The Birdsville Track - one of Australia's iconic drives
One of Australia’s important Stock Routes was to become a legendary track and today nearly 150 years later since it was first opened, is as important now as it was then. This Blog is not on the history of the track, as there is a lot of information already here on EO, but rather what us modern day travellers can see along the way.
Every now and then I am contacted either by email or members message and ask by first time
Birdsville Track travellers on track conditions and the most important question, what is there to see along the way. I have to admit that there are still a few things that I still want to see and do and spend a little more time at along the Track.
The images will start at
Marree, and I will work my way north to
Birdsville. Like any location, what may appeal to one, may not appeal to all. With the exception of a couple of
places, all locations can be visited in a standard vehicle, not unless conditions are wet and that then is a completely different matter and one situation that we have seen more often than not in our travels up and down the
Birdsville Track.
One point that I can never stress enough to first time travellers is drive to the Track conditions, stop and see the many features along the way and you will have an enjoyable time and as a bare minimum of allowing 2 days for the drive. The only time that I have ever warned fellow travellers about venturing onto the
Birdsville Track is in times of heavy rain, as this is the last place that you should try to travel, for the sake of damage to the track and possible damage to your vehicle if the vehicle run off of the road and becomes badly bogged.
Fuel should not be an issue, with the longest section of travel without a fuel stop of just over 320 kilometres, and that is between Mungeranie and
Birdsville. Take a range of spares for your vehicle and carry some form of tyre repair kit. Tyres should be greater than 50% of tread life and drop them by around 20% of what you would normally run on the highway.
Marree - things that you can see and do
Marree Hotel
Old Railway Station
Memories of the past
From days of Steam
Palms from the Lake Harry Project
Memories of the late Tom Kruse
Marree was once a great rail terminus
Old Afghan Mosque
Marree's own Yacht Club
The Lake Eyre Yacht Club
Memorial to the Camel Teams that put Marree on the Map
Memorial Park
Marree
Old Trains
Old Train
The Start of the
Birdsville Track.
After visiting the Town, you will have to head back towards
Lyndhurst and then the journey begins.
Memorial Cairn at the start of the Birdsville Track
Track conditions for the journey that you are about to start
Aboriginal Burial Grounds just at the start of the Track
Aboriginal Burial Grounds
Track conditions near Lake Harry
Near Lake Harry
Near Lake Harry
Lake Harry Ruins
Lake Harry Ruins
As you now start to travel up this famous Track, you will start to begin to think just how hard it would have been for the people that live out here in true Australian Outback conditions.
Stone Cairn from Tree Bluff
The Birdsville Track from Tree Bluff
After
Lake Harry, the next important feature that is not signposted is the famous Dog or
Dingo Fence.
This grid is part of the Dog Fence
The Dog or Dingo Fence is the Longest fence in the World
Looking North from the Dog Fence
Rock Cairn seen along the Track
Clayton Bore Campsite
Toilets at Clayton Bore Campsite
Track Conditions north of Clayton Bore
Brennan Memoral before the Cooper Creek
Brennan Memorial Plaque
If conditions are right, the Cooper Creek ferry runs
Old Graves at the former Killalpaninna Mission
Old foundations at the Killalpaninna Mission Ruins
Buggy Shed Ruins
Remains of old buggy - it could tell a story or two
Heading further North the landscape is still ever changing and every now and then there are the
ruins of former stations, where station people battled the elements to make a living and quite often the consequences were devastating.
A reminder of just how hard it was out here
Old Mulka Ruins
Old Mukla Ruins
What a lonely place for a grave
Resting place for 14 year old Edith Scobie who died in 1892
Today there is very little left of the Ooroowilanie Ruins
At this stage of the journey it is now time for a break or even a great place to stay the nights. This special place is Mungaranie complete with cabins,
camp ground and its own wetlands.
Mungeranie Wetlands
Mungeranie Wetlands
Complete with thermal pool
Former Tom Kruse relic at Mungeranie
Toilet and shower block at the camping area
Clouds like this on the Birdsville Track mean only one thing
Flooded Derwent Creek from 3 inches of rain
Your in trouble when this happens
A closed Birdsville Track
Flooded Thermal Pool at Mungeranie
Old Graves at Mungeranie
The old Mungeranie Cemetery
After your stay at this great little spot along the
Birdsville Track, it now time to head further north and closer to
Birdsville.
Mungeranie Gap north of Mungeranie
Mungeranie Gap landscape
Heading north of Mungeranie Gap
The Birdsville Track is still an important modern day stock route
Take notice of this sign, pets have died from jumping into the pond
Near boiling water enters the cooling pond
Mirra Mitta Bore pond
Next stop the Mt Gason Wattle Project
Mt Gason Wattle
Heading further north up the Birdsville Track
The track seems to go for ever
It may be remote, but this is still some of the best cattle pastures in the world
The Page Family Grave
In the early 1960's 5 members of the Page Family perished by taking the wrong track
Good By South Australia
Welcome to Queensland
Welcome to Queensland and on of Australia's true iconic Outback Towns, Biirdsville. It does not matter what you have driven or ridden,
Birdsville is a top little spot for you to sit back and enjoy the modern day town with all facilities. Stay a couple of days to do this town any justice and if you are like me, it will draw you back for another visit.........
Entering Birdsville Caravan Park
Birdsville Hotel
Thermal Bore outlet
Bore Drain cooling channel
Old Royal Hotel Ruins
These old walls could tell many tales
Diamantina River
Blaze Tree at Birdsville
An import from Gawler South Australia, he makes a mean curry camel pie
Dingo Caves just north of Birdsville
Stone Cairn at the Dingo Caves
One of only 3 stands of the very rare Waddi Tree north of the town
Birdsville even has its own Geothermal Power Station
The Twin water towers can be seen a long way off
Birdsville Cemetery
There are 2 memorials for the Desert Crossings
Aboriginal Site near the entry of the Town
Never fear, if you need help, here it is