Simpson trip in August 2013

[Chris_M Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris_M]

The plans are coming together and we have an idea of where we are going and when.

We will leave Melbourne on the 4th August and travel to Alice Springs via Oodnadatta and then spend a few days exploring around Alice Springs.

We wil then travel back to Mt Dare via Chambers Pillar and meet the other two vehicles on Tuesday 13th then head over the Simpson on the French Line and probably some of the other tracks as well. Looking to spend about 5 days crossing.

If others would like to join us for the crossing you would be most welcome.

Then from Birdsville down to Innaminka and then across to Tiborburra with about 1 week to get back to Melbourne.

I'm looking for advice to what to see and where to camp around Alice Springs. We should have 4 days in that area.

Cheers Chris

[ursos Member Find all posts View Profile Close ursos]

I'm looking for advice to what to see and where to camp around Alice Springs. We should have 4 days in that area.

East and West MacDonnell Ranges for great walks. Plenty of places to camp. If you're a bit more adventurous Palm Valley/Finke Gorge (see NT Parks website).

[Brettstar Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brettstar]

We just did that trip but from East to West. It was beautiful and an easy but slow drive. We enjoyed smooth run ups the dune and very slow scolloped wooped and dooped downslopes. We were praising a East West direction as we crossed every dune.
WE also cheered when we made it to Purnie bore and had a free shower!! I would do it any day but would avoid the frenchline from Poeppel to Purnie if at all possible. 10kph average, woops and doops.
Enjoy your drive, we did.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

We just did that trip but from East to West. It was beautiful and an easy but slow drive. We enjoyed smooth run ups the dune and very slow scolloped wooped and dooped downslopes. We were praising a East West direction as we crossed every dune.
WE also cheered when we made it to Purnie bore and had a free shower!! I would do it any day but would avoid the frenchline from Poeppel to Purnie if at all possible. 10kph average, woops and doops.
Enjoy your drive, we did.

Thats interesting, as I have heard quite a few people advising that the best direction to cross the Simpson is from West to East??? You say it was better from East to West. We are about to go to Birdsville, however decisied against going into the Simpson from the Birdsville direction, and were planning to detour south frm Birdsville and come across the Simpson from the west back towards the east ie towards Birdsville.....honestly, lots of people advise that the best direction of travel is from West towards the East....you have just planted the seed for another plan...at least we are going to ask some more questions from the locals etc,
and we may in fact do what we orignally planned, and travel across the Simpson from East to West...
..I just want to confirm with you that you did in fact find it a better to travel across the simpson going from East to West? (and avoiding the French Line)

[outdoorgaz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outdoorgaz]

Brettstar, did you travel on the French line all the way? We are planning an east/west crossing next week via WAA line/Rig Road for the reasons you've given.

Brogers, I believe most people travel west/east because the dunes are steeper going east/west. Problem is that with most going west/east on the French line often with high tyre pressures and some towing trailers, this tends to scallop out the western side of the dunes. We want to avoid that and also the opposite direction traffic which is why we are keeping off the French line as much as possible.

[outdoorgaz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outdoorgaz]

double post

[DGW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DGW]

Did the French line East to West about 12 years ago, found the runs up the dunes very easy and smooth, the runs down the dunes were very rough. My wife and I commented on how rough the western sides of the dunes were and glad we weren't going that way.

If you have done a bit of sand driving and have the right tyre pressures, east to west is very easy and a smoother, more relaxing drive. Just have to look from the top of each dune for the convoys coming the other way as they are not expecting anyone coming from that direction because it is so difficult

[DGW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DGW]

double post

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Agree - did East to West last yr.

The French line is chopped up both ways. We went down Knolls track and then kept South till we reached Purnie. The little bit of French line on each end were enough to know we made the right decision.
QAA line definitely smoother East to West.

I found that you need to force it into 1st gear on the way up the steep runs (about 1/2 way up) in High range. That saves the need to go to low range. It doesn't seem to volunteer 1st on its own.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

The desert changes every year. Have done 3 crossings (one a double East-west then west-east) and would agree the east west is a better way only due to the dune structure. The dunes are generally steeper on the east face and the west is not as steep but longer. We found climbing the east side (steeper) used less fuel than west east, possible because the dunes are shorter (steeper) and the long approach (west) took more fuel.
One of our favorite places to go.
Try to use as many of the tracks as you can to experience the desert. There is so much to see.

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

Agree with the above, just got back from a west east crossing. Really noticed how chopped up the west side is on most dunes, while the east side is significantly steeper, it was far smoother.

Next time east west for me.

[outdoorgaz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outdoorgaz]

I did the WAA line east/west a couple of weeks ago which was great fun driving. Little traffic and no scalloping. Very twisty at the top of the dunes which should make it too difficult for most trailers.

Very glad I chose the route I did