so called iconic tracks

Ha ha ....... Just wait until it rains, then try again & we'll see what you have to say about them then!

Different every time you travel it. As mentioned above.............just wait until it rains lol. Some of my favorite country. I'm not really sure what you are trying to say. None of the roads above are 4WD tracks unless it's been raining.

Warren

You have to take on board some of the history and unique scenery of the tracks to really enjoy them. You can do the Birdsville in an afternoon, or you can take two or three days or more with a bit of ingenuity. You need to have a Westprint map with the history on the back, read it, stop along the way, perhaps seek permission from the station to camp a few nights at Lake Killapanninna, see if you can go the inner track or even strike it lucky and do Walker's Crossing. But don't go until you have shown the family the Tom Kruse DVD (Along the Track I think).

The Gibb River Road in the Kimberley is another classic. In the season its like the Bruce Highway (in terms of traffic) and you can get along it in a day or two. But if you read Ron & Viv Moon's Adventurers' Guide before you go (and maybe Kings in Grass Castles too), you see it with different eyes, and you simply run out of time to go to all the places the road opens up for you.

My suggestion is that a browse through the ExploreOz shop a few months before a trip is a great way to put the magic into a planned trip.

That has always worked for me.
Max

Obviously you drove too fast. You need to stop and smell the roses.
There are so many interesting places and diversions along those tracks and yes when they are dry and maintained they are like highways and a lot of family cars drive them but just a smidgeon of rain and there is another story.

I think you maybe victim of the 4wd myth. many people think 4wd'ing is full of ruts and challenging stuff like in the Outback challenge.

Reality is there is very little really challenging driving done if you own a 4wd. It is mainly easy going or we may need a bit of extra traction or clearance than the commodore will give.

We just got back from the Simpson today, having done the Ood and Birdsville tracks. I agree to some extent but the remoteness and history makes the journey worthwhile. Did you actually stop at all the springs, wetlands etc? We also loved where the tracks got us to and absolutely hate corrugations. They aren't a challenge either so three cheers for the graders. Cheers, Chris.

Get yourself over to WA and do the CSR if you need something a bit more challenging.

"the tracks are really just rough dirt roads"
Yep, no argument there!! But who goes to see the tracks???
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But I know what you're getting at - There are many tourist runs that are a beatup - some of the SA Govt advertising of the outback is a bit over the top, and misses the best bits.

I never tire of the oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks. I first travelled them 30 years ago in a Corolla, and everytime since theres been something new to see. Amazing history that comes to life with a bit of research.

Very few roads are in themselves a tourist attraction.

It's the sights that you see from the road and at the end of the road that you are looking for.

As has already been said - slow down- then you will see (and feel) the spirt of the open country.

The sound of silence can be overwhelming to the point of almost being spirtual, the sound of the engine and endless corrugations will just send you to sleep.

I've just returned from my 6th trip to Birdsville. No, the tracks were as smooth as a baby's bottom, comapred to previous years. No rain, no worries. I could probably have done the trip in a falcon....so what ?
I've done thousands and thousands of km where I couldnt have taken a falcon with any degree of being sure that I'd get back. Rain, corregation, temp and just plain metal fatigue would have got me sooner or later.
Now you may say that because you didn't use 4wd that it's all overstated.
Try Cape York or the CSR or the Kidson Track to name just a few.

The one thing you can be sure of is that the moment you make the bush out to be benign, it will bite you on the bum big time !!

Hey guys i think some of us are losing focus on why we drive 4wds and go exploring,
I kind of have to agree with Warren B as i live in that back country for many years, i saw the roads slowly develop into very passable driving tracks which you drive today,
This is mainly due to the oil and gas company's money. 7to10 years ago they where shockers to drive on.
On the flip side Warren B If you ever get more than 5 minutes to spend out there you will realise why we talk the area UP.

Warren,

You are wearing Rose coloured glasses mate.

I have driven the Birdsville Track where, after some light rain overnight, the first 50 kilometres of driving from Mungerannie was done at 15 klms/hour and less. Where the Jack was travelling in one direction and the trailer in another. Where you had no choice but to drift sideways into the road edge, fortunately to be kicked out again.

Was a challenging section to say the least, but enjoyed the experience.

Further along the track towards Birdsville and you are driving on the Gibber Plains, where many people (yes, including me) have come to grief when a small stone shattered the rear window.

And the Strezleckie Track. Yes, usually fairly well maintained, but just watch out for those hidden bulldust holes. And when it is wet, forget it.

I have experienced road conditions even on bitumen, like the Stuart Highway north of the Alice where a 30 kilometre stretch was submerged 100mm or so, under water. The only way you could progress was to follow the white line on the crown of the road. (when you could see it)

On the same bitumen Highway, where we were "stranded" in the Alice for 3 extra days, until the flooding of the Finke and other rivers subsided enough to allow travel south again. When travelling past the affected area saw bulldozers still working to remove the metres of built-up silt and rocks, so traffic could pass.

Yep, it's plain to see, you haven't "lived" mate, or at least experienced tracks and roads in "adverse" conditions.
2WD in these conditions? I don't think so.

I guess it sometimes gets down to why you own a 4WD. For me I bought one when I WAS 19 yo because I loved the experience of driving, especially the 4WD tracks...the steeper, boggier, rougher the better. I felt the enjoyment of a trip to be directly related to the 4WDing.

Now that I've grown up a little (though some would argue that point 8-) ) and have had numerous jobs where traversing 4WD tracks is part of everyday WORK, I couldn't care less about how steep, rough, boggy the track is, in fact the smoother the better. If someone came up with a way to get rid of corrrrugatttions for ever I would be ecstatic (provided that the outback/bush areas didn't fill up with people).

My reason for having a 4WD, and I would imagine that most others on this forum, is as a means to an end, rather than as an end in itself. I'm no longer interested in 4WDing, rather simply using the capabilities of the vehicle to go to places that I want to see and spend some time relaxing/camping etc... I no longer get a 'buzz' out of driving challenging 4WD tracks. Saying this, I'm also not criticising those who do go sway with the intent of finding the most challenging bog holes and such like, but it no longer interests me.....costs too much to keep fixing the damn car!!!

In relation to these tracks that are mentioned, I have driven along most of them over the years and would say that the 4WD magazines do make more of them than is really the case, but again, I think that the magazines tend to cater for a slightly different market....dare I say to those who are still afflicted with the 4WDing 'bug' and who go out there to DRIVE, rather than look around and enjoy the scenery. Just think how many articles they have where the journos drive thousands of k's in literally a few days, then write an article on all the wonderful things to see out there....kidding aren't they??? I find it difficult with only 10 weeks holiday a year ;-)

My point....??? I've forgotten now, just go out there and enjoy the scenery, take due care, and throw those silly 4WD mags in the bin. I have.

Cheers,

Mark