First Outback Trip - Seeking Wisdom in reviewing my plans / route

G'day Aaron, your itinerary looks fine, but why bust a gut on the first day ? Spread it out a bit more. You may find a day in Birdsville is adequate anyway.
The same applies from Broken Hill to Dapto...bloody long day for one driver & a
tiring end to a good trip............oldbaz.

Hi Aaron,
I think you will find that Birdsville to Mungerannie is about 315klm.
Gary

Aaron,

My first response when I saw a 1100 km, 14 hour day 1 was "you've got to be kidding"! Day 1 is when the unexpected things happen - did you remember to pack cutlery, you brought the stove, but where's the gas bottle,..... did anyone think to leave the toilet paper accessible, what about the shovel.... Yours is a very tiring first day and the after effects could well spoil the whole trip. Although we've done a lot of travelling out west, day 1 is always planned to be a short one to allow for those unpredictable shakedown issues.

Plus, why are you travelling? To see the country or simply tick off destinations? Clearly you don't have unlimited time, but travelling more slowly will be far more interesting, safer and less demanding. I'd certainly be splitting that first day into 2 parts. Overall, I think you are trying to cram too many km into the available time.

I think if I was doing this trip, I'd head for Innamincka via Tibooburra and the the Bollards Lagoon track, then if time permitted to Birdsville via the Cordillo Downs track before heading south.Innamincka - Isn't really a destination in itself, little more that a source of fuel. There is interesting history in the area and some special country. Highlights include Nappa Merrie and Coongie Lake.

If time is becoming an issue, maybe skip Birdsville and simply go south from Innamincka. Do you need to join the Charity Drive at Broken Hill? You'll pick up a day or 2 and avoid backtracking by joining it at the Flinders.

I think you're trying to put too much into the available time. It would be far more enjoyable and less demanding if you can lighten the schedule. Forcing yourself to adhere to a too rigid schedule in order to fit everything in is stressful too.

Sorry to appear negative, but that's how I see it.

Cheers

John

Yes split the first day into two, the drive over the mountains and out to Dubbo can be a real drag, slow going especially heavily laden and it isn't till Dubbo that you can start to maintain decent average speeds.
You will spend the night before packing etc and if you have kids it will be way too long a day for them.

Hi Aaron
One section that I have picked up on is the Birdsville to Mungerannie. It is well over 300 kilometres and we usually take about 4 1/2 to 5 hours to do that section. Take your time with tyre pressures dropped and you should have no problems, but high speed will make the trip unsafe and a very higher chance of tyre damage.

Also if you have time to spare, I would recommend an extended stay on the Cooper on the Flooded Birdsville Track.


Cheers

Stephen

Days 11 and 12 - we have easily done Arkaroola to Broken Hill, via Yunta, in one day, towing our caravan. In fact, if you do not have much in the way of sightseeing planned, I reckon you could do Leigh Creek to Broken Hill in the day.

Aaron,
We have been on many outback trips and what we do is make a rule that by 4pm we stop driving and set up camp, main thing is take your time, drive to the conditions and have a great time mate, all the best, you will have fun

rgds Seven

I reckon hot spots
Tiboorbura to Innamincka via Bollards
Coongie Lakes
History spots around Innamincka
All of Cordillo Road camp near ruins
Birdsville - Big Red - Day trip out to Poeppels?
Inside track to Mungerannie R/H
Camp on Coopers
Farina
Things to read before hand. Bourke & Wills I borrowed from Library. Innamincka booklet from Trading Post in Innamincka andFarina booklet from Mungerannie
If you do the Arrabury road Haddons is only 14ks off the road. Last time we were at Haddons on an Endeavour Rally we went up the track that goes through the gate couple hundred meters north, I cuts across to Betoota (permission Req). We have been out there a couple of times and still have not done all the tracks. We are going out again in Sept and still wont have all of them done.

Enjoy