Haddon & Poeppel Corner

Going by the Track Conditions on the Mt Dare website, the track from Birdsville to Poeppel Corner is closed.

oz tours

The 15 kms into haddons corner was still closed last week

phil

Hi Oztours
Travelling in October you will find it is very hot and fly blown out there, the roads will be very dusty with possible bull dust holes by then provided we don't get a wet winter/spring like last year. If rain is about these roads will be closed. You should have no problem towing a proper off road trailer along the Birdsville Developmental road and down to Haddon Corner turn off if dry. The 15 K's to Haddon corner is narrow, crossing desolate stony plains with a couple of dry creek beds. You reach the first of 2 or 3 sand dunes about 1-2 K's before the Corner, leave the trailer at the first sand dune. At that time of year you may need to drop tyre pressures to 25 psi or less if not already down to that pressure to help you over the smallish sand dunes.

In relation to visiting Poeppel Corner, if the Eyre Creek bypass is not in use and if there are no deviations in October around flooded clay pans around Big Red you will need a full day to get from Birdsville to Poeppel Corner, but in October, as mentioned, it will be very hot and the sand could be much softer, so I would suggest allowing a day and a half for the trip out.

Camping near Cordillo Downs is very sparse, the area is surrounded by gibber plains, there are a couple of dry creek beds with small tree lines, but certainly no shade here. There are a couple of better opportunities (marginally) near the Cordillo/Arrabury intersection.
Hope this helps
Vic Widman

I have traveled from Poeppel Corner to Birdsville twice, 2008 and 2010. It's approx 170k's and both times took all day. Allow plenty of time, you don't want to miss anything anyway!

Seek local advice first though to be on the safe side.

Cheers

Brian