Simpson Desert

I must agree that the place mentioned must be one of the best places we,ve ever camped(July 2001). Just remember that according to the maps, this area is private property and only accessible while the creek is in flood. Maybe it's because of this protection, that the area is still pristine and beautiful. The eastern side about 100-200m nth of the crossing is the place to stay. AND TAKE YOUR OWN WOOD!!! Happy trails, Mike.

Greg. thanks for your (and the others) reply. I, having a 3.0 l Pajero (1984) without a long range tank, would be interested to know how much fuel the Pajeros in your group carried for the French Line Trip.
Thanks in anticipation.

Weddy there were 2 3l man pajeros. Mine was heavily loaded with a roof rack camper and I used 133 l via rig road inc detours for floods, all up about 800kms. The trip back on the french line is about 650kms and I used 20l less. The other pajero used 117 going over and 20l on return. If you are by yourself carry 3 gerrycans of fuel and 2 of water. Best to take your rear seat out. If you are with other petrols I would only take 2 gerrycans of fuel assuming you use the rig road. The french line is harder (not a lot) but much shorter. I would recommend the double crossing but please don't take a trailer. It is possible to get one across but all you do is rip up the track for others. Go as early as you can in the season eg May. Temps will be low to mid 20's during the day and around zero at night. As soon as the sun comes up it warms up fairly fast. Regards

Just on the fuel consumption Weddy, we took two Pajeros west to east. One 3.0 L '94 man and one 3.5 L '96 man. Both were very heavily laden with fuel, gear and people (we each took 200 L) but each used less than one tank (ie 90 L) between Mt Dare and B'ville.

Weddy, I hope you don't get too carried away worrying about fuel and spreadsheets etc when you get into the Desert. That's the place to just chill and enjoy. The rule should be - drive, look, see, enjoy, eat when hungry, stop and look at the birds, set up camp about 4:00 pm, lie back and watch the stars. Please, I am not knocking you either for wanting to be prepared but it's a wonderfully healing/restorative place and we go out there often to get away from the stresses and strains of our work in Birdsville, which involves listening sometimes all day to fellas who have just crossed the Desert or are going to cross the Desert who saw not one camel, Eyrean grass wren, dingo, donkey or wildflower because they were so busy worrying about their tyres, when could they get bogged so they could try this gizmo or that, how much more fuel they used than their mate. Unfortunately, I joke not. If you travel with your tyres at the right level you don't stress your vehicle or use as much fuel. It is so simple. I'm very philosophical today - the first cars are starting to go into the Desert and already we can see the problems for them - not us, but for the travellers. Higher trye pressure also causes those awful corrugations in the dunes, those people who crossed late last year will know how bad they were - also caused by those thoughtless people who consistently tow trailers into the Desert. On that subject - I have just seen the first trailer go into the Desert this afternoon - not a good advertisement for the Driver Training company advertised on one of the cars. It further bothers me that we have become so wrapped up in the latest gizmo and whizbang thing to add to our cars that we have forgotten that people have been travelling and camping in vehicles for almost a century and were able to do it without the need for all this gear.
Sorry Weddy I've got carried away. Come in and see us when you get here and let us know how you are enjoying the trip - and whether your calculations were correct!