Innaminka and Birdsville

I was in Marree a few weeks ago, and remember seeing a posting in the pub stating the Innamincka races for 2010 have been cancelled due to the current wet conditions of the north. It may be worth confirming before heading off

Cheers

Terry

G'day Larraine

I suspect that there are many people like you hoping that the rain will stop & roads dry out prior to the Birdsville races. I assume you are driving Brisbane to Innamincka via Cunnamulla & then to Birdsville via Cordillo Downs. The following link RACQ road conditions unfortunately shows most roads west of Cunnamulla to Birdsville/Innamincka currently closed.
I suggest you check this web site regularly prior to leaving to determine road conditions ... with a bit of luck everything will dry out & the roads re-open well before you leave. You have the added concern of towing a large caravan so I hope things work out OK for you.

Regards

hey Larraine,

Check out the SA Outback roads temporary conditions for road closures. Here

Good news though as of the time i have sent this reply the roads are open. Some only to 4wd but they hopefully will open up to all soon.

I am leaving from Adelaide to head up to the Birdsville race up through Innamincka or hoping to go through there. I got a email from the guys up there at Innamincka yesterday and they told me that a lot or all of the camp sites are all closed but are sure to open up soon.

Hope this helps, and hope the rain stays away....

Kev

Larraine
I went to Innamincka in June this year came in through Cunnumulla and Thargomindah and the road was a good bitumen road except for the last 100 or so kms which was a good dirt road. But I believe there has been a lot of rain since then.

Regards Paul

This info is getting a bit old but it may still be relevent.

We were in Innamincka on 13th July this year. It started raining at about 3am and didn'r for the whole of that day. What was nice desert roads turned into a boggy mess.

Strongly suggest you contact the authorities before embarking on this trip.

The road from west of Thargo to Innamincka is bitumen until around the Jackson oil fields. It turns to dirt for 60 odd kays till close to the Nappa Merrie bridge. It's bitumen to the SA/Qld border, then dirt for 60 odd into Innamincka. This whole section on 13th July was ponded water and slippery mud when we did it. The floodways every 1km, were certainly flood ways!!

Can't comment on the Cordillo Downs Rd.

The Birdsville track is trashed no matter what end you look at the smallest bit of rain now causes havoc I am sure the road crews are in top gear but the country is now very very wet and can't take as it usually does. The windorah track is about the same but with a bit more crew work but once you start getting near Birdsville it's all the same. there is more rain coming it was always going to be a wet winter & spring try elders predications