Strzeleki trek/Flinders Rangers

We did the Strez with a 5 and 7 year old a couple of years back in a Jackaroo towing a standard 6*4 box trailer.

I assume you are going north south. We went the other way coming onto the Strez from the Cameron Corner way.

IMHO you would be better off in October, for a start it would be cooler and you would be less likely to have rain. If it rains they close the roads immediately to stop the trucks cutting them up. It can be a real PITA.

The kids loved the trip. Plenty to do in the Flinders. Wilpena and Arkaroola (ridgetop tour) are must do's as is the Skytrek self drive tour. You can go out from the north and save going back to the highway. There is not that much to see on the Strezlecki freeway (100KMH dirt highway) for most of the length. The real highlight is Innamincka and camping on Cooper Creek. If the kids read up on the history they will enjoy all the Bourke and Wills sites. Depending on when they were graded the roads tend to detierierate closer to the Qld end.

If you have time, going via the corner country is really worth it too, going accross the dunes the scenery is great.

We really enjoyed that trip and would do it again.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Hi Andrew, You are braver than me to do this trip with 3 kid under 6 you must have the patients of Jobe to listen to are we there yet for 4 months.
To answer your 1st Q do in Sept as to hot in Jan (40+), plenty to see depending on route, IE Inaminka (Dig Tree; Cooper Creek) , Birdsville via Walker Crossing, Big Red , Bouilia, Winton (Dinasaur Fossils), then either head to T'Ville via Hughenden or Longreach (Stockman's Hall of Fame) then Barcaldine, Emerald North to T" Ville Home via Coast
1st part of post answer to 2nd question , but just do it & have a great time
Bob
Wish i was still here / Gulf in July

Andrew,
The kids will love it after about the first wk! I suggest the Flinders first as it is very hot and dry in Jan. All the best.Let it never end!

Andrew,

was up that way late August last year. As Billy said, temperature will be a lot better around October. Again, as Billy said, heaps to do around Arkaroola and Wilpena. Check out Montecollina Bore (not sure if thats the correct spelling) between Innamincka and Arkaroola. kids will love all the Corellas that hang out there.

spend a few days around Innamincka checking out all the Burke and Wills sites and also just a day or two lazing by the banks of the Cooper.

Parallana Hot Springs up near Arkaroola are interesting too. If you do decide to go, afternoon is best time when there has been a bit of a breeze blowing. This is mainly due to the radioactive gases emitted from the hot springs that can build up in the gully over night. Having said that, I believe it is still quite safe and the bubbling springs would interest the kids. Double check with the staff at Arkaroola though. There was a segment on the springs on Catalyst on the ABC a while back. They were actually filming the segment whilst we were staying at Arkaroola.

But certainly worth doing and as the above posts have already said, the kids will have a ball.

As for Billy's comment on fuel economy, I would have just made it into Arkaroola from Innaminka on one 66L tank (heavily loaded 2.8D Hilux).

cheers,
Sam.

We've just come back from doing the Strzeleki over Easter. Travelled from the start at Lyndhurst stayed a night at Monicolina bore (spelling???) your kids will love it I'm sure. However like most of this area there's plenty of flies. Then to Camerons Corner and back out and up the old track to Innamincka and the Cooper plenty of fish only take what you need. The old track was very wet when we were there and we found our selves driving on side tracks for 80% of the way. The new track you'll have no trouble travelling at 90 to 100 if you wish on most of it. We have an old 84 cruiser with 4.0ltr desiel and fully loaded with tyres down to 26 pound we got approx 14ltrs to 100K. The scenery is fantastic wildlife was every where plenty of birds and a few dingo's as well. If possible ask at Camerons if the Bore track is open I'm told this is a very good drive -- it was closed due to rain at Easter.

Just a note we travelled the Odnadatta track 11 yeras ago with 2 young kids in a Falcon 82 S/Wagon towing a box trailor it along with other trips were well worth the effort so just do it.

Cheers,

Pelly

try these
http://www.wilpenapound.on.net/

http://www.flinders.outback.on.net/1999 NISSAN NAVARA DUALCAB
DIESEL 3.2 & SPRINGY CARLTON TOY

andrew i hope you enjoy the trip mate, your kids well what an adventure for them make sure you do the skytrek mate it,s on willow springs station 20 ks nth of wilpena pound on the blinman rd the 4wd track takes about 5-6 hrs for more info just log on to skytrek cheers