to stop at the designated spots I have mentioned. If the day gets too long we can just stop and setup camp. I think we have given ourselves enough time to cross without pushing it though? Want to relax and have time to sit around and enjoy the scenery also. If it rains we still have to miss the rig rd.

Hi Gossy

I have done the Simpson 2 times first time west to east and the last trip east to west both trips took 3 days 2 night and we saw everything there is to see lone gum and so on you can do Poeppel to Birdsville easy in a day but does depend on conditions the Rig road is very easy some parts of the French line are there are some dunes that may take 2 or 3 gos to get over but mostly its a beautiful place and you will love it

Glenn

5 days does it in comfort.
Day 3 Oodnadatta to Purni via Mt Dare , will be a long day, especially because you'll be stopping at Dalhousie for a swim, checking the great waterhole at Eringa, and you may want to divert to see Dalhousie Ruins. My guess is that you'll spend the night at Dalhousie.

Day 4 Purni Bore to Lone Gum via WAA is easy, and may take about 3-4 hours.

Day 5 Lone Gum to K1 intersection is about 3-4 hours

Day 6 K1 to camp on QAA is again about 3-4 hours; but you'll visit Poeppels corner, the lakes, and you may want to divert up as far as Beachcomber Well.

Day 7 QAA camp to Birdsville is about 2-3 hours + play time on Big Red. At Birdsville its nice to settle in to the Caravan Park early, then check out the Museum, Pub etc and in the evening visit the Blue Poles Gallery for some coffee and cake

Day 8 Birdsville to Mungarannie. easy 4 hours. People who damage tyres almost invariably travel too fast in overloaded vehicles. I also run pressures about 24-25.

Regarding travel - go at a pace that you enjoy, have plenty of stops to look and walk around; climb the dunes in the mornings; check out everything that you come across, and try not to get in a traffic jam with the July crowds.

Hi Gossy,

Just arrived at Mt Dare again today having tried to cross the Simpson 10 days ago. The water is running a banker on the Eyre Creek channels and was up to 1/2 km wide in places with no way around the wet weather bypass. Warbuton Creek is also up behind Clifton Hills. No doubt this will all be OK sometime after Easter but Eyre Creek will be be boggy for some time.

The intersection at K1 and the Rig Road and back the first 3km west is dangerous with lips on both sides of the dune. We did an extensive trip around the Simpson Tracks in November last.

Good news is that the eastern side of the desert was an improvement on this time last year.

Anything over 3 days is a treat when crossing. The old expression is it takes 24 hours to cross, 2 x 12 hour days or 3 x 8 hour days or 4 x 6 hour days.

Enjoy
Regards
Ian@Mt Dare

Tlast week

Its not the time you take to do the " crossing ", its how easy you are on your vehicle, and how safe you are.
1996 crossing, did it in a leisurely 90-100 km a day, and took in heaps.

You gotta love the place, especially with the mob from the York Peninsula 4x4 Club.

Cheers Mate
Bucky