little desert

Julio all the tracks in the Little Desert are suitable for beginners, in fact other than a few of boggy spots during winter much of it can be done in 2WD. Although the area is a nice patch of bush we found it to be fairly featureless compared to the lookouts, history & challenging dunes of the Big Desert & Wyperfeld Park to the North. Pick up a Westprint map which is the most detailed of the area. If you have time drop into Westprint maps in Nnill & catch up with John Deckhart who knows everthing there is to know on the area.
Cheers Craig.......................

Just be prepared to let quite a bit of air out of the tyres and enjoy Julio. It would be the same at the Pyrenees too, just lower pressures for additional traction with a longer tread contact length. A compressor is a useful tool for afters, or you drive to a garage at very low speed. Crackles is right, the tracks shouldn't be difficult, but Robin Millar said there were some deep holes down the Border Track at one spot in his report.

Julio I have just come back from a trip last week right through the 3 sections of the Little Desert. The deepest sand was in the eastern section but you should have no difficulty. The recent rain has compressed the sand. but there are some clay pans which are really slippery. One on the Mc Cabes Hut track nearly had us sliding into a dam.

In the eastern block you could down River Track from Dimboola along McCabes Hut track, Mallee Track and Dahlenbergs Track. Salt Lake Track to Kiata camp groundand Pump Jack track are all suitable.

In the Central Block the Old Nhill Road b/n Crater Track and McDonaalds Highway had a massive bog hole with water up to bonnet level and with no way around. Phillips Track had a nice dune climb over tyres which have been chained together to stabalise the sand.

Elliots track in the Western Block had a series bog bog holes up to 200 metres long with no way around.

Despite what others say we find this area enjoyable with history through old hut and mill sites and changing vegetation for the whole trip.

Just watch the clay pans.