simpson desert open dates
Book by 31 March to Save $650 per person*. If the Simpson Desert is calling you Then there is one thing you must do. It is the fourth-largest Australian desert, with an area of 176,500 km2. Depending on the time of year it might be days before you see another traveller to help you out, so always carry emergency supplies and plenty of water for the number of passengers you have on-board. We are looking for 12 women rider to accept this All NEW SIMPSON DESERT … Tesla doubles down on Full Self-Driving Beta - UPDATE: FSD far from... Self-driving tech is “getting mature”, according to Elon Musk, 2021 Audi SQ2 bound for Australia, set to arrive in May, Pricing and features revealed for Audi’s refreshed SQ2, set to enter Aus market in May, Polestar coming to Australia with standalone showrooms, Volvo's electric performance spinoff set to disrupt local market with Tesla Model 3-rivalling Polestar 2, Facelifted Toyota Camry range features four hybrid variants and one petrol, available from April 2021. This is at variance with the stratigraphically determined age of the dunefield © Copyright 2021. Their iconic boxy shape also affords more headroom for occupants. It is located in a remote, quiet desert landscape of the Wahiba Sands, 25km away from Al-Ghabbi, in the city of Bidiyah. Conditions do change rapidly so please check this site regularly if you are travelling through the region on your outback Queensland holiday and are unsure as to the current status of a … The idea of going without basic comforts is enough to turn anyone off heading bush. Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve are closed from 1 December to 15 March each year. Closures and safety If there has been rain in the area please check for temporary road closures on the SA website http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads and the NT website. Racing and riding is more than what you do, it's a part of who you are. The proportion of monitoring sites occupied by the plains mouse (Pseudomys australis) during each of 11 sampling periods from October 2007 to May 2011 at Andado Station, Simpson Desert, Australia. AFTER a late start, the Simpson Desert is now open for the 2019 desert-touring season. The Student Scholarship program offers scholarships to juniors and seniors at participating schools to support education and encourage the design and building of safer structures in our communities. The geology of the desert was also recorded. Allow four days travel as a minimum. Another track, the ‘Rig Road’, was also built in the 1960’s and was initially built to a standard for laden semi-trailers by sheeting the tops of the dunes with clay. And with more floodwaters heading south from the cyclones, it could be a while before access from the east is available. It’s compulsory for every vehicle to be fitted with a sand flag, which must be of high-vis material and be at least 3.5 metres high when mounted to the front of the vehicle. A good night’s rest is just as important as a hot shower and a good meal, so we’ve provided the best camping equipment available to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. We'll be helping raise funds and awareness for Dolly's Dream. Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Monday, Aug 26, 2013 at 19:00. Looking at the track today, it’s hard to imagine a truck and semi-trailer being even remotely capable of traversing the desert landscape. The crossing is closed completely between December 1st and March 15th due to the extreme heat. Drop your tyre pressures to around 18-22psi to aid travel over soft sand and be prepared to drop them further to escape trouble. The Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off road, multi terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) community. So, in addition to providing that all-important level of comfort, we’re also looking after the environment by removing waste instead of burying it in the scrub. The Simpson Desert Bike Challenge. Largely uninhabited, with dunes stretching as far as the eye can see, the Simpson Desert is the ultimate outback adventure. Your vehicle needs to be in tip-top condition before you head across the desert. If you breakdown out here help could be a long way away, and getting recovered from the desert is very costly experience. Using camels to traverse the inhospitable landscape, they reached Birdsville in just over two weeks. The desert is closed from December through to March every year when the temperatures gets extreme and vehicles start to breakdown in the heat, rangers have officially recorded 50c in the shade but locals will tell you it can get up to 60c in the shade, whether you believe this or not is up to you. Digging