Drive carefully on all Outback roads even if they have been graded. For up to date closures of SA roads go to www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/area2.asp

ROAD CONDITIONS

KULGERA – FINKE
An easy run on a good wide road,  watch out for dips at floodways. (2 hr 150 km)

LAMBERT CENTRE
The 12km drive is slow and a bit sandy; allow at least an hour to return to the Kulgera – Finke rd. There’s a flag pole that looks like it belongs in Canberra and marks the geographical centre of Aus, a long drop toilet is being installed but not yet completed, this should stop the toilet paper confetti from decorating the bush.  This track is passable by 4x4 only. (1 hr, 24 km).

ALICE – FINKE (OLD GHAN TRACK)
The Finke Desert Race is held on the Queens Birthday weekend in June.
Good through to Maryvale with the odd rough section, watch out at creeks and dips. Rough and corrugated from Rodinga Siding to Finke on the old railway line, slow and undulating along the old road now the “Finke Desert Race Track”. Beware of oncoming traffic; beware of abandoned cars, severe washouts & rutting where the race track crosses the main track. 4x4 necessary. (5 hr, 220 km).

ALICE – OLD ANDADO
Now also known as the Binns track. The drive through the Rodinga Range is quite spectacular in the morning or afternoon. This is definitely a worthwhile alternative way to go south (or north) and the Mac Clark reserve is only a short detour to see the Waddy trees. Add 1 hr if visiting the Waddy trees. Watch out for bulldust sections near Allambi, high clearance 4x4 recommended. (4.5 hr, 320 km).

OLD ANDADO – MT DARE
Molly's Bash is on Mothers Day weekend in May each year, come along and have a great night with entertainment and food while raising money to maintain the Old Andado Homestead. Molly Clark pops in throughout the year from time to time; you are welcome to have a look around or camp. Please leave a donation in the jar in the kitchen. The old homestead is like a living museum.

The start of what is now also known as the Binns track, this is one of the outback’s picturesque drives through the Finke River floodout, this track has a lot of Bulldust and is slow. Watch out for Cattle. There are many gates, leave them as you find them, High clearance 4x4 is essential... (2.5 hr, 100 km).

FINKE – MT DARE
10km of new road has been built through Charlotte Waters to make this area accessible when it rains, slow down for oncoming traffic. There no services or fuel available for the public at New Crown Station.  Watch out for Cattle and leave gates as you find them, New Crown-Andado and Andado-Border gates MUST be closed at all times. UHF repeater channel 6 covers this area. (1 1/2 hr, 100 km)

MT DARE – DALHOUSIE SPRINGS
Take care and slow down in rutted sections.  Some grading is benig done but this is still a rough track.  There are no shops or fuel available at Dalhousie Springs; but there are two dumps for your rubbish.   Dalhousie Pass or Desert Parks Pass are needed for this area, you can purchase one at the Mt Dare Hotel or Oodnadatta's Pink roadhouse. UHF repeater channel 6 covers some of this area. (1 ¼ hr 70 km)

CAMP FIRES ARE PERMITTED AT Mt DARE, IN THE WITJIRA & SIMPSON DESERT NATIONAL PARKS, PLEASE COLLECT FIREWOOD BEFORE YOU ARRIVE. No pets are permitted at Dalhousie or in the Simpson Desert.

MT DARE – HAMILTON Stn – OODNADATTA (via Eringa Waterhole)
Hamilton homestead to Eringa has severe damage due to rain over Christmas with many bad washouts.  Beware of cattle & on-coming traffic traveling over the Sand hills just south of Hamilton Homestead, roadwork is underway on the sandhills for the next few months. There is some more road damage between Eringa and Bloods Creek, Eringa Waterhole is a nice spot for a rest and a notice board outlines some Kidman history, look after this area as it is a privaledge to use it, watch out for Cattle. No pass needed for this track. UHF repeater channel 6 covers some of this area. (5 hr, 250 km)

DALHOUSIE – HAMILTON Stn (via Pedirka ruins)
This is always a slow, rough track, take care and slow down in rutted sections as this track is the cause of many roll overs and broken trailers, Dalhousie Pass or a Desert Parks Pass is needed for this area. 4x4 ONLY. (2 hr 85 km).

NOTE:
Drop your tyre pressure by at least 20% (from highway pressure) for travel on these outback tracks (or until they bulge a little), the risk of tyre damage is greatly reduced and you will have better traction. Please leave ALL gates as you found them, in a convoy make this clear to the last vehicle through the gate. Slow down for oncoming traffic or when being overtaken, in the interest of safety or a broken windscreen.

