A scenic and interesting drive over varying terrain with differing scenery.





It’s an easy drive of about 450 Km with fuel available at Mt Dare which is the last fuel before crossing the Simpson Desert. You can do it in a day if you’re in a hurry, we weren’t so did it in two with a stop over at Old Andado Station. This place is a time warp of what station homestead existence was like in the past. Molly Clark, a living outback pioneer now in her eighties lived here for over twenty years and the building and contents are something out of the late 19th & early 20th century’s. Current caretakers are Andy and Karen who were mentioned in an earlier post. They’re a pair of poms and great people, with a D2 TD5, and had been there for three days of their two month stint when we went through. Karen was especially looking forward to spending summer there !! I don’t think she really appreciates what 50 degrees in the shade and zero humidity is all about. What is even more interesting is that their replacement who will be there from November to March is from Alaska. At least she’ll know what zero humidity is about.



Just before Old Andado is the Mac Clark (Molly Husband who died in the 1960’s) Conservation Reserve which has over 2000 examples of rare Acacia Peuce or Waddy tree. These are a scruffy looking acacia of up to about 5m tall and are thought to be several hundred years old. They were widely used by early settlers for fence posts and such as the wood is strong and hard as the hobs of hell. You can’t cut it with an axe, it doesn’t burn and you can’t get a nail into it.
From Old Andado there’s two routes to Mt Dare. The direct route is the most scenic and goes through thickly wooded country in part but also has some thick bulldust sections. Don’t even think about using this section if it’s been raining; take the safe route through New Crown. Re-fuel at Mt Dare or you would if they hadn’t run out of fuel and were ferrying diesel over in 1000 litre lots from New Crown. No petrol at all. Unavailability of fuel is not unusual in the outback. Weather, bad roads, power failure and even forgetfulness can mean no fuel when you want it. It’s always a good idea to carry enough fuel to get to the fuel stop after the next one. Finally got diesel and off to Dalhousie Springs.
Like a fool I had forgotten that there’s a choice of two routes to Dalhousie and took the shortest distance one. Fifteen Km’s later I’ve put a rock through the sidewall of one of my new Cooper ST’s. Fortunately it was a front tyre which meant I picked it up straight away and didn’t totally trash the tyre or rim. Running 28 psi and doing 30 Km/h that’s the way it goes. Back to Mt Dare for repairs. New tyre becomes spare no. 2 with huge patch on inside. Can’t complain too much though; first flat in over 10 years. Off to Dalhousie Springs again this time via the longer distance, shorter time and cheaper route via Blood Creek. Arrive 4 o’clockish and set up camp.
One of the main features here is the springs themselves and the associated waterhole, at a constant 34 degrees C. The night time temperature can get down to freezing here and one of the attractions is a dawn swim.



Campground has good toilet and shower (cold) facilities. The old Dalhousie homestead ruins are 10 Km or so down the road and well worth a look.



From here its about 450 Km in a straight (French) line to Birdsville on the other side of the Simpson Desert.

Deano & Kaye