holes or hooking up a cumbersome hot water apparatus is no-one’s idea of a good time. Technical tracks, amazing wildlife and idyllic camping spots. Flood waters heading down the Diamantina from farther north in Queensland were blocking the road from Birdsville to Big Red, but they have now subsided and moved on down to Lake Eyre. It’s around 500km of travel between Birdsville and Mount Dare, and you’ll cross more than 1000 sand dunes if following the French Line. The Simpson Desert was named by Cecil Madigan, an Australian explorer and geologist from Renmark who led a major expedition across the Simpson in 1939. Ted Colson, a pastoralist and explorer from South Australia, set off with an Aboriginal man named Eringa Peter from the Antakurinya tribe in May 1936 with the aim of crossing the desert west to east. Sturdy all terrain type tyres should be fitted to your car as a minimum, with a matching spare. Registrations. Madigan’s expedition was financed by AA Simpson of Adelaide. The large tents are easy to erect with only one centre pole and a few pegs. Simpson Desert Devil Helmet - Snell SA2015. Outback Spirit has invested over $4 million in these remarkable vehicles. A children’s entertainer keeps the children amused from 1pm to 8pm. During our initial testing phase, it quickly became evident that it was the only vehicle suitable for our desert adventures. Simpson Desert Dunes - Dates and problems 13 and from the region west of the town (Fig. In each Desert Safari crew there’s an experienced camp cook who’ll provide delicious cuisine for the expedition. If you’re heading out to the Red Centre early this season, it’ll be worth checking out Lake Eyre as the flood waters have moved south to fill the lake with water. We are looking for 12 women rider to accept this All NEW SIMPSON DESERT CHALLENGE! Ride dates : 14th May - 17th May 2021 Yes that's right....we'll be leaving Birdsville on Dolly's Day - 14th May. A 5-day event staged across the. Nights will be cool to cold so make sure you carry plenty of warm bedding. It might be a desert, but there’s plenty to see out in the Simpson so don’t plan to tear across it in just a day or two. The Simpson Desert was named by Cecil Madigan, an Australian explorer and geologist from Renmark who led a major expedition across the Simpson in 1939. This is a trip for high-clearance 4x4 vehicles with low range, not soft roaders or SUVs. You can still get into the Simpson from the west via Mt Dare or the north via the Hay River Track, but you can’t cross it east-west. Just because your 4x4 will do 500km on a single tank of fuel on the highway, don’t expect it to make it across the desert on the same amount of fuel; the sand can be soft and heavy going and you should plan to use up to three times as much fuel through the desert as you would on the highway. Crew and Vehicle details must be lodged by 31-08-2021 As the desert nights can get quite cold, we also provide you with a high-quality sleeping bag to keep you warm and comfortable. Sliding in the desert dust Keeping the foot down is a must. All Regional Roads and Public Access Routes. Complete with 2 equal sized bathrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, these pods are a real work of art and feature a hydraulically raiseable roof, large water storage tanks and effluent capture. Despite several attempts, nearly 100 years would pass before the Simpson would be crossed in its entirety by a non-Indigenous Australian. Outback Spirit is one of only a few operators taking people through the Simpson Desert, but no-one does it quite like us. *All fields are required. Various seismic surveys were carried out across the Simpson in the 60’s and 70’s. And, with ample refrigeration and a re-supply rendezvous, we’re never short of good quality, fresh food. Buyer will be notified via eBay message if lead time applies. This was the first scientific examination of the Simpson Desert and only the second complete crossing by a European. The amenities unit features two flushing toilets and two hot-water showers, and retain all toilet waste for subsequent disposal. Registration is now OPEN for this ride. No campsite is complete without a crackling fire, and it’s here that you’ll be able to relax and unwind at the end of the day, chatting to new friends under the desert stars. traverses the Simpson Desert, in a north-west-to-southeast direction, as depicted in Figure 1. Select currency. Again, check the road conditions to see when the track is open again. You will not forget this ride! Full colour throughout. The first European explorer to see the Simpson Desert was Charles Sturt, who visited the region in the 1840’s. Take your time to enjoy the place and your desert crossing will