Red Centre Trip August-Sept 2009 - PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Glend · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:43 pm

ed the route from Sydney (for this KJ late August trip) would be via Broken Hill. As the trip allows different groups to come from differing starting points (really only meeting up for the days around the Centre (Alice and Uluru)), it is flexible in terms of how You want to get there. So I would think from Broken Hill it could be either via the Stuart Hwy (Port Augusta) if you want blacktop all the way to Alice, or via Orroroo, Hawker, Leigh Creek, to Marree, then the Oodnadatta Track to Marla and north on the Stuart Hwy to Alice from there. As others have pointed out we would need to have a planning meeting ahead of time for the group leaving from Sydney (assuming there is one). If your going to Camp Coffs it has been suggested that there is a meeting there to discuss. The question of camper trailers has been discussed here, and that has a bearing on the route as there is a prohibition on camper trailers in some parts of the Simpson.

Secondly, be aware that the Sydney Jeep Club is also running a Simpson Desert Trip (led by David Grimes) over the July school holiday period which will be leaving Sydney on the 11th of July and returning on the 24th. This trip does not go to Alice and Uluru, but takes a route from Broken Hill, the Flinders Ranges (Wilpena), to Marree, Lake Eyre, Birdsville Track, Poeppel Corner (via the Warburton Track), Innaminka, Old Strezlecki Track, Cameron's Corner, and back through Tibooburra, and White Cliffs.

I'm not spuiking for either trip at this point, but I'm going to have to make a choice as I can't do both.

ed. · **Posted:** Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:58 am

Glend wrote:

ed the route from Sydney (for this KJ late August trip) would be via Broken Hill. As the trip allows different groups to come from differing starting points (really only meeting up for the days around the Centre (Alice and Uluru)), it is flexible in terms of how You want to get there. So I would think from Broken Hill it could be either via the Stuart Hwy (Port Augusta) if you want blacktop all the way to Alice, or via Orroroo, Hawker, Leigh Creek, to Marree, then the Oodnadatta Track to Marla and north on the Stuart Hwy to Alice from there. As others have pointed out we would need to have a planning meeting ahead of time for the group leaving from Sydney (assuming there is one). If your going to Camp Coffs it has been suggested that there is a meeting there to discuss. The question of camper trailers has been discussed here, and that has a bearing on the route as there is a prohibition on camper trailers in some parts of the Simpson.

Secondly, be aware that the Sydney Jeep Club is also running a Simpson Desert Trip (led by David Grimes) over the July school holiday period which will be leaving Sydney on the 11th of July and returning on the 24th. This trip does not go to Alice and Uluru, but takes a route from Broken Hill, the Flinders Ranges (Wilpena), to Marree, Lake Eyre, Birdsville Track, Poeppel Corner (via the Warburton Track), Innaminka, Old Strezlecki Track, Cameron's Corner, and back through Tibooburra, and White Cliffs.

I'm not spuiking for either trip at this point, but I'm going to have to make a choice as I can't do both.

Thanks Glen.
I won't be at Coffs but am hoping to make it to the LOST @ Red Centre trip.
I'll sit tight and see what gets thrown around trip wise after everyone returns from Coffs.
Maybe some of the QLD guys want to do the Simpson on the way back

Glend · **Posted:** Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:40 am

Ed if you read back on page one of this thread Pipeliner was talking about coming back via Big Red and Birdsville. Good to hear that your considering the trip. Tick the poll if you wish, it's not a commitment.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:00 pm

OK, so the way this trip seems to be taking shape it is likely to be East Coast (Qld and Sydney) only - although if anyone else is interested, feel free to join in.

The trip will effectively be in two parts. The first part will be travelling by normal roads (mainly bitumen, except for the Donohue/Plenty Highways from Qld) to Uluru for a few days sightseeing, and the second part will be the trip back through the Simpson Desert via the French Line, Poeppels Corner, Big Red and Birdsville.

First part will be suitable for everyone with minimal preparation, so you can come to Uluru and then make your own way home. Second part will require reasonable driving experience and a well-prepared vehicle (a second spare tyre is advisable, and we will need to have a good selection of spares and tools between us) as the Simpson can be hard on vehicles. Hopefully we will have an incident-free trip, but we will need to be prepared. My reading suggests that it may take up to 3 days to travel the 500km from Mt Dare to Birdsville and staked tyres are not uncommon, so don't think of coming on this part of the trip unless you are prepared in terms of fuel, tyres and spares.

