Palmers tackle the Simpson - July 2013

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

Late at a wedding earlier in the year (after a few beers and wines) it was decided that I would visit my brother in SA and we'd do a Simpson crossing. I was keen as I wanted to try a big trip, he was keen as he wanted to do a crossing in luxury after doing it on a motorbike, and Hel's agreed as she reckoned it was only the grog talking anyway (and she figured that it'd never get organised so she had nothing to worry about).
It looked like she was right too - for a while, until my bro rang and asked how my plans were going (well I hadn't actually done anything) and that I should have a look at this and that web site and book our tickets on the boat as he was about to book his holidays to go. I thought bloody hell and finally got myself into gear and got ourselves ready for our trip from Tassie.

So on the first day of the Tassie shool hols we were on the Spirit of Tasmania II on our way to Melbourne for our 5200km road trip. Off in Melbourne and to the Great Ocean Road to enjoy a superb drive. I absolutely loved Bells and the 12 Appostles. First day ended at Mt. Gambier.
Second day saw us reach Gawler for a couple of days stopover and to get supplies for our trip.

We wanted to go up to Mt Dare, so our next strech was up through the Clare Valley to Hawker and staying at the Flinders Ranges Caravan Park. Then to Coward Springs, which I was very pleasantly surprised with. From here it was on to Oodnadatta where we staid at the camp ground behind the Pink Roadhouse on the night they had their big street party to cellebrate it's sale (we think as we were told a number of different reasons for the celebration).


Zac driving at plane henge

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From Oodnadatta we headed to Mt Dare, as for me it was one of those must visit places on our trip. Before we reached Hamilton we started to see vehicles covered in mud, and people were telling us that it'd taken them 2 days in low range to get from Mt Dare to Dalhousie, followed by an extended run in high 4 to get to the Hamilton turn-off, after being trapped at Mt. Dare because of the wet. We started to wonder what was going on.

Once passed Hamilton, we continued on to Eringa and, while there hadn't been a huge number of travellers, we didn't see another vehicle until we reached Mt Dare.

Lunch on side of road between Eringa & Bloods Creek

From here the road got wetter, the Prado muddier and the road crappier, with the last 10ks into Mt Dare well used.


Luckily Hels talked me into filling-up that night (hell we were putting a huge dent in the credit card anyway), because as we were collecting our sat-phone the next morning the sign went up that they were out of diesel and there'd only been a few fill-up after us. I heard that there was a number of people that had to do a run to Finke to fill up for their crossing.

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

I was a bit slow / tentative on the track to Dalhousie Spring, until I couple of other vehicles went past and I joined on the back of them and followed them all the way to the the springs. By this stage Helen was enjoying herself laghing at me - she reckoned I was excited to get to Mt Dare but getting to Dalhousie Springs made me go up another notch and she was waiting for me to start bouncing around the car.
Like us, the other group was supposed to be meeting up with others there. So we all had lunch and waited, went for a swim and waited some more.

Now, I was told that I'd need to get used to the water when I first went in, but I semi dismissed that and soon learnt how true the warning had been. Once I got used to the heat it was superb, I can't say enough good things about it (if we are ever anywhere near that area again I will be back for a dip in the spring). Not only was the water great, the fish that come up to you and pick at you are a buzz too.


Well, a 2:00 o'clock meet was missed, so another swim was had and as 4:30 rolled around we decided to camp the night (the other group were smarter and made this decission a couple of hours earlier). Well, the first camp site we sellected looked great - until you stepped out of the car and got a wiff, so on to site 2, then 3 and finally 4. About 6:30 our guys finally rolled in and joined us.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

I was wondering when you were going to put a trip report up...

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

I know, it's taken me a while. Hopefully I'll get it done over the next couple of nights.

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

Rumor has it that those fish are unique to those springs.Look forward to the rest of the report.

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

I think you are right Greg. They sure are amazing.

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

After a relaxing nights sleep (for me) we were up and rearing to get into the day. Apparently Hel's had been worried a bit about the dingo that was wandering through the camp. After breakfast, guess what, we were back for another swim. Our son, Zac was insistant that he took my sister (who had flown in from WA to surprise us) for a swim before we went. Then back to pack up and chase the roaming Dingo away from our gear, as well as a couple of other people's sites and it was off we set. On our way to Purni Bore and we soon discovered this section of the track had seen fairly heavy traffic in the last couple of weeks and was reasonably hard packed with lots of scolloped sections on the slopes. Of course there was the odd stop on the way to explore.


