A few of us have said they are keen to have a good look around the Flinders Ranges. I’d like to have another run at the Simpson Desert as well. And then there is the newest outback Dinosaur area, that we didn’t visit in 2022, and is sort of on the way home… So this trip is all that and more.
We will be four days in the Flinders Ranges before heading up to the Simpson Desert, with a lot to see in between! Because we are driving Jeeps with limited fuel range we will go half way up the Birdsville Track before taking the K1 Line to Poeppel Corner, where SA, Qld and the NT meet in the middle of the Simpson Desert, before heading East to Birdsville.
This is a legitimate Simpson Desert crossing, just shorter, avoiding the least pleasant bit, but still doing the biggest of the sand dunes! The one thing that can make this trip impossible is flooding on the Warburton and Eyre Creeks (they were closed most of 2023).
This will be my fourth attempt at the K1 Line, it was closed in 2010 because of flooding. Two of us broke suspension in 2018 (but the rest made it!!) and then Covid stopped us in 2020 so this is my “Fourth Time Lucky”.
For this trip all vehicles must be able to carry at least 100 liters of fuel. The trip is not suitable for camper trailers unless you are willing to skip the Desert tracks to Poeppel Corner and on to Birdsville over sand dunes. You could tow direct to Birdsville with a really decent off road trailer and meet us there. (Be prepared for punctures!)
Day 1 Monday 8 July - Sydney to Cobar via Mudgee and Dubbo 686km
Day 2 Tuesday 9 July - Cobar to Broken Hill 457km
Day 3 Wednesday 10 July – Day off at Broken Hill / Silverton 50km
Day 4 Thursday 11 July - Broken Hill to Arkaroola Gammon Ranges 480km
Day 5 Friday 12 July - Day at Arkaroola (self drive tours) 100km
Day 6 Saturday 13 July - Arkaroola to SkyTrek Willow Springs 203km
Day 7 Sunday 14 July – Day at SkyTrek Willow Springs (self drive tour) 80km
Day 8 Monday 15 July - Willow Springs to Copley through the Flinders Ranges 153km
Day 9 Tuesday 16 July - Copley to Muloorina Level Post Bay (if open) 256km
If Level Post Bay (Lake Eyre) is closed we will camp at Farina (60km) or Marree (114km)
Day 10 Wednesday 17 July - Muloorina to Mungerannie 258km
Day 11 Thursday 18 July - Mungerannie to Poeppel Corner (K1 Line) 301km
Day 12 Friday 19 July - Poeppel Corner to Birdsville (Big Sand Dunes) 165km
Days 11 & 12 = 479km, High and Low Range 4WD - No Fuel Available
Day 13 Saturday 20 July - Day at Birdsville
Day 14 Sunday 21 July - Birdsville to Innaminka via Cordillo Downs 419km
No Fuel between Birdsville and Innaminka, High Range driving
Day 15 Monday 22 July - Day at Innaminka Burke & Will’s Graves 50km
Day 16 Tuesday 23 July - Innaminka to Eromanga via the Dig Tree 390km
Day 17 Wednesday 24 July - Day at Eromanga (Dinosaur Museum) 10km
Day 18 Thursday 25 July - Eromanga to Charleville (Star Gazing) 317km
Day 19 Friday 26 July - Charleville to Bush Tucker Inn & Caravan Park Barringun 317km
Day 20 Saturday 27 July - Bush Tucker Inn to Nyngan 337km
Day 21 Sunday 28 July - Nyngan to Sydney 555km
Total Trip Distance Sydney to Sydney = 5584km (call it 5600km)
Please Consider! To go we need AT LEAST 3 vehicles. Maximum number would be 8 to 10. Please Register if you would like to come along – Club Members only. If you didn't get an Itinerary at the December meeting and would like a PDF version, I have attached one in Members – Forums – Trip Talk.
Thanks,
Dave
