Madigan line trip

Mark / Dee, it's a great drive, did it mid July last year.
Enjoyed it that much we are doing another route across, this time a little south of there, but still in the NT.

Anyway, it easy enough to do (solo ?) if you're experienced and well prepared.
Usual precautions with comms, sat phone or hire.
You can access camps 1, 1a, 5 to 16 (last camp on Hay River Tk), but I reckon you might as well do to camp 22, because it does have an interesting change of terrain, some great terrain etc, large creeks, Annandale ruins . . . I enjoyed the end of the really undulating terrain in the eastern side of Madigan, this ended not long after heading east towrds camp 17, and then some very stunning colour through there on the dunes and clay / salt pans.

But on the other hand, if you decide to go down the HR Tk and out, you can catch Poeppel Corner if you haven't been that way before.
Going that way, you could also head down to Warburton X to get out of the desert, fuel etc permitting (to Mungerannie).

Hi Markndee,

Did the Madigan Line this time of year two years ago with 4 other vehicles - one of which was a near stock standard Mitsubishi Triton with a very heavy load. Other vehicles were well set up Toyota Landcruisers (LC100, FJ Cruiser and 2x 79 Series). We were probably one of the first groups through the area for that season and did a east to west crossing all the way from Birdsville to Mt Dare.

The Triton struggled with the dunes because of clearance and load, was the most knocked around vehicle in the group and in retrospect needed to be better prepared for such a trip (upgraded suspension, LT tyres, auxiliary fuel tank etc.). That said, it did make it across the Madigan Line, along with a detour to Geosurvey Hill and the Geographic Centre of the Simpson Desert - with support from the group.

If the picture in your member profile shows your current vehicle, I would strongly recommend not to do this trip alone. Would be hard work. I'm also of the impression that the Madigan Line has become very popular in recent years and the track may be getting more use and the consequential issues of more groups using the track. The track itself is fairly well defined between Camp 5 and Camp 16, less so as you go further east and a GPS might be required. West to east would be easier to negotiate and many of the dune crossings have momentum sapping bends at the top and bottom of each dune.

Usual advice about remote desert travel apply (tyre pressure, communications, fuel supply, water etc) and its a long way to travel. Average speed would keep you in high 2nd for most of the trip and a average distance of 80-90 kilometres per day.

Preparation is key and group support essential for an enjoyable trip.
If you enjoy the outback isolation, you'll love the Madigan Line. Didn't meet a sole the whole 8 days we were in the Simpson.

Good luck with hooking up with some other interested travelers. Maybe list the trip in 'Gatherings' for EOIs.

Cheers

Rob

We're going across Madigan in July, Markndee.

Leave Birdsville about 10th, across Simpson to Mt Dare, then back across Madigan & doing camps 17-22. 4 vehicles across to Mt Dare, then 3 over the Madigan.

We had a Dmax do the same trip with us last year, handled it no worries. Shat on my Landcruiser on at least 2 occasions. Think it used 163L for entire trip, our V8 used 232L.

Bob

Sounds like a great trip.
Pity I'm committed already.