Birdsville to Poeppel Corner return

We've arrived at the same conclusion. Thanks for your response.

May the days be warm, and the nights be clear.
Have a great trip. It is my favourite place.

Simon and Christine,

We have been so busy carrying on about the "one day trip" that no-one has really addressed the other part of your question...... the track conditions.

There is much that can be said about the Simpson but I'll limit it.

It is lots of dunes (1200 in a full crossing) and they can be steep and soft sand so require some skill to cross. However that skill can be attained by 'giving it a go'. On the faces of the dunes it can be scolloped by those with high tyre pressure and too much power. It can be uncomfortable and limit your approach but you just have to accept it. At the top it it usually soft sand and often with a sharp dog-leg so be on guard. Be sure you have an adequate flag and be wary.
The end of a hot day will see softer sand. It is always easier in the morning after a spot of dew.

1) At the start, drop your tyre pressures to at least 18psi. You can even go lower.
2) Do not charge at the dune like a mad bull. Approach in H2 or H3 at about 20kph and keep the power on. But immediately lift the foot if she starts to go down. Back up and try again a little differently.
3) If you get stuck part way over, try going down to L3 and limiting the power to just a crawl. It may get you over. But do not dig yourself in before getting out the shovel and backing up.
4) Drop off the power just as you crest the dune to simply roll over the top slowly which provides time to avoid a head-on or to miss the dog-leg. Be wary of wind-blows leaving deep holes at the edge of the track as you crest on the Western faces. They can roll you straight over.

A useful technique in our vehicle is for the passenger to lean close forward and call the dog-leg to the driver, shouting "LEFT" or "RIGHT" as the case may be whereupon the driver spins the steering wheel even before being able to see the dog-leg. This was adopted by us long ago after missing the dog-leg a couple of times and going off-track down the side of the dune. Besides, it gives the passenger something to do! lol.

There are other tactics to learn and you soon will, but the above should keep you out of trouble.

Hi Allan,

Thanks again for the lengthy response - we really appreciate the trouble you have gone to with these helpful tips.

I agree with Allan. Low tyre pressures, and easy going. We watched people with supposedly 20 psi gunning it over the dunes and all they did was rip them up. We followed in 2H and used the same technique as Allen has described, and "easily" drove over all but one, which we reversed down and took the alternative run.
You need a permit to camp in Queensland and to actually enter the desert in South Oz, and the rangers were out in force. We drove on past the first big lake and into the NT, following the second lake down to Poeppel Corner, and then camped just back up the road in NT - no permit required, and avoided entering SA. It was Cup time when we were there in 2010, and the races were rained out that year, so we may have been lucky with firmish track conditions. Lake Naperanica was full at that time, and the 10km detour around the lake there an back took extra time. We took 2 days, and the desert was a garden compared to drier times.

cheers
Laurie