Madigan Line

Bob.
The desert is closed until March 15.
August is still 6 months away. The Simpson Desert National Park (on Qld side) is currently closed by flooding until at least April 3rd so sometime after that you will get some more useful information.
My suggestion is that you do the Madigan Line from the West for your first trip because the travelling is easier from the west. And after that contemplate it from the east.
cheers Phil

Thanks Phil for taking the time to reply. I get what you’re saying about trying west to east first but on this trip we are doing the French/WAA/Rig road from Mt Dare to Birdsville then heading to Alice but didn’t want to take the roundabout way either through Bedourie or across the Oodnadatta Track as we have done them many times. So thought we might give the a Madigan a go but really can’t find anywhere where anyone has done it east to west. I am getting the feeling that it’s a pretty hard gig. I guess we might just head out that way and take a look with the option of chickening out and heading up the Hay or Colson Track.
Cheers
Bob

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Hi Bob,

Yes, we did the Madigan from east to west in August of last year.
Tougher than the French Line etc which we have done a number of times both ways.
But the Madigan was not as difficult as we were led to believe.
Only one dune was a multiple-attempt challenge and we drive a 2002 naturally aspirated 6 cyl Troopy.
It was a one-timer. Wouldn't bother again.
But the Hay River Track is a great drive. Scenic and very do-able.

We crossed the Simpson via the Madigan east-west in September. The sandhills were steeper but not chopped up, as we found when descending the other side. The other side were terrible, so we were glad we were going downwhill.

There was bulldust for about 25-30km heading towards Mt Dare that some of the experiences travellers said was the worst they had ever seen. I have since heard that that part of the road has been closed. I assume there is a bypass.

It's very doable. It was my first ever crossing and I enjoyed it,. Hard work in parts but that was part of the fun of going that way, plus the history. And almost no other traffic. I've done it, I don't need to return.

Eyre Creek was flooded but we found a way around it, thanks to the experience of our tour leaders.

Enjoy Bob.