Crossing the Simpson Desert in November 2012: looking for travel company

We are driving that way next week. Personally I would not do it November mainly because of the weather. It's hot and humid. It would be worth your while to do it when it is cooler and move the trip out of the hot season.

The desert is also closed for some time when its hot. I do know when so check it out.

Birdsville weather recordings for November 2011

Have crossed several times, I went a few years ago with the family in late October & it was just to hot & it spoiled it, cant get the misses or Daugther to go again.
good luck

Wont it be officially shut by November?

I wouldn't even think about a November Simpson crossing!
Much too hot! The sand will be very hot and dry and make it difficult for the vehicle.
We once crossed from Mt Dare to Birdsville via the French Line - end of September. Never saw a single vehicle in the 5 days that we took. The sand was firm packed in the early morning but became progressively softer and drier as the day went on.
In November I doubt you will see any other traffic.

Hi Arjan,

We crossed the Simpson with two vehicles from Mt Dare to Birdsville in the last week of October last year. Day temperatures were near 40c but not uncomfortable with vehicle air-conditioning. The temperature could of course be higher at the same time of any other year.

We saw only one other traveller going the opposite direction and no others going our direction. It gets pretty quiet out there at that time. If in trouble you could wait all day or longer for assistance. If you don't already have one, it would pay to rent a satphone from Mt Dare at $140pw. You return the phone to Wirrari Information Centre at Birdsville.

The Simpson Desert track is officially closed from 30 November to 15 March each year.

Thanks for all the replies. There are two reason why we are thinking November , but we might want to change that to October based on your comments. The first is work and the most important is that we both hated the cold nights last year in May.

Any takers to join us?