Hay River Trip Info

Barry,

This was one of the best kept secrets, and that is why there have been 47 views but no one has replied.

The fact that you have time is good, but if you book into Batton Camp for the bush tucker tour you will have to be there on that day or better the day before.

If you have not already done so have a look here.

Hay River

I did the trip for the first time last year and can't wait till I do it again this year.

Make sure that you have plenty of time to take photos, this trip is so different.

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Don't tell any body else about this trip, it is a secret :-))

Wayne

Barry, the Hay river trip is a beauty, not hard but it is remote. Camp spots are plentiful. Time frame 5 or 6 days but if you like the peace and quit you may like to take longer . The bush tucker tour I dunno , didnt go on it. Would go back tomorrow if I could but its the Surveyor Generals Corner , Gibson Desert , Ruddall river NP & the Pilbara this year.

Regards

TDB

Barry,
We did the Hay River trip last year from south to north & enjoyed every minute.Last year was a good season & vegetation & bird life was prolific.
Landscape changes regularly along the way with typical Simpson dunes in south through to Mitchell grass station country in north with the Hay itself starting with numerous channels to becoming an awesome pink sand - full on river bed lined with River Red Gums.
Lake Caroline also not to be missed.
Track in southern section around east end of shot line is in very soft dunes with sections disappearing with sand drift so good maps & gps waypoints are of value
When at Batton Hill make sure to get Lindsay to take You out to Goyder's Pillar for a sunset viewing. We did not do the bush tucker trip so can not comment on that but Batton Hill camp was clean and the showers hot.
We did -
Birdsville to a camp in the Gidgee near Peopells on Day 1
Then 3 camps along Hay track with fifth camp at Batton Hill
Could have added another day quite easily but could have done it in 1 less if needed but take the time & enjoy.
See my member pics of Hay River.
Regards MarkImage Could Not Be Found

Barry2,
I drove this trip 2 years ago and thoroughly recommend it. The bush tucker tour was good - we even got served BBQ'd frill-neck lizard !!
Make sure you book Batton Hill early as this trip is becoming very popular.
Keith

Hi Barry
Great trip all right, we took a group up it in 2006 and then it was sanded over with no wheel tracks to follow in parts.
We were the first to follow the new set of waypoints that was given in that year which were different from plots like on explor-oz. Had to unbog some vehicles a few times and it was dry and a lot of fun.

Bush tucker tour was good to but overpriced at $85 a head.

We liked the driving side and best part for us was an accidental discovery , one evening of the deep sandy Hay river bed 2km west of our 3rd camp as listed below.

We drove up and down the river bed channel for several km's here.


(Below - Extract of our large trip report showing camps and fuel use)

START Birdsville km's 0
Turn off to BeachComber km's 142
Poeppel Corner km's 162
Back at BeachComber turn off km's 182
1st CAMP Beachcomber km's 248 53J 0782093 7190298

2nd CAMP Just north Madigan Line km's 345 53J 0774194 7262226

3rd CAMP 1 km east of Hay rive bed km's 443 53J 0738190 7336823

4th CAMP AndrewHarper memorial km's 546 53J 0713683 7406162

5th CAMP Batton Hill camp (arrival) km's 595 53K 0691440 7452199

6TH CAMP Batton Hill (ready to leave ) km's 680
7TH CAMP As above

Gem Tree service station km's 965

8TH CAMP Alice Springs km's 1102

Shortest distance between fuel is 550km (Birdsville-Jervious, no side trips)


FUEL USEAGEBirdsville to Alice (1133km at fill up )
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4800 Patrol petrol 20.2lt/100km (228lt)
60 series diesel 15.7lt/100km
Navara 3lt nissan diesel 13.2lt/100km
4.2 Patrol diesel 16lt/100km approx.
Pajero Exceed Petrol 19lt/100km approx.
Range Rover V8 22lt/100km approx.

Gday Barry,
I agree with most of the above, but if I can just add:

In 2005, Fuel usage - 8 diesel LandCruisers used between 125 litres and 150 litres to travel from Jervois to Mungarannie (incl bush tucker trip, Goyders Pillar and lake Caroline).
In 2006, we travelled the bottom end of the Hay and parts of the Madigan line - sand was softer that year. Fuel consumption is OK if you drop your tyre pressures, and take it easy.

In 2005, we went about 2 weeks after 4 inches of rain - it was great - saw Lake Caroline when mostly covered with water, and the wildlife was prolific. So don't be deterred by rain.

I have to disagree with Robin - the Bush tucker tour is the best $80 (per vehicle) we have ever spent. Where else would you have a personal guide for a full day - a trip through some great country, a 3 course lunch including damper, soup, roast kangaroo - and a sunset tour at Goyders Pillar. Maybe we just got lucky. I think if you stay 2 nights, you're more likely to have a good tour. Hopefully, Lindsay is there when you do your trip, but he is trying to delegate the jobs to his family.

Camp anywhere you like. Our favourite camps are in the Gidgee and also we have had the odd great night in the burnt out areas just north of the shotline. Great for desert photography. And we spent 2 days at the turnoff to Lake caroline. Take your time - spend a couple of days more than most people do, and you can take it all in. 7-8 days from Jervois to Poeppels would be my plan for the next trip.

And brush up on your GPS skills beforehand - you can easily lose the track in the burnt out areas between Madigan camp 16 south to the shotline, and you'll have to find you're own way until you meet up with the track again. The sand is very loose, so tracks get blown away within hours.

Cheers
phil