Best way from Melbourne to Simmo?

Submitted: Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 21:45

ThreadID: 56763 Views:2219 Replies:8 FollowUps:17

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KSV.

Anyone can suggest fasters way from Melbourne to Dalhousie Springs? Via Adelaide – Port Augusta – Oodnadatta or there is better one?

Thanks
Serg

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Reply By: Willem - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 21:55

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 21:55

Melbourne, Mildura, Broken Hill, Tibooburra Camerons Corner, Innamincka, Walkers Crossing, Warburton Crossing, Simmo

Cheers

AnswerID: 299234

Follow Up By: KSV. - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:11

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:11

Thanks, mate, not good - I like to start from Dalhousie Springs. I definitely consider you suggestion for returning.

Cheers
Serg

FollowupID: 565393

Follow Up By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:13

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:13

Nope, close Willem but I reckon my way is better. See below! Mick.

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
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FollowupID: 565397

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:18

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:18

Serg

From Warburton Crossing follow Rig Road to Dalhousie and then return via French Line....if you have enough fuel....LOL......

Mick

Yerrrrrrrr.....................

Cheers

FollowupID: 565401

Follow Up By: Member - Warfer (VIC) - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 23:15

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 23:15

Bit of Deja Vu Willem - (my exact question at our meeting) lol

FollowupID: 565422

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 03:43

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 03:43

I have to agree with you Willem, to Birdsville ...

Weather permitting next time we go there, I would really love to do the Warburton Crossing, Rig Road, thing to Dalhousie, and then back along the French Line..after a brief visit to Mt Dare, for fuel, and a couple of beers !

Viv & Ray, from Burchip did this one, last year, ( as far as I know )
and they loved it.

Only done the Simpson east/west along the French line
I have promised SWMBO to take her thru the Simpson, as she has not been thru yet, and this way is high on my agenda,, Only problem is when ?

Not for a couple of years as next year we are off to the Kimberley's and down the Canning !

Cheers
Bucky

FollowupID: 565429

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:09

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:09

Fastest way is via Coober pedy to Oodnadatta.

Scenic way is different!
And what on earth is Simmo????????

AnswerID: 299239

Follow Up By: KSV. - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:15

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:15

Does not look to me as shortest. Simmo is Simpson dessert (seen it somewhere like this)

Cheers
Serg

FollowupID: 565398

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:19

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:19

Phil it is the Digital Name for the Simpson Desert.....hahahahahaha

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 00:03

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 00:03

Serge, you asked for the fastest, not the shortest! It will take you half a day longer to go via the Oodnadatta track.

That "Simmo" junk drives me up the wall. Coined by the magazine crowd who wouldn't know the Simpson Desert if they fell over it.

Cheers
Phil

FollowupID: 565428

Follow Up By: KSV. - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 07:25

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 07:25

Phil,

Thanks for comment about Oodnadatta track and sorry if I upset you.

Serg

FollowupID: 565435

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 08:29

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 08:29

Sorry Serge, I didn't mean to come across as upset. Just having a bit of fun. Someone took a swipe at the 4wd Action people about it recently too. Though I'm really angry at Willem for using the word Simmo as well (even if he is a Digitally-aware person :-)))

So far I think I'm the only one who's answered your question. I'd guess that you might even get to Port Augusta first night, which means Oodnadatta (via Coober Pedy) second night, then you're cruising. To go via Roxby is the next quickest option, but you'd still be doing over 400k of gravel thats a bit rougher than the 200k of smooth stuff on the Coober Pedy - Oodnadatta road. Its also impossible to do the Oodnadatta track without stopping to look at all the interesting stuff on the way.

I've done the one week trip across the Simpson a few times, and Adl-Adl you can do it in 8 days comfortably if you go via Coober Pedy.

FollowupID: 565446

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 08:43

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 08:43

Hey Phil

How about the BIG SANGA ( Great Sandy Desert )....or the GIBBO(Gibson Desert)....or the BIG VIC(Great Victoria Desert)....or BIRDO(Birdsville)..........hahahahahaha

After all we seem to be quite happy to call Alice Springs= THE ALICE...or the Anne Beadell Track= THE AB....or the Staurt Highway=THE TRACK.........and so on.

