Simpson Desert. April or July??

April..... too cold in July.
Don't forget the Aerogaurd.

Hi Michael,

We went in April / Early may a couple of year ago. Left a few days before Anzac day, so later on in April. Wether was great - pretty warm during the day, but very pleasant at night. Flies were OK - as said, take the Aeroguard or have an area fly screened off to escape the flies (or mozzies at Dalhousie). We have an ARB awning, and fly screen to attach.

Cheers, Mark.

My vote is July.
No flies, bugger all frost.
Dean

Hi Michael
The above sounds a great trip, but if it was me doing it, there is no question as to when I would be doing it - JULY. Having said that this season will go down in history for the most amount and continuous rainfall when it should have been dry.

We are veterans of many Simpson trips over many years, and what I can tell you from my own personal experience is this:

Travel early in the season for Simpson Travellers usually starts in April, when the Spring temperatures are dropping down south, but are still very hot out in the desert - days will still be over 40C and night temperatures will be in the high teens. As it is usually the start of the tourist season, many of the dunes will be very hard to travel due to the extremely soft sand and blown over tracks and dune lips. Even travel in May is still very similar to April, but by the end of May and from June to end of August, these are the peek times for easier travel and comfortable days in the desert.

The Cooler months of June to August you will have most days in the high twenties with some days in the low thirties. Night time temperatures will also vary from below zero with no cloud cover to low teens with full cloud cover.

Like any trip, you must be prepared for any type of weather conditions, as there has been times when it has poured one day and the next not a cloud in the sky and in the high twenties.

Below are a few pictures since I have been using a digital camera and you can see for you self the very different conditions that the desert can through at you. The below are just a few examples of how the can change with just a little rain.

It is you call.

Cheers

Stephen

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Thanks for your replies (and photos...)

After a trip to Coongie Lakes and Innamincka in April a few years ago meant the kids wore fly veils every day, we've decided to wait until July.

See you in the bush.
Michael