Madigan’s
Camp sites are references to explorer and geologist Cecil Thomas Madigan who, leading a party of nine men made an epic crossing of the North
Simpson Desert, by camels, in 1939. Madigan took 35 days to make his west/east crossing.
Madigan's
Camp sites were all marked with small plaques on yellow painted star pickets in 1994 by Owen Correa Outback Expeditions. These day's 4WD
explorers have begun to retrace Madigan's route of this 1939 expedition - thereby following Madigan's Line. It's is done from west to east due to the steep eastern sides of the dunes until you get to about
Camp 15, which is on the
Hay River Track.
Note that the Madigan Camps are not necessarily indicative of good
camp sites for travellers, but are historical points from C.T. Madigan 1939 Expedition.
Camp 17 is located just west of the boundary into Queensland Simpson National Park for which no access is permitted. If you venture from
Camp 16 to
Camp 17 you will have to retrace your steps back to
Camp 16 again and then proceed south and pick up the QAA Line.