Maybe we could make up a Colloquial Name Tag list........?

LOL

Cheers

FollowupID: 565447

Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:10

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:10

Serg,

Melbourne to Mildura on the Calder...visit the wineries.Mildura to Broken Hill via the Silver City Hwy...check out the Yabba. Turn left down the Barrier Hwy to Yunta then right and north to Waukaringa Ruins and then Curnamona. A little bit further and then left to Erudina woolshed, west to Martins Well and into the Flinders via the back way. Stop at Hucks lookout and take a few photo's. Cruise up the Buckaringa Valley to Aroona, then out through Brachina Gorge (now I would have said go up to the Gammons via Blinman here but I know you're in a hurry) to the highway and then north to Parachilna, Leigh Creek, Lyndhurst and Maree (stop at pub and buy beer). Big choice here...me, I'd go right and up to Birdsville but if you need the time, head straight on via the Oodnadatta track to William Creek. Remember to give way to planes when arriving, stop at the pub and purchase obligatory stubby holder, more beer and bread. Continue straight ahead. At Oodnadatta, buy suitable refreshing beverages, restock fridge and continue on 18 km. Turn right and head to Hamilton homestead. There turn right and travel for an hour (if not raining) and presto...you're there. Set up tent, pop Oodnadatta beverage into Willem (pun intended) Creek stubby holder and swap tall tales with the numerous other visitors, friends of the Simpson and Nat Parks personnel. It may not be shorter but you'll enjoy it a whole lot more!!!!!

Cheers. Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 299240

Follow Up By: KSV. - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:17

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:17

How long it takes just driving? If more then 16-18 hr where is the best place to stop over?

Thanks Serg

FollowupID: 565400

Follow Up By: KSV. - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:27

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:27

I have checked you route on map - very detailed, thank you for writing.

Cheers
Serg

FollowupID: 565407

Follow Up By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:35

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:35

Serg,

I've got to ask...what's the rush? The route I've given allows a couple of nights on the road (at a push) but takes in some of the best areas and scenery that the Aussie Outback has to offer. The Flinders are like crack cocaine...bloody addictive! So are the Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks. Half the fun is spending a night in the valleys or dunes with a camp fire, a jaffle iron and a bottle (or cask) of port. Sloooooowwww's the way to gooooooo!

Mick.

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 565410

Follow Up By: KSV. - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:43

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:43

Mick,

Much appreciate your feelings and LOVE follow your way, but I have no more then 1 week (from Saturday to next Sunday) to complete the exercise. Thus if I pass Simmo very fast because I dislike it (very doubtful) then I rather spend extra time on my way back. Flinders BTW next on list.

Cheers
Serg

FollowupID: 565413

Reply By: VH-GU4 - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:34

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:34

Why rush a great trip like that???

AnswerID: 299244

Follow Up By: KSV. - Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:44

Friday, Apr 18, 2008 at 22:44

Time constrains - see above.

Serg

FollowupID: 565414

Reply By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 03:49

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 03:49

Serg

There is no faster way up to The Simpson, and then across it.

Just Safest Way ! Rush it and you may regret it,,,

And that is entirely in the hands of the of the Driver

Take your time, and savor every moment, look at the beauty, of the whole trip

Cheers
Bucky

AnswerID: 299258

Follow Up By: KSV. - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 07:23

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 07:23

Bucky,

This is whole point - I like to get to the place as fast as possible for reason spend as much as possible there!

Cheers
Serg

FollowupID: 565434

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 08:54

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 08:54

Hire a plane!!!

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AnswerID: 299272

Reply By: Robin Miller - Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 22:02

Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 at 22:02

Hi Serg

Tend to agree with Phils suggestion.

We tend to do the Dalhousie Cober Pedy run back in 2 days , and the reverse run Melb to Birdsville both via Pt Augusta in 2 days or 1 day if in a hurry, but this means rotating drivers and not stopping except for fuel.