Trailers that are not purpose built for tough off road conditions are deffinately NOT recomended, leave the 6'x4' garden traler home and hire a decent one! Check out www.mtdare.com.au vehicle preparation for more tips.

DRIVING TIP
Slow down in rutted sections (caused by a vehicle’s wheels after rain), this is the cause of many roll overs; avoid driving at night as animals and sharp corners are hard to see. Slow down when driving through puddles and creeks, excess speed is of no benefit and can cause water to enter the air intake of the engine.

Finke is an alcohol free Aboriginal community; there are no services for travelers except for the Finke community store which has limited hours. Mt Dare Hotel has fuel and is licensed, take away alcohol is available, fuel & supplies are also available at Maryvale Stn Store.


DALHOUSIE SPRINGS – PURNI BORE
The Spring Creek Delta track is closed and a new By-pass track called the “Bingy Lowe Track” is now permanently in place just to the north, follow detour signs as directed. This new track is much more accessible when wet but is sandy, slow and rough.  A Desert Parks Pass is needed for this area including the Simpson. (1 ½ hr 70 km).

ROCKS ROAD – OODNADATTA
PERMANENTLY CLOSED don’t use this track at all unless you have permission from the Oodnadatta Police. 8670 7805

THE SIMPSON DESSERT'S REGIONAL AND CONSERVATION RESERVE'S ARE CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 1st  UNTIL MARCH 15th EACH YEAR. IT IS AN OFFENCE TO ENTER OR CROSS THE SIMPSON DESERT DURING THIS PERIOD. 

THE DESERTS PARKS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Call DEH on 1800 816 078 for more info. Information below is typical of what to expect in the Simpson.

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 very sharp rises or drop offs. The French Line has very soft sand and is slow going all the way (15–20 km/h) and has been getting rougher over the years; reduced tyre pressures are essential. 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 TYRE PRESSURE (15 – 22 psi). This is the most demanding and difficult track in the Simpson, west to east is a bit easier though, DEFINITELY USE 4x4. (16 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 many sand drifts and its clay capping slowly breaking up travel is becomming more difficult.  Care must be taken when cresting sand dunes, this track has 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 travel is not recommended in this section. The K1 is a good run (16 hr, 399 km).

Warburton track is still CLOSED through to the Birdsville track due to flooding and should reopen this year. Call the Mungerannie Hotel for more info 08 8675 8317.

WAA LINE, PURNI – POEPPEL CORNER
This is the same soft and sandy conditions as the French Line but with smaller dunes and very picturesque after rain. While in this area take a look at the Lone Gum and the Knolls; this is a scenic but fragile part of the Simpson, please stay on the track. USE 4x4. (16 hr, 237 km).

QAA LINE, POEPPEL CORNER – BIRDSVILLE
Travel is just like the French Line only the sand dunes get bigger and further appart, with the biggest dune being BIG RED. There is a detour around this giant dune if you can’t get over it, (don’t kill yourself trying). Take care at salt lakes as they can be a bit wet; drive in existing wheel tracks only, USE 4x4. (6 ½ hr, 170 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. 

Towing trailers accross the Simpson is strongly discouraged, it's very difficult, hard on the vehicle and trailer resulting in frequent bogging.  Exceptional skill and a powerfull vehicle with lower tyre pressures are necessary, possibly as low as 14PSI.  Having to dig or be towed out of a bog is a certanty testing freindships with the burden.  Some people still persist with towing their trailer and the result can be costly, take this advice and leave the trailer at Birdsville or Mt Dare.

You should allow at least 3-4 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 or Birdsville.

Desert tracks are not maintained so take care, conditions can change rapidly, esspecially in windy conditions. CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE Start at 20 psi rear & 18 psi front, “hot” and reduce further if you have difficulty, maybe as low as 15psi in some cases.  You have a 4X4 use it, this is a 4WD track, select 4wd.  For advice on how much fuel to take or any other questions about outback travel just call or E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , advice is free, recovery is not.

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

WEATHER
Unseasonally mild days with temperatures around 38, the nights are mild to warm, around 18 deg.
Last rain was on 7th of January with 1.6 mm recorded at Mt Dare, 98.2mm for 2009 and there was 151.1mm for 2008.

EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION BULLETIN, CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY SO USE COMMON SENSE AND TAKE CARE. Travel times are only a guide, drive according to the conditions at all times.

This Bulletin was prepared By David Cox by information gathered from many sources, including tourist feedback, care and common sense should always be used. Further information is available by contacting MT DARE HOTEL:

Ph- 08 8670 7835
Web: www.mtdare.com.au
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mail: pmb 267 Alice Springs NT 0872