WALKERS CROSSING

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 10:04
ThreadID: 52706 Views:3087 Replies:10 FollowUps:6
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Next years trip will take us from Melbourne up through NSW to Cameron Corner to Birdsville and eventually to WA (Cape Leveque)
Looking at maps, a lot of K's can be saved by going through Walkers Crossing after Cameron Corner. My question to anyone who has travelled this way is regarding its suitability for a V6 4 Runner towing a Tvan. Is it rough or sand dunes etc. Is there any unusual preparations like flags required.
Cheers
Peter
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Reply By: Roaring 40s (Tassie) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 10:18

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 10:18
Transversed this track some 20 months ago, no probs with sand dunes, no flag required, track was in good order but bit rocky at Birdsville end, times will have changed suggest check with Innamincka trading post before you leave.
Also look up track notes on this site re information.
Go caravaning, life is so much shorter than death.

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Reply By: Peter 2 - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 10:39

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 10:39
Usually 2wd (high clearance) as it can get sandy and when wet impassable. Usually a good run with as has been mentioned rocky bits at the Birdsville track end.
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Reply By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 11:59

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 11:59
As above, would be impassable after rain. Its an interesting but fairly easy run - did it this year. Just watch out for the cattle grids where the approaches are scooped out. Hit one of these doing about 60km and it was the worst shake of the whole trip (Simpson included). There were plenty of wildflowers on some sections this year.

Val.
J and V
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- Albert Einstein

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Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 12:23

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 12:23
This track is a Public Access Route initiated by the SA Government as it passes through cattle stations. As mentioned it is pretty flat country.Walkers Crossing could be closed in the earlier part of the year due to a flooded Cooper Creek so it is best to check here on EO before you leave or you can ring the Innamincka Store.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Peter 2 - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 13:41

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 13:41
Hey Willem, are you surfing the net as Judith drives ;-))
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Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:17

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:17
Nah!! Was still home and now home again!!! See post 52725


Anyway I don't have that sort of fandangled equipment to surf while driving....LOL

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Mike M (VIC) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 14:59

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 14:59
Went this Sept in a Suzuki Grand Vitara 6 inches off the ground. You will have no problems. The gibber plain nearer the Birdsville track just slowed us down a bit because of clearance. Other than that good road. The Tvan will go more places than you car will. Try the Bore Track from Cameron Corner to Innamincka too. Also good track.
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:04

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:04
Peter,

In dry conditions Walker Crossing track is the preferred route used by "locals" between Innamincka and Birdsville. It is the shortest route between the two towns, easily done during daylight hours. The track crosses a variety of countryside but in almost all situations is a better road than the Cordillo Downs route.
It is relatively flat and no sand flag is required. In good conditions you could traverse the track in a Falcon or Commodore.

But when rain has occurred, all bets are off.
The best way is to contact the folk at Innamincka or Birdsville before you are due to depart and they will advise on current conditions and which tracks are closed.

There is also the Road Conditions Index accessable from the Exploroz Home page, or you can access the SA Government Outback Road Conditions Web site.

Bill


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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:22

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:22
It is always better to have at least two sites to compare.

For instance, the SA Government site does not show any reference for the Walkers Crossing Track. (Interesting as it's a public road)

The section of the Oodnadatta Track between William Creek and Bopeechee (and down to Roxby) is showing "closed due to rain" (20th Dec) but currently only showing "caution due to road works" on this site.

I'm not being critical of any individual site as they are all valuable sources of information, but they can only be as accurate as the information source that updates them.

Look at the reference sites and if in any doubt, ring the Rangers, or Police station, close to where a problem area may be observed.

Finally, be prepared for unplanned delays anywhere in the Outback regions. Carry sufficient food and water and if you need to "camp" on the side of the road for a day or two while conditions improve, (or stay longer at one location) you will not be disappointed with the delay.

Bill


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Reply By: Kiwi & "Mahindra" - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:14

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:14
You will be fine.....

had a subie forrester with us last yr and it was fine....corrigated and sandy but you'll be fine....just ask at the trading post when you fill up which is the better track at the time...ie Walkers or....brain freeze....the othe track north.....that one!! LOL !!...(aaahhh geez i need some sleep!)

put a flag on purely for the hell of it.....I like the idea of having one on and if it was up to me id have it on in town!! Just incase someone doesnt see me coming over the overpass into the shopping centre...which has happened before....almost head on...

have a bit of fun with your flag...dont go and spend $100 on it....we used a colapsable fishing rod (duel purpose!!) taped it up and used Naths Bundy shirt...bright yellow....as the flag...!!

Laura

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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:29

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:29
Ha! Ha!

Good one Laura.

Or, you could spend $100 on a good sand flag (payed that for mine some years ago) then use it at every opportunity.
Even on the overpass to the Shopping Centre:-))


Bill


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Follow Up By: Kiwi & "Mahindra" - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:36

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 15:36
Guess what We're gonna do to the "big white" uhf aerial???? Strap 'er up with fluro orange or yellow tape!!!

Laura
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Follow Up By: Member - Chris R (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 16:37

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 16:37
Try the silver innards out of your first wine cask. Cheap and enjoyable and no loss at the end. Seems to work for me

Cheers

Chris
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Reply By: Oskar - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 16:54

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 16:54
Take note of the comments regarding wet weather.
We did it in wet conditions (it was just overcast when we left Innaminka) and by the time we got to the Birdsville track we were very glad to be in one piece.
The track gets very slippery very quickly and parts of the track fill up with the run-off.
Another point to mention is that you must not travel on any SA road if there is a road closed sign up.
We were stuck on the Birdsville track for 4 days once after rain and a young guy in a Hilux paddle-wheeled past us on his way to Birdsville.
He really chewed up the track all the way to Birdsville then got booked by the cops for driving through a road-closed sign down at Maree.
Somewhere between $5000 and $8000 fine. That amount got exagerated on this site shortly after to about $36000 but it wasn't that much (We knew the cop at Birdsville at the time).
It's a nice drive when it's fine.
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Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 18:59

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 18:59
We did The Walkers Crossing track from Birdsville to Innaminka on the Bourke Outback Trek in October as the Cordillo Downs Road was supposed to be pretty bad.

This vehicle hit one of the cattle grids but luckily they found a second hand radiator at Moomba.
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Reply By: GREENDOG - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:43

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:43
As other's have said it's a good run if your caming from Innamicka the last 20 or so ks are on gibber stone's allow 6 hrs from Innamicka to Birdsville and thats with the C/T,when you came out onto the Birdsville track you will have around 120 ks to Birdsville,all in all it's a nice drive.cheer's GREENDOG
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