Cooper Creek and Simpson Desert current conditions

Hi Wooly
The only thing that I can tell you is that it will be hot. Top parts of the state have already had day over 37 C and it will be warmer out there in the desert.
Check out the below link for the Birdsville Track conditions, as it is still cut up and slow going.

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/area1.asp

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Wooly.
Welcome to ExplorOz.
I agree with Stephen, but also keep an eye on the synoptic chart just before you leave.
We couldn't do the trip we wanted to do this year because of rain all across the centre, coming through in 3-4 day cycles so we went up to have a look at the Coopers Creek Punt and ended up helping tow a stranded car and caravan out. He went in in a normal car and caravan before it rained on the smoothest Birdsville track he'd ever seen.It rained and he was stuck there for 2 weeks! Take extra food & water in case!! and reliable recovery gear.

The road was patchy from Marree up to the Coopers Creek with ponded water & bog holes which were a mess, the road fro Mungeranie to Birdsville was closed.
The road to Mt dare from Dalhousie was closed. This was about 10 days ago.
It probably has dried out but could still be a mess.
Ring Mt Dare., Birdsville Ranger Stn and The Pink Road House Oodnadatta prior to leaving. The Phone numbers should be on your Desert Parks Pass.
We think the Coopers will still be running by then, just not as high. While you're there check out the Dunnie on the South side It's a classic!
The Punt won't take trailer either.
Take care, Safe travels. Ma.
Warning! The Mossies at Dalhousie are voracious monster Mossies. We went for a dip at lunch time but moved on to night camp.

Hi All,
first post after being a long time reader (and traveller) but had to join and contribute (not just read) an answer to this one, just returned from travelling the full length of the track leaving Adelaide on 25/9 and camping @ Farina, 2 nights on the banks of the cooper, 2 nights @ Birdsville, then back down staying @ Clayton (artesian spa pool) , and Woomera (via Roxby).
the track had certainly dried out a lot between up and then back and there isn't any really tricky spots, just drive to the conditions. The track from Mungeranie to Birdsville took 5 1/4 hours up (including a quick lunch break) and only 4 hours on the way down, very little ponded water from there to the ferry, and then on the south side of the ferry detour road, the badly cut up section by the water trough/dam was better on the way back thanks to the highways crew fixing the road, all water crossings had a firm base.
certainly worth the drive in the first week of the SA school holidays, to see the bird life and wild flowers, the kids especially love the budgies that are now starting to flock (11 flocks in the first 20 minutes heading south from Birdsville first up in the morning)
allow some time at the ferry to do the boat trip ($50 each for 1 1/2 hour sunset trip) and the helicopter flight from the ferry ($70 each for 15 minute flight) is certainly worth it to really see how much water there really is.

Has anyone heard about the highways dept fellas that got the vehicle and then the grader bogged trying to get through on the main Birdsville track? word was that it cost about 20k to get them all out again with another grader and a truck, thinking that if they did manage to get thru then they could shut the ferry that is costing lots of $ to run, I understand that they were warned that they wouldn't get across but the powers to be sometimes know best and ignore local advise........

we also saw lots of variation in colours (White, different shades of Pink, Variegated, and combination White/Red) of the Sturts Desert Pea around Roxby

Hi Wooly.
We have just (2 days ago) returned from a similar 2 week trip. We timed it beautifully with perfect weather and all tracks opening just in time for us.
Heaps of wildflowers in the desert and plenty of water lying around, especially at Big Red. There were quite a few diversions to do which added a few extra km's but some of these (wet claypans in particular) may dry out soon. We had diversions around Lake Poeppell, QAA and K1 junction claypan, 2nd crossing near Eyre Creek (the main crossing was passable at about 50cm saving about 60km) and east side of Big Red.
The track from Hamilton Stn to Mt Dare was closed due to flood damage we believe, but Hamilton to Dalhousie had just been opened. The Birdsville track opened a couple of days before we hit it and was a reasonable run with just some boggy and rutted sections and a long pretty rough diversion at one point that had bogged a road train full of cattle.
The Cooper ferry is still running and will be until at least December (when their current contract runs out). You can get a camper across on the flat top truck for $50 as one of our group did. The cruise boat from Innamincka is based and running at the ferry, as is a chopper for joy flights.
Let me know if you want any more info,
cheers, Stuart

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like track conditions are a day to day proposition. We will have to keep on eye on weather and road conditions and decide which way to head on the day.

Cheers