be memorable for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones. The Diamantina Shire Council issues updated Road Condition Reports on an 'as needed basis'. Australian Simpson Desert. Situated in the far north of South Australia, it straddles the SA/NT Border and spills over into far western Queensland. Also, be aware that at the time of writing, The Birdsville Track remains closed due to those flood waters so access to the lake will be from the south or western side. Each September, competitors, support crew and officials gather in the Australian Simpson Desert for the annual Simpson Desert Bike Challenge. The Munga-Thirri National Park (Queensland side) and Munga-Thirri – Simpson Desert Conservation Park (South Australia) are open for travellers. To the altimeter, the dunes are akin to high seastate in the open ocean. Monday, Aug 26, 2013 at 19:00. For a trip like this, the ability to have a hot shower and flushing toilet makes all the difference. Open search. The quintessential magazine for Australia’s four-wheel drive and offroad enthusiasts. The WhichCar Network: Everything car buyers need and car lovers want. In each G Wagon fleet, a 6x6 military style G Wagon features a specially engineered bathroom pod. - This article was amended on 28 March 2019. Get Tag-a-long Tours on the phone Put your kit together and off you roam. The most common way across the Simpson is via the French and QAA lines, which will take you between Mount Dare in the west, to Birdsville in the east, and vice-versa. Phone: +61 7 4656 3244 Or, send us an email below: Saturday 17th October (updated monthly, or when track conditions change). Do you have any questions about our rooms or availability? For the traveller & Explorer. That’s why our desert safaris are so unique. UHF radios are essential for car-to-car communications and a great way to get an idea of oncoming traffic you might meet on the crest of a sand dune. He named the desert in honour of Alfred Allen Simpson, the president of the South Australian branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. The pass 088 groundtrack recurs, within a narrow 2 km band, every 9.92 days. The G Wagon is an incredibly unique vehicle. They ride exceptionally well, are fitted with forward facing coach seats and have more legroom than other vehicles in the same class. The Calico Early Man Site is an archaeological site in an ancient Pleistocene lake located near Barstow in San Bernardino County in the central Mojave Desert of southern California.This site is on and in late middle-Pleistocene fanglomerates (now-cemented alluvial debris flow deposits) known variously as the Calico Hills, the Yermo Hills, or the Yermo formation. This also allows for a small detour or two to be taken, as well as cover any minor problems that may pop up. He named the desert in honour of Alfred Allen Simpson, the president of the South Australian branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. The race is held each year on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June. Better Things actor Alex Désert replaces Hank Azaria in … Please complete this form to request our latest brochure. His book of the journey is titled ‘Crossing the Dead Heart’. The best time of the year is May to October, primarily for the purpose of getting far away from the soaring temperatures of a desert summer. Over 200,000 units sold since 1979, including 2500 recently procured by the Australian Defence Force. Out in the back of beyond New friends you'll be fond. Open daily. http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/obstructions-byregion.jsp. Ensure your 4x4 is well-maintained and have it checked over by your regular 4x4 mechanic before you set off. Witjira National Park and the campground at Dalhousie Springs to the west of the Simpson Desert will remain open, as will Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park and Innamincka Regional Reserve. Interestingly, the Simpson family’s manufacturing businesses in Adelaide began making washing machines in the 1940’s, which are still sold under the Simpson brand to this day. The closures will apply from Friday 1 December 2017 to Thursday 15 March 2018 and affects the Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve. You'll hear stories of Burke and Wills And drive up eleven hundred dunes just for thrills. The French Line is generally well-defined and becomes more so as the season goes on, and the dune faces also become more chopped up and can be difficult to climb as more and more vehicles mount them. Yet, I hesitated… Over the years, Gary and I have watched the Madigan Line morph from something very few people talked about to one splattered all over the glossy pages of 4×4 