Birdsville to Simpson Desert NP

Big Red is on private station property, 36km from Birdsville, not in the National Park, but you can drive there freely.
To get to the National Park will require crossing 30km of dunes.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

. . . and the dunes east side aren't babies, and can be soft if hot / dry making for soft sand.
They do peter out into the Nat Pk section a bit, even after Eyre Ck I'd say from memory.

Still, usually plenty of other4WD's on that section, or better, have a 2nd 4WD with you.
Drop tyres to 18psi to start, should be ok with a little excitement for you.

Yes, there is a sign you are entering Munga-Thirri NP, but your basic sat nav SHOULD have it shown on the map too, OR take a paper map and hopefully you can pick where you are as you progress.

Take some basic recovery and safety gear, water, UHF, not sure how you're set up, but ask again here if unsure.

And in my opinion the first dune west of Big Red is the hardest dune to actually climb. You soon learn what pressures and gearing to use on this one.

Another great video Paul and nails the drive perfectly.

You are sure right, It does not change much except in very good years, when we have seen it green and well all the way through.

I will be the first to reply, and you will get another lot of replies.

1 . It will all depend on tyre pressures and just how soft the sand is and the time of day. Speed will do damage to your vehicle and some guys go like there in no tomorrow.

If you want to just take it nice and easy, without pushing your car, 10 psi will see you do it with ease, just taking your time in second low range.

2. From memory, the Goonamillera detour crossing will add around from memory 60 odd kilometres to the driving distance. In the video, the crossing was dry and seen it just under 1 metre deep, but has a very stoney bottom, so no fears of getting bogged.

The detour is used when the main Eyre Creek crossing is closed and often you will see where the gung ho drivers have tried to cross it and would have had fun in the very soft, muddy bottom.

When things are very deep out at Goonamillera there are 2 other detours to the south through more interesting country.

Hi Rob,
Pretty much what Stephen said.
Although on that day we ran 20psi (hot).
Not sure of the speed, My 22 year old Daughter was driving the ones in the video, but we usually start close to the bottom with not much run up. Use low range as said & our's was an auto so we just let the box do it's thing.
Speed is not the key but momentum does help, don't go overboard though. It can be bouncy & you may do some damage.
Have seen some dill's take a huge run up. Probably half the way back to the next dune....They must be doing close to 80 to 100 kmh by the time they reach the bottom. This is not needed.
Go & have some fun. There will be some there that can do it & some that can't. Probably not so much to do with the vehicle they are driving as to their driving skills.
We have been there many times in different vehicles over the years & never had any problems getting up the dunes. Having said that we were out there with a bunch of drivers that had only had High Country experience & had never been on sand before & they struggled until they adapted to the conditions......
Cheers
Paul
PMK3AUSTRALIA