I certainly don't want to scare anyone off, and there is safety in numbers, but also I don't want anyone thinking that it will be like a day trip from home.

See you on the track!

cmohr · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:04 pm

So campers and trailers are cool for a Simo crossing...??

Glend · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:13 pm

Pipes, I was just looking at the Mt Dare Hotel Simpson Desert road advisory (here is the link: http://www.mtdare.com.au/index.php?opti ... 3&Itemid=1 ), and noticed that they say "trailers of any kind are NOT recommended on the French Line (use the Rig rd). "

pipeliner · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:25 am

Point taken Glend. We want to have fun and challenge ourselves, but not at the expense of giving ourselves a bad name for cutting up the tracks.

"FRENCH LINE, PURNI – POEPPEL CORNER
Purni to Wonga junction has seen more and more sand blow over the track this year and dunes are becomming more like the French Line with sharp rises or drop offs. Very soft sand and slow going all the way (15–20 km/h) and has been getting rougher over the years; reduced tyre pressures are necessary. Scalloping is contributed to by vehicles with incorrect tyre pressure, towing trailers or driving in 2wd, trailers of any kind are NOT recommended on the French Line (use the Rig rd). It’s very important to CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE (18 – 22 psi, including the trailer if you really must take one). It’s a good sand challenge, DEFINITELY USE 4x4. (11½ hr, 195 km)."

RIG ROAD & K1, PURNI – POEPPEL CORNER
This track is the least demanding but has been deteriorating over the years and becoming quite rough; with sand drifts and its clay capping slowly breaking up care must be taken when cresting sand dunes, this track can have corrugations, deep washouts & rutting. Sand dunes between the Knolls track and the K-1 Line are more difficult to cross especially from the west, single vehicle travell is not recommended. The K1 is a good run (11 hr, 399 km).

NOTE:
The Simpson is a dangerous place if you are not well prepared. It is recommended to have a Sat-phone or HF radio as well as extra water, a UHF, fuel and supplies a flag is compulsory.

You should allow at least 3 full days to cross the Simpson, make sure you have a Desert Parks Pass, a flag that can be seen, eg; 2.5 m high above the bull bar and a UHF radio on channel 10. Sat Phones can be hired from or dropped off at the Mt Dare Hotel and the Birdsville info centre. PLEASE TAKE RUBBISH WITH YOU AND BURN ALL TOILET PAPER, so it doesn’t blow around in the wind. It may be necessary to pick up someone else’s rubbish, what are they thinking? You can deposit rubbish in the dumps at the Dalhousie Springs.

Desert tracks are not maintained so take care, conditions can change rapidly. CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE (18 – 22 psi “hot”, less for the trailer) you have a 4X4 use it, this is a 4WD track. For advice on how much fuel to take or any other questions about outback travel just call or E-mail Mt Dare HotelThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , advice is free, recovery is not.

Go to http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/visitorinformation/latest/index.htmand click on the link for more information about Desert Parks SA.

cmohr · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:46 am

Hmmm... We may need to eat that Cheesecake soon...

(IE- have a meeting)

And see exactly what our options are.

G'ME MUD · **Joined:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:55 pm **Posts:** 370

Would I still be welcome to join in if I don't drive a KJ for this trip??
The lease is just about up on mine and am currently looking at diesel options, eg; KK, GC & commander. I will be keeping the KJ, its too good a vehicle to let go, and with nearly 200000ks on the clock it is worth nothing to sell it.

Glend · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:41 am

G Mud, Why not - I don't see any reason. Everyone's KJ is going to be phased out of long trips at some point. And it is LOST Jeeps now, denoting that the KK is now appearing on the scene. I reckon go for the KK CRD, as CRDSTU is on to it and building lifts for them now.[/code]

pipeliner · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 5:51 pm

Roscoe, you are always welcome on any trip.

Anyone who doesn't look down on KJ's as "not a proper 4wd" is always welcome. There's a possibility that my sister-in-law and her husband will be along in their old diesel Paj.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 6:43 pm

More website information.

For the French Line (or the Rig Road) you need an SA Desert Parks pass ($105). This includes a camping permit.