magazines. Outback Spirit operates Mercedes Benz G Wagons for its unique adventures across the Canning Stock Route and Simpson Desert. Ride dates : 14th May - 17th May 2021 Yes that's right....we'll be leaving Birdsville on Dolly's Day - 14th May. The Simpson Desert is a large area of dry, red sandy plain and dunes in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland in central Australia. It’s always handy to carry a range of spare parts such as fan belts, hoses, fuses, electrical wire and the tools to carry out any minor repairs to keep you going. Until now. A shovel is essential and a set of MaxTrax is highly recommended. Race Official Registrations open 01-01-2021. Simpson Desert is now open for the 2019 touring season By Matt Raudonikis, 22 Mar 2019 News *THE Simpson Desert was supposed to open in full on Saturday March 23, but recent rains have again cut off access from Birdsville. Access may be restricted due to local road conditions. The first race meeting of the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival is the Betoota Races on Saturday 25 August. I’d dreamed about tackling the Madigan Line since first reading Crossing the Dead Heart. Off-road, the G Wagons are simply unmatched by any other vehicle. almost 20 years ago: traverse the Simpson Desert via the route taken by Cecil Madigan’s 1939 scientific expedition.. The Simpson Desert is one of several deserts in Australia, and covers about 180,000 square kilometres in central Australia, spanning the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. All Rights Reserved. WhichCar is now home to Wheels, Motor, 4X4 Australia and Street Machine magazines. The sandstone that makes up the Wave dates back to the Great Pangean Desert of the Jurassic Period. 3) which gave thermoluminescence (TL) dates (processed in the W ollongong laboratory) of some 78,000 years and almost 34,000 years respectively, and clearly of Late Pleistocene age. With state-of-the-art equipment, experienced guides and exceptional comfort, the Simpson is now in reach for those who don’t want to mount their own expedition. Average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures in Birdsville Phil, thanks for the comprehensive reply. Very few tour operators have had the know-how, equipment or courage to take people into this vast, iconic wilderness for fear of the operational challenges and harsh terrain. Water from the basin rises to the surface at numerous natural springs, including … It is a country race meeting which prides itself on being family-oriented. You’ll be sleeping off the ground on sturdy lightweight stretcher beds, with a self-inflating mattress to go on top. Simpson Strong-Tie has established a scholarship program to assist architecture, structural and civil engineering and construction management students. The desert is underlain by the Great Artesian Basin, one of the largest inland drainage areas in the world. Forty challets are widely scattered on the sands, and each are well equipped with authentic carpets, luxury beds and bedding and much more. After three days of rest, they turned around and made the return journey, covering a total of 600 miles in 36 days. All Rights Reserved. Always check road conditions when planning any outback trip, and stay out of flood waters when possible and off wet outback roads that have been closed. The best time to be in the Simpson Desert is April to October when the daytime temperature will be comfortable. The Sectioned Maps will help you find everything of interest along the Track and point out potential road cautions in advance, supported by visual references, for the benefit of your safety. These are the only two places you can get fuel and supplies within cooee of the desert, so ensure you have what you need before you leave. It’s open season for the Simpson, but it’s not for the unprepared. 60 years of safety. SDBC … From my very first visit to the Simpson Desert back in 2002, I have been captivated by this deeply beautiful and moving place.The feeling of hundreds of kilometres of dunes stretching out before you beneath an immense blue sky, where few people dare to venture is something you’ll never forget.So on this page, we’ve put together an overview of this iconic desert, packed with information and links that you’ll need if you’re planning a trip i… The track which CGG pushed into the desert, aptly named the ‘French Line’ is still one of the major tracks used to cross the desert. = site was occupied by P. australis during the sampling session; NS = site was not sampled during the sampling session.. Please refer to the latest Desert Parks Bulletin for current access and road condition information. Safari Desert Camp is a permanent Bedouin style camp which was opened in September 2008. Environment The Simpson Desert is the driest region of Australia and it is a dunal desert - a sea of parallel red sand ridges around 300-500 kilometres long covering a total area of 170,000 square kilometres. Outback Spirit Tours, Please complete this form to request our latest brochure. The 6x6’s under-pin the whole expedition thanks to their high payload and remarkable capability, allowing us to carry our own custom-made kitchen and amenities unit. There is no cellular phone reception in the desert, so a satellite phone should be carried for emergency communication. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Across the Gibber Plains Where it's stoney and rarely rains. The desert is a remote place and the conditions can be harsh on both travellers and their vehicles, so there are a few things to consider when planning your trip to the Simpson. *THE Simpson Desert was supposed to open in full on Saturday March 23, but recent rains have again cut off access from Birdsville. The weekend starts with a live music on Friday night and a six-event race meeting on Saturday. 1300 361 033 Northern SA Road Conditions (Automated Service) 1300 794 257 Outback Queensland / Diamantina Shire Road Condition Report (Visitor Information Centre) +61 (0)8 8648 5328 Simpson Desert Conservation Park & Witjira National Parks Desert Parks Information. © Copyright Are Media Pty Limited. Includes: 1-Simpson Desert Devil Helmet, 1-Tearoff Posts, Integrated M6 Terminal Mounts for Hans, and 1-Clear Shield. Our two fleets of G Wagons consist of both 6x6 and 4x4 vehicles. Raised off-road suspension will also help with ground clearance in soft sand and improve the ride over corrugations and sandy tracks. We get it, because it's who we are too. Each fleet of vehicles is also equipped with satellite telephones and advanced medical kits. An interesting natural feature in the Simpson Desert is The Approdinna Attora Knolls found along the AAK Track. Alli Simpson just spilled precisely every bean about her brother’s relationship with Miley Cyrus, and more in Celeb in 5. Select cars to compare from your search results or vehicle pages. *Note: Some helmets are made-to-order and require a 3-5 business day lead time for production. Registration is now OPEN for this ride. And with more floodwaters heading south from the cyclones, it could be a while before access from the east is available. Interestingly, the Simpson family’s manufacturing businesses in Adelaide began making washing machines in the 1940’s, which are still sold under the Simpson … The Simpson has nearly always been the realm of the 4WD enthusiast. If traveling solo an EPIRB or similar locating device should also be considered. When it comes to our passengers' comfort and safety, no expense is spared. To determine the worth of its joint venture with leaseholder Delhi/SANTOS, The French Petroleum Company of Australia (FPCA) appointed another French firm, Compagnie Generale de Geophusique (CGG) to perform a seismic survey of the southern Simpson. We now know who will be the new voice of Carl, Homer Simpson’s co-worker at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, on The Simpsons. Necessary Information Closed between December 1 and March 15, crossing the Simpson Desert takes a minimum of 4 days and demands low range and high ground clearance from your vehicle. - You’ll need a Desert Parks Pass, which can be purchased online, at Mount Dare, or at the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre in Birdsville.- Traveling the Hay River Track into the North Simpson requires special permits which can be arranged in advance from Direct 4WD in Alice Springs or at: www.direct4wd.com.au/- For a great guide on crossing the Simpson Desert, take a look at Hema Maps’ Great Desert Tracks: www.hema.com.au- Mount Dare Homestead: www.mtdare.com.au- Queensland National Park: parks.des.qld.gov.au- Birdsville Roadhouse and vehicle recovery: birdsvilleroadhouse.com.au- Wrightsair: www.wrightsair.com.au/. You have to win, via a lottery system, a hiking permit before you can make the long trek in to witness this mesmerising desert scene for yourself. Register your interest now through our inbox. Lot of info there for me and for others reading this as well to digest. The Simpson Desert is bucket-list trip for many 4x4 enthusiasts, but it’s not to be taken lightly. The best way to see the lake full of water is on a flight with Wrightsair out of William Creek. The utilitarian variant, the ‘Professional’, is one of the most capable and robust all-terrain vehicles in the world and the longest produced Mercedes Benz in history. The Simpson Desert stretches across three Australian States and Territories.