National Parks and Wildlife South Australia
Outback Region
DESERT PARKS BULLETIN
NO. 309
24th April 2007
Flooding of the Eyre and
Warburton Creeks has altered through access to
Birdsville and Clifton Hills. QAA Line to
Birdsville is open by a detour, and the
Warburton Crossing to Clifton Hills is closed.
If you decide to travel in the Outback Region, you should ensure your vehicles are properly prepared and equipped for outback travel and any emergencies or delays. The use of trailers in the
Simpson Desert is not encouraged. Serious damage can be caused to vehicles and the environment, and difficulties are likely to result. Take extra water, food and fuel supplies. Ensure good communications equipment, either
HF Radio or Satellite Phone. Ensure you notify a responsible person, such as a family member, of your plans prior to travelling into remote areas, and seek local advice.
If you attempt driving in sandy conditions and get bogged, do not attempt to get the vehicle out without ensuring 4WD and hubs are engaged, tyre pressures are decreased and sand is removed from the path of the tyres. If you become stuck, do not leave your vehicles to walk for assistance as this can have fatal consequences.
Check road and weather bulletins and local conditions before travelling into the Outback Region. Speed limits of 40km per hour apply within all Parks. For up to date public road information outside of National Parks, please call the Transport SA Road Condition Hotline on 1300 361 033 or visit the Transport SA web site on Site Link.
Be aware that entry to Desert Parks requires a day/overnight permit or a Desert Parks Pass that must be displayed on the vehicle windscreen.
LAKE EYRE NATIONAL PARK
General Conditions
Floodwater is still entering Lake Eyre and flowing down the
Warburton Groove but are not sufficient to view from
ABC Bay,
Halligan Bay or
Level Post Bay. For further information regarding the National Parks and Wildlife South Australia visit our web site www.parks.sa.gov.au. For information regarding air tours phone the Wadlata Outback Centre on 1800 633 060.
Check local conditions before traveling into the Outback area.
If you decide to travel in the following areas you should ensure your vehicles are properly prepared and equipped for outback travel and any emergencies. Take extra water, food and fuel supplies. Ensure good communications equipment. Notify a responsible person of your plans prior to travelling.
Halligan Bay Track – Open to 4WD with extreme caution. Caution required at creek crossings, corrugated sections and silt bar areas created during January rains. Take care on cut up sections and gutters caused by traffic after past rain. This track is a declared Public Access Route. Driving on the Lake surface is an offence and dangerous. Recommended speed of 40km/h once reaching gibber country and dropping down to Lake Eyre.
Level Post Bay Track – Open. This track is a declared Public Access Route. Driving on the Lake surface is an offence and dangerous. Major sand drifts have occurred on the car park area at
Level Post Bay and extreme caution should be taken to avoid becoming bogged. If in doubt,
check the
sand dune area for conditions before entering or take the short walk from the Lake Eyre National Park
sign to the lake (approximately 150 metres).
William Creek Roadhouse – Agents for
the Desert Parks Pass & Lake Eyre Permits. Accommodation & caravan park facilities available. Ph: (61 8) 8670 7746
Marree’s Outback Roadhouse – Agents for
the Desert Parks Pass & Lake Eyre Permits.
Post Office & Commonwealth Bank Agency, diesel & unleaded fuel, gas bottle refills, licensed restaurant and take away service available. Ph (61 8) 8675 8360
INNAMINCKA REGIONAL RESERVE
General Vehicle Access.
Note: Be aware that entry to
Innamincka Regional Reserve requires a day/camping permit or a Desert Parks Pass that must be displayed on the vehicle windscreen. Desert Parks passes/permits are available from the
Innamincka Trading Post.
Coongie Track – Open. Caution at roadworks, and areas of ponded water and loose sand.
Walkers Crossing Track – Closed at the crossing. Due to flooding.
15 Mile Track and Access to
Cooper Creek – Open. Will’s Site - caution at washouts.
Burkes – Open.
Cullyamurra Track – Open.
Bore Track – Contact Bollards Lagoon (61 8 8091 3873) prior to crossing private land.
The
Innamincka Trading Post (Ph: (61 8) 8675 9900). Agent for
the Desert Parks Pass and camping permits. Provide a comprehensive range of supplies and
services for visitors in the
Innamincka area.
Innamincka Hotel (Ph: (61 8) 8675 9901). Provide meals, drinks and accommodation.
WITJIRA NATIONAL PARK and the
SIMPSON DESERT RESERVES
General vehicle access
Check local conditions before travelling into this area. See the National Parks and Wildlife South Australia web site on www.parks.sa.gov.au for more information.
Witjira National Park – Open to 4WD.
Caution is required on wet, soft sections of road from
Dalhousie Springs to
Purni Bore due to recent rain. Grading will continue to occur during April/May so use caution with machinery on roads.
Spring Creek Delta is closed until further notice, so use the by-pass road.
Check local conditions before travelling. Please call
the Desert Parks hotline on 1800 816 078 for further information. A public phone (card only) is available at
Dalhousie Springs. (Note: Phone cards not available at Dalhousie) Camping should be restricted to
Dalhousie Springs, 3 O’clock Creek and
Purni Bore while within Witjira National Park.
The
Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta – Desert Parks Pass Agents, phone cards, diesel and unleaded fuel, food and travel supplies, fine food, refreshments, tyre and minor repairs and welding –
Ph: 1800 802 074 Email: pinkroadhouse@bigpond.com
Simpson Desert – Open to 4WD only. No access/exit via
Warburton Crossing.
Access/exit via the QAA line is open by a
sign-posted detour at Eyre Creek. More water is expected to arrive so this route may become closed at any time. Ensure you have enough fuel, food and water for an exit from the
Simpson Desert by a return trip via Dalhousie when Eyre Creek levels happen to rise. The use of trailers in the
Simpson Desert is not encouraged. Serious damage can be caused to vehicles and the environment, and difficulties are likely to result.
Visitors are advised to drive in a convoy, carry a
HF radio or sat phone and limit the total load of their vehicles. However, do take extra
reserves of fuel, food and water.
Check local conditions before travelling in the area. Satellite phones are available to hire for
Simpson Desert trips from Mt Dare Hotel and the Wirrari Tourism Centre in
Birdsville. See contact details below.
Warburton Crossing – Closed due to flooding until further notice.
Mt Dare Hotel – Desert Parks Pass Agents - Diesel and unleaded fuel, accommodation, meals, hot showers, fuel, minor repairs, camping and travel supplies available for travelers. Satellite phones are available to hire from Mt Dare Hotel for trips across the
Simpson Desert. Contact Mt Dare on (61 8) 8670 7835
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Hire of Communications Equipment
Satellite phones can be hired from
Oodnadatta,
Marree,
Birdsville & Mt Dare. For further information call:
Wirrarri Centre -
Birdsville (61 7) 4656 3300 Mt Dare Hotel (61 8) 8670 7835
CONDITION UPDATES
As conditions change a further update bulletin will be issued. For further information on SA Desert Parks and Far Northern South Australian road and track access, please call
the Desert Parks toll free hotline on 1800 816 078 or the Transport SA Outback Roads hotline on 1300 361 033.
Alternatively contact local Police where applicable for condition updates. For travel communications, contact the Australian National 4WD Radio Network Inc on (61 8) 8287 6222.
Tony Magor
Senior
Ranger
DESERT PARKS
desertparks@saugov.sa.gov.au
While every attempt has been made to provide up to date information in this bulletin, all travellers are responsible for ensuring that they obtain accurate and detailed information and are properly equipped and prepared for all emergencies prior to traveling into remote outback areas.
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