Best route to the dig tree

Hi Jindivick,

The condition of outback roads can change very quickly, so what it is like now will be very different to what it is like in 5 month time, so impossible to answer your question specifically.

How well built is your small caravan? Does it have good suspension?

I have travelled to Innamincka from both the directions you have stated, towing an 18’ full off road 2.6 Tonne caravan. Each direction has its challenges including narrow rutted tracks, and large trucks.

You may get some better information regarding the road conditions if you contact the Innamincka Hotel closer to your travel time.

Macca.

It really depends where you are leaving from, pointless driving half way round australia just to avoid a few kilometres of track where you have to slow down and maybe walk through now and then.

We are travelling past Port Augusta and we will also be in longreach later in the trip, so only concern is which entry road is best suited for my out fit, I know it’s early days still but I hope someone can advise if one road is generally better than the other

The best all whether road in is via Cunnamulla-Durham, over the bourke and wills bridge. Your decision should include how much time you have to traverse to Innamincka from PA, road and whether conditions, and ground clearance of van. Its beautiful country, but roads can get corregated, washed out etc. When last there the road from Innamincka to the dig tree was dirt and all corregated, worst road of all we were on, (old Streslecky was better)

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If going through Port Augusta I would definitely travel to Innamincka via Lyndhurst and up the Strzelecki Track. This track is maintained in a very good condition for the benefit of freight to the Moomba gas & oil fields. I travelled on it recently and found that about a third of it is now bitumen. Of the remainder, some is in preparation to be sealed and the rest is in very good condition even though unsealed.

A lot can change in the time frame you are looking at but I was at the dig tree 3 days ago and the road in was a reasonable gravel road, you would have had no troubles on it towing at 40 - 50 KPH

Strezleki is good, plenty of tar being applied, won't be long and it will be sealed all the way. (a year or 2?)

The old Strez between Merty Merty and the Moomba road would be ok even with an off road van right now. Not sure what it will be like by the time you get there.

The top of the old Strez which is in the regional reserve would be problematic for towing however, so probably best avoided.

On the way to the Dig Tree in 1997.
It is very different now.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Dont forget your fly vales, worst fly population I have ever seen.