Strzelecki, Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks in August
Submitted: Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 14:59
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PieterP
My wife and I are planning to do this "loop" for three weeks from the beginning of August. This will be the first time that we do this and I will appreciate and advice: current conditions;
places to see and sleep over; visit to Lake Eyre and whatever else might be helpful.
Reply By: Member - Neville D (VIC) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 15:59
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 15:59
G'day PieterP,
A lot depends on where you intend to start your trip from. From what I hear and have seen on other forums, there is a lot of
water around out there at the moment and it could still be there for some time yet. My wife and I did part of this loop Last September and were stopped by the Floods.
AnswerID:
460086
Reply By: PieterP - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 16:23
Reply By: Mick O - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:36
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:36
Pieter I've just got back last night having completed that exact route with the Plenty/Donohue thrown in. Would help to know just what sort of outfit your taking/towing and your vehicle etc. Have located some fantastic
camp spots along the way. Will be submitting a track report in the next few days. In a nutshell, Strez was rain affected two days ago. I came out of
Innamincka via the Orientos Santos road which is a bloody great drive and I prefer it to the Strez.
Oodnadatta is in good form. Poor and rocky on the northern tracks into
Dalhousie Springs. Plenty is rough...plenty of corrugations, plenty of dust and plenty of rocks. Donohue Good.
Cordillo downs Road to
Birdsville..fantastic. Arrabury Road down to
Innamincka a mixed bag but overall good. Roads around
Nappa Merrie all good. This is subject to rain of course.
A bit more info while I'm doing the trip report would be great.
Cheers Mick
AnswerID:
460094
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 18:13
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 18:13
Hi Mick
You have a very tough life, Greece one day, outback Australia the next..LOL
Great to hear you have a great trip. You mentioned that the
Cordillo Downs was fantastic. The last couple of times we were on it, it was as rough as, so it sounds like they have done some work on it.
Looking forward to see your Blog..
All the Best
Stephen and Fiona.
FollowupID:
733708
Follow Up By: Mick O - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 18:50
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 18:50
Mate a hard 5 weeks indeed but not as hard as going back to work on Monday ;-)
I'd promised the Crown Prince a run up to some of my favourite
places so headed off the day after I got back with some of my best mates and their son's in tow on a boys own "Destination Unknown" tour. The prince got his "L"'s a day before we left so he's got 20 hours up in the Tuck Truck now. No skills but he can hold the big girl in a straight line on a dirt road so that's a start!
Cordillo has had a lot of work done. It was a rocky hell last time I was on it as
well (5 years back) but while it is still a stony road, it has been widened and is in good condition. We passed people towing a 20 foot caravan down it with little problems except the odd tight
creek crossing. They have a
road camp currently in place at the Northern end. Even the road into
the Dig Tree is in bloody marvelous condition and they are completing works north of Nappa Marrie on the Arrubury Road as we type.
Cheers Mick.
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Follow Up By: PieterP - Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 12:22
Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 12:22
Thank you very much. I have a Prado
Kakadu (150). Recently upgraded the
suspension to Koni shocks and King springs and added an ARB bullbar and
UHF radio. Just my wife and I -
camping using an Oztent.
FollowupID:
733797
Reply By: PieterP - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:49
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:49
Thank you very much. I have a Prado
Kakadu (150). Recently upgraded the
suspension to Koni shocks and King springs and added an ARB bullbar and
UHF radio. Just my wife and I -
camping using an Oztent. I just read a news article about the rat plague - any concerns?
AnswerID:
460100
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 23:43
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 23:43
Hi Pieter
Do not let that put you off. We are heading up that way in just under 3 weeks and counting down the days. If you see a Black 120 Series, also with an OzTent,
Say G'Day.
Cheers
Stephen
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733751
Reply By: zook - Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 08:43
Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 08:43
Pieter
I have just driven those roads (in the last couple of weeks) and all of them are in very good condition. You will have to catch the ferry across the
birdsville track but other than that you will have no problems.
There are a few rats/mice out there but as long as you don't leave food out you will be fine.
have a good trip.
zook
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Reply By: PieterP - Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 12:22
Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 12:22
I see there are quite a few warnings about the
creek crossings on all these roads. Any of them that needs some sort of cover for the front of the car like a
water bra?
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Follow Up By: Member - PieterP - Wednesday, Jul 20, 2011 at 20:33
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2011 at 20:33
Would still like to know if there are
water crossings on these
routes that needs a
water bra of sorts??
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734122
Reply By: Member - drewby - Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 21:23
Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 21:23
have just done the oodnatta track this week and rained for the last three days, it took us 5 hours to do the last leg 211 klms in mud, mud ,mud but what an adventure, just let the tyres down and keep the nose straight ....
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Reply By: MAVERICK(WA) - Monday, Jul 18, 2011 at 09:44
Monday, Jul 18, 2011 at 09:44
I'll be heading up that way after the Lovedays Muster early August. Did similar a couple of years ago and it was wet but good fun. Dalhousie is great and you will find plenty of
camp sites. One really good site about 3kms West of the bridge at Algebuckina. If you see a nice dirty brown Maverick with WA plates say hello. rgds
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