how long to do this trip

15 days will give you time to travel at a comfortable speed stopping by 4.00 with a couple of rest days looking briefly at the main attractions.
22 days will allow a few extra side trips (like Lake Eyre, Broken Hill or Coongie Lakes) & give plenty of time to look around, take photo's & smell the desert flowers.
Conditions always change in the desert so comparisons are difficult but the French Line is just a bit more challenging particually after strong winds. Probably rougher & more cut up than anything else.
Have heard of groups taking over 4 days to do the rig road towing each other regulary (yes they let there tyres down) so often depends on timing as to how hard a crossing can be.
Cheers Craig.............

We travel from Melb to Pinnaroo, Waikerie, Hawker, Port Augusta,
Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta, William Creek, Maree, Leigh Creek, Arkaroola, Merty Merty, Cameron Corner,Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Mildura back to Melb.
We did this in 17 days, stopped and look at everything we wanted to and did not travel long distances most days. We travelled for days on mostly dirt roads and did not see many other tourist . We did this trip in Sept 2007.
Our 2008 trip is travel to Longreach and back in 21 days. We are so looking forward to this trip.
I hope you enjoy your trip.
Julie

pjd

If you call Melb to Tibooburra (1171km) just over a day, and Oodnadatta to Melbourne just over two days, then commuting time to the slow part of the trip is four easy days total.

A leisurely trip from Tibooburra to Oodnadatta via Cordillo Downs or Walkers Crossing would be six days, making a total trip time of ten days.

We used to do that trip from Canberra over Easter- leave early Friday am, stay at Burra that night. Second night 800 km further north. And be home the following Sunday night. A ten day trip with only four days' lost work.

If you have more time, great.