When we got to it,I was a little underwhelmed with Purni Bore - bugger all water, but there was a nice picnic shelter and Zac & Ava loved exploring the area. So we pushed on and soon came to where a decission needed to be made. Do we continue on the French Line or drop down to the WAA.


We dropped down to the Mokari oil well and onto the WAA line, and this was more like what I'd imagined - the sand was no where near as packed and much more fun to drive. We made camp between the dunes part way along, where my brother pulled out a beaut rotisery to cook the evenings roast (as well as a bottle of bourbon for us to enjoy).

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After breaking camp it was straight back into the dunes and picking the lines over them. Some had two or three different lines over them - normal track, an easier version and some with a "stuff it, I'm just going straight over" .


We followed the WAA line through to the Erabena track and turned off here to go down to the Lone Gum.

Zac climbing the "Lone Gum" to see if he can get to the Koala.

From here we travelled along the Rig Road to Knolls Track and it was on this section we saw the only camels we came across for the whole trip. Have included the best pic. we got.


Unfortunately the smell won't be forgotten

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

We travelled up the Knolls Track and set-up camp between the Approdinna Attora Knolls and the French Line, for our last night in the desert.

And in the morning set of to the French Line and Poeppel Corner.

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

From Poeppel Corner we headed North for a lightning quick run on the salt flats (well it seemed that way after travelling at 20 - 40Km/hr for a few days) until we reached the QAA line. Then it was up and over the growing dunes, then the low scrub / trees and across the dry Eyre Creek (complete with people camping in the river bed) and on to the main attraction for the day - Big Red.
We aired down to 15psi and got ready to have our shot at the left hand track. It took me a few goes to get up - first time the front wheels got to the top and we died, so I backed up further for the second shot and didn't get as far but noticed the revs really died off just before we got to the kick-up towards the top. I started to wonder if this was because the auto kicked up a gear as it was reving hard? anyway I locked it in 2nd for my last shot, started my run-up from way, way back and made it over nicely. parked on the edge with the other 4x4's, jumped out with a huge grin and cracked a cold one as I watched some others try their luck. To say I was bloody happy would have been an understatement.

start of first shot


On way up


Yeah, I was pleased

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

That night saw us at the Birdsville caravan park and the ladies sure did appreciate the facilities - especially hot showers (they felt better and they reckoned us blokes at least smelt better). The next morning we returned to Big Red, as the kids wanted to have more of a play on the dune, and i wasn't going to refuse.


This was where we had to perform the only recovery of our trip. The couple who we had seen camping in Eyre Creek had decided to go up the easier track without airing down, and had gotten stuck. They said that they'd been there for over an hour trying to winch out using their spare tyre that they buried. Unfortunately it pulled out and they were re-burying it. Initial offers of help were politely knocked back so I went off to play with the kids. After another half hour I offered again and this time theyaccepted, so out came the MaxTrax for their first use. To say thet sacared me would be an understatement as he was controlling the winch from beside the car - without the car running (which probably explains why they hadn't been able to pull themselves out the first time). I threw one of their blankets over the cable to at least act as something of a dampener and got them to start driving out slowly with the trax under the car. It came out beautifully - until she stopped and bogged again - so the MaxTrax went in again and this time she drove out to a better stopping point.
As the wind was getting up we headed back to Birdsville.

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

Of course, before leaving Birdsville I had to visit the pub for a beer, and the bakery to try a curried camel pie (delicious)

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

After lunch it was on to the roadhouse to fill up and get a sponge to give the Prado a rinse before heading down the Birdsville Track to the Mungerannie Hotel for the night. Next day saw us back in Hawker Followed the next by Gawler & Adelaide for a few nights so the kids could have some fun at the Zoo and cinemas (as well as Hels got some shopping in). Then the trip back to Melbourne, with a couple of nights in Werribee (more Zoo) for the Spirit of Tas. back to Tassie.

[outback7 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close outback7]

After lunch it was on to the roadhouse to fill up and get a sponge to give the Prado a rinse before heading down the Birdsville Track to the Mungerannie Hotel for the night. Next day saw us back in Hawker Followed the next by Gawler & Adelaide for a few nights so the kids could have some fun at the Zoo and cinemas (as well as Hels got some shopping in). Then the trip back to Melbourne, with a couple of nights in Werribee (more Zoo) for the Spirit of Tas. back to Tassie.

I so enjoyed your post mate......great pics Thank you