June 2016 Outback Adventure

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

The road into Finke and then south towards Mt Dare had been recently graded so we enjoyed a good drive until we found the grader campsite. After that the road was a bit nasty with lots of corrugations and a few stretches of mud to go through. With the day drawing to a close and rain threatening we were keen to get to Mt Dare.



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Mt Dare was a welcome sight.

This was the last sunset we would see for the next three nights as the rain was still chasing us.


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We enjoyed the good meal and the luxurious donga accommodation.

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

Next morning we took on our last fuel before Birdsville and were ready for the desert.



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The vehicle on the far right was a Lexus which was waiting to be trucked out, it's alternator did not like the outback mud. Ouch!

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[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

The road to Dalhousie Springs was a combination of corrugations and mud sections, due to recent rain the dust was not much of a problem. A swim in the warm water at Dalhousie was enjoyed.



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We decided to push on to Purni Bore for our first night of camping. This track was extremely corrugated. Due to the nature of the track with lots of bends, washouts and mud it was difficult to get up to a speed where you could float over the corrugations. We stopped to reduce our tyre pressures. I went down to 18/20 psi but that didn't help much, after 60km of banging and bouncing we arrived at the start of the dunes. After checking the vehicles and our teeth filings it was a much easier run into Purni Bore. The bilsteins/kings combination I run on the Prado once again proved themselves to be outstanding.



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Rain started to fall as we set up camp, the cloudy sky meant we would not see any stars that night.
We had planned to explore the WAA line and the Rig Road. The WAA line was closed due to flooding near the Erabena Track junction and the constant rain made us unsure about the Rig Road so the decision was made to continue along the French Line.




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We soon got into the rhythm of crossing the dunes. I found for the V6 it was best to drive up to the top of the dune steadily at about 1500rpm, once over the top and the weight transferred forward ( and you stopped seeing only the sky) the Prado would just roll down the other side. Our next four days went smoothly with Alan taking on the role of camp master (his camp fires are a work of art), John was the photo/video master (years of working in the TV industry) and myself as trip master (the HEMA app is very good). On the third night the rain had left us and we got to enjoy two brilliant camp fires under the stars. The morning dew was very wet so we were packing up wet tents.
The black wolf Hilton did the job!



The desert was so green.
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We met a few fellow travellers, mostly going east to west. Those with trailers were struggling a bit. We were concerned about the salt pans near Poeppel Corner, one traveller told us we would have to take the detour as the ruts were up to his waist!! There was plenty of chatter on the UHF as travellers were describing their adventures. We heard that Queensland won the second State of Origin from a despairing NSW supporter so that gave us a smile. There were a few motor bikes out and about but they were in UHF contact so all was good. On one dune Alan had just come over the top when he saw a sand flag of an oncoming vehicle. This guy, travelling with his young son, had a flag but no UHF or sat phone!!

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

Poeppel Corner was not far away.

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After a quick morning tea it was time to cross. The option of the long detour around did not appeal to us. There were a couple of deep ruts with a muddy but firm base and we all got across successfully. The guy describing the "waist deep ruts" must have been vertically challenged!! As you can see from the picture, the Pajero without rear air bags, does sit a bit lower in the rear compared to the Prados and did scoop up some mud behind the rear bumper when exiting the deeper rut.



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It was then on to Poeppel Corner where we chatted to some fellow travellers and enjoyed the remoteness and significance of the place.
Travelling mates!





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We had one more night in the desert but we knew where we wanted to go.

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[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

As we packed up the campsite with our tents and awnings very wet from a heavy morning dew we were looking forward to our last day in the desert and a hot shower and a good meal at the Birdsville Pub. At the eastern end of the desert the dunes are higher and further apart, we made good time as the QAA line was in good condition.
The recent rain had brought the desert to life.




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After 5 amazing days in the desert Big Red came into view.



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We decided 2nd gear in high range was the way to go. Alan in the D4D went first and cruised up effortlessly. John in the Pajero went next and twice stopped just short of the top. He disengaged traction control and joined Alan on the top. Now it was time for the V6. First attempt I was way too hesitant, and stopped well short of the top. Second attempt I got to within 1 metre of making it and stopped. Feeling a little disheartened and with Chrissy's words "Bring it back in one piece" ringing in my ears I did the long slow reverse down to the bottom. By this time a group of other travellers had gathered, many attempts were being made the track was becoming chopped up.
I decided to have one last attempt. I dropped another 4psi (14/16), and off I went. The difference was amazing. The Prado sailed up effortlessly and now the three of us stood on Big Red on the spot where Alan and myself had stood in 2009 when we first spoke about crossing the desert. another bucket list item ticked off.
After watching many others try, some failing some succeeding we headed into to Birdsville.



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During our celebratory drink at the bar we reminisced about the trip and by the time we had finished every corrugation was a metre deep and every sand dune was double the size!
We enjoyed our first hot shower in five days and looked forward to a hot meal.
And then the rain came!!

[drew_1 Find all posts View Profile Close drew_1]

great report and pics thanks mate!

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

After our celebratory drink in the pub we settled in, had the long awaited shower, did some washing and relaxed. We had planned two nights in Birdsville looking forward to a relaxing time. The Ipad received all the emails and told us all about the happenings in the world. One item of concern was that the road from Windorah to Quilpie was closed due to flooding in Cooper Creek just east of the town. The other was another rain band moving in from the west. The rained started that evening continued all night and all of the next day. Another group of desert travellers arrived the next day and the their mud covered vehicles show how much rain had fallen and how lucky we were to have arrived before the rain.
The locals were concerned about the roads because they were expecting visitors attending the Big Red Bash to start arriving soon. We planned an early start the next morning and went to bed hoping the Birdsville Developmental Road would be open

We were pleased we didn't need to use this!

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We awoke to light rain and a very foggy Birdsville. As we drove out of town another 4 vehicles had joined us for the drive to Windorah. The road sign indicated open so we went for it.
70 very muddy and slippery kilometres later the sun finally broke through, the road firmed up and we were okay.

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I have been to Birdsville four times and have never seen the country so green.
The Cordillo Downs road was closed.



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The abandoned Betoota Pub is a lonely place (except on race day). We still had a long way to go.



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We arrived at the Diamantina Developmental Road, we had mixed feelings about being back on bitumen as we aired up for the last time.

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

As we aired up quite a few road trains carrying cattle were heading west, I guess they were going to take advantage of the good feed available after the rain. Also there were a lot of vehicles heading towards Birdsville, the Big Red Bash was less than a week away.

Good news awaited us in Windorah, the road to Quilpie was open, although there was still a bit of water over the road.

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The next three days were spent driving home via Quilpie, Charleville, Cunnamulla, St George, Nindigully, Goondiwindi and Warwick.

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The afternoon peak hour traffic coming into Brisbane was enough to make me want to turn around and head west again. A great trip with so many memories of a very green outback, shared with great people.

Some trip statistics:
Total distance: 7 624km
Total fuel used: 1 193L
Total Consumption: 15.65L/100km

Simpson Desert (Mt Dare to Birdsville) 509km
Fuel used: 100L
Consumption: 19.65L/100km

Tyres Cooper AT3 265/65/R17 No punctures or chipping
Pressures in psi
Bitumen 38/40
Good Gravel: 25/25
Rough Gravel (Dalhousie to Purni Bore): 18/20
French Line: 18/20
Big Red: 14/16

Cheers

Jim

[Ian Reid Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Reid]

Great report, thanks Jim


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