For the QAA line (Queensland) permits are only required for camping, which is allowed anywhere within 500m of the QAA Line. Fees are $4.85/p/n. Not sure how you pay them if you are travelling W-E as the permit offices are in Birdsville and Longreach.

From Birdsville, take the old Birdsville track and turn west 1km south of the police station. The first 35km to the “Big Red” dune is a graded shire road. The remaining 130km to Poeppel Corner traverses loose sand dunes and is suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles only. The trip takes five to six hours so allow for an overnight stay.

The track is impassable when wet. Even small amounts of rain can make outback roads impassable so always be prepared and have at least a week’s worth of extra supplies in case of stranding. Check with local authorities or the Desert Parks Pass Bulletin on 1800 816 078 (free call) for current road conditions before your trip.

CD · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:12 pm

pipeliner wrote:

The track is impassable when wet. Even small amounts of rain can make outback roads impassable so always be prepared and have at least a week’s worth of extra supplies in case of stranding. Check with local authorities or the Desert Parks Pass Bulletin on 1800 816 078 (free call) for current road conditions before your trip.[/i]

Yeah, love to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with my 2 kids. Next thing you know Sophie get's an asthma attack and it's all over.

Sounds like fun if it were just me and Kaz but that's not going to happen.. not at least for the next 15yrs anyway.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:02 pm

That's a worst case scenario Chris. Mean rainfall in Birdsville is 6mm/month in Aug/Sept, with less than 1 day per month with more than 1mm. On average there are 3 cloudy days in each month. I don't think we'll have too many problems!

cmohr · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:32 pm

Yeah, I highly doubt there'll be any rain and or troubles. Had no issuses coming out of the desert north of Inaminca and all the way up to Dalhousie was easy... Crap roads, but easy. Will we go past Dalhousie, wouldn't mind another swim :lol:

pipeliner · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:55 pm

Yes, the only route from Mt Dare goes through Dalhousie Springs. The other road is marked on my Hema map as "No Public Access".

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:02 am

Jenni’s Take on the trip to Alice and Big Red

I would just like to add my thoughts on the trip to the Centre.
I spent 4 months living in Alice 4 years ago and we travelled east and west and did the intended trip to Birdsville over Big Red and back to Alice via the Plenty.

MY THOUGHTS ARE!!!!!!!!
To travel to Alice as suggested and spend 2 nights in Alice for washing and topping up supplies as the last shopping before Alice will be Winton and then nothing until Birdsville.
Leaving Alice travel to Yulara via Hermannsburg ( home of Albert Namatjira ) the Mareenie Loop to Kings Canyon with time to explore, then onto Yulara, as the Rock, is best viewed at sunset, to view Olga’s, early morning is the most ideal.
The journey from Alice to Yulara is long and boring on the black top and not much to see on the way,for those travalling from the south ,perhaps just as easy too meet in Alica and to do the loop, fantastic scenery and good dirt road.
To have a base camp at Erldunda as suggested means an 400 odd km trip to and from the Rock not including the distance to Kings Canyon.
From Yulara travel onto Finke and Mt Dare for fuel and you can purchase Desert Passes at Mt Dare station, Dalhousie for a swim and the night to head off across the Simpson 3 days transit culminating in the thrill and challenge of attempting to get over BIG RED (there is a chicken track!!!) and at the end of the journey a cold beer at the pub in Birdsville.
Then home!!!
Where to camp often dictated by distance travelled that day, there are plenty of National Park Camp sites , for small fees, but in Yulara we have to stay at designated camp site, the same in Alice , hot showers are always good!!! Option out of town near the Rock are Mt Ebenezer or Curtin Springs both out of Yulara.
J.a.G will take a small tent and travel light for the trip , Millie is already getting sh@#y with us, but she will just have to stay home this time, I did promise her we would get her a sticker for back window.

G'ME MUD · **Joined:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:55 pm **Posts:** 370

Yeh, I'm thinking more about one of those light weight tents that you throw out and they pop up, and a couple of good sleeping bags as I think it will still be cold nights then, for Imelda anything below 25c is cold.
Once we get to Birdsville I'm thinking we might take the short cut home down the birdsville track to check out the Flinders and back up the Strezleki, depends on how much time off I can get.

cmohr · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:55 pm

I'll bring the Cheesecake!!!!

Glend · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:55 pm

Cmohr, your going to need a trailer just for all of that cheesecake.

Red Centre Trip August-Sept 2009 - PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

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