Adelaide to Longreach via Birdsville HELP!

Its raining up there now (or due to) - even when the roads are formally 'opened', people can be slipping and sliding all about for days - cars are often unrecognisable until the owner chips the mud off later :-o)........Broken Hill, Bourke and then north to Blackall and Longreach is probably the safest. You could enquire around Wilcannia on the way through about a run up to Hungerford and then Quilpie - Windorah.

I'd think Broken Hill, Bourke, Charleville, Longreach would be the go.

We once got stopped at Marree by sudden rains which closed the whole area up to Birdsville! Blow! Mutter etc! This was Dec 1999 - some cyclone named John swept down across from the NW coast.
What a detour - back down to Peterborough, across to Broken Hill, onto Cobar for day 1. Then up to Bourke and onto Charleville, etc to Longreach for day 2. Did 2 consecutive days of around 1100k to keep our tight schedule!
We had a great trip though as the terrain was easy to drive on the sealed highways, the scenery was good and we did the old driver swap each 2 or 3 hrs routine. Make the best of what is available and look at the journey as a treat if you can.
We used cabins in Marree van park, Cobar van park and Longreach van park. All were most acceptable for standard, staff friendly and we slept well each night! Hope this helps.
Cheers - Mobi

Don't count the Captiva out too early. I followed a VW Tiguan towing a camper trailer up the track about 8 weeks ago only 3-4 days after the track had reopened from a rainy patch. The Tiguan is a similar car to the Captiva and it seemed to handle it ok especially considering it was towing. It had street tyres as well. There were a lot of water crossings and muddy patches. Still, if in doubt, don't. Mike

Hi Fab
Lets hope that the track does dry out, as if it is still wet, muddy and open I would not drive it again in such conditions, as there is a very high chance that you will damage the rear brakes from all that slush. Like others have said, head up via Broken Hill, Cobar, Bourke then straight up. If you still have to get to Windorah, it is sill possible via Quilpie.

Have a great trip.

Cheers

Stephen