Madagin line

You would be better starting from Mount dare, travel along the French Line and turn left up the Collson Track and then on to camp 6 on the Madagin Line.

Camp 3 to 5 are in an aboriginal only area and they NEVER NEVER give permits, there is a sort of a track of to you right on the Collson Track that takes you around the aboriginal land to camp 6...but it is very hard to find and hard going.

Once on the Madagin Line you can go to the Hay River intersection and turn left up the Hay River Track to the Plenty Highway (permit needed for part of Hay River Track) or turn right and continue along the Madagin Line to Birdsville.

I would allow about 5 (rush) to 14 (comfortable) days to do the trip form Mt Dare to the Plenty or Birdsville.

Not all the camps are suitable for camping.

Going east to west is a lot harder and you will have problems getting over some of the sand hill along the Magagin...remember the madagin only gets travelled by a handful of vehicles a year and is in very bad shape in places.

I would suggest a west north crossing.

Take a few Satellite Phones and HF radios with you and make sure you have really good maps preferable on a laptop and GPS's

We were out there in 2004 and 2006, and did the Hay River as well in 2005.

Where you go depends on why you are doing the trip. If you have read Madigan's book, you can follow his journey day after day and relive his trip. If you just want a bit of an adventure, then follow Richard's route above. As mentioned above there are issues with permission through 3,4 and 5. I've tried in the past through the CLC and never got anywhere.

IMO, if you are truly following Madigan's book, it would be a shame to miss the first camps on Andado Station. To drive past the Mac Clarke Reserve, North Bore, camps 1A and 2 and the old Case Tractor and to stand up on top of the Twins, to read the notes from the very early travellers were highlights that I remember. You'll need permission from and have a chat to Andado Station. We travelled cross country from the Twins to the Colson track and then onto Camp 6, avoiding aboriginal land and missed 3,4 and 5. The going was tough - particularly the last few dunes before you reach the Colson track were tall and soft. And it's easy to stake a few tyres when you work your way through the Hale River. It appeared to me that many other travellers take a risk and take the simpler track past 3,4 and 5 and I guess risk a fine.

After camp 6, the going gets a bit easier, but it can wear you out a bit - day after day of spinfex moguls are hard on the vehicle and holding on in the vehicle. In our first trip a 100series broke an A-arm but was able to limp out with no front suspension. Second trip a Prado broke a rear control arm which was removed and rewelded. Tyre plugs solved most puncture problems.

There are a few options when you reach the Hay River. To head north or south along the Hay River track are popular options. I wasn't able to get written permission to cross the National Park on the Qld side, but have a talk to their Birdsville office and ask and see what happens. The trip past Annandale Ruins to the QAA is good and needs permission from Adria Downs Station. Adria Downs Station is an organic beef producer and will probably prevent you from accessing 24 and maybe 23.

Most people I know are willing to do this trip once - not a lot go back for seconds! If you have a problem, you have to be self-sufficient - don't know of anyone who would come out and get you. And because of the steeper eastern face of the dunes, travelling from the west is the way 95% of people go.