Which Outback track?

[DiscoMick]

I was reading the R.M. Williams 'The Best of Outback Tracks' magazine, and dreaming wistfully about heading out there one day, when I can escape work. But of course when you can only take a few weeks from work your choices are limited, so it raises the Q of which track. Other issues include how far it is to get there (WA adds a week), is your vehicle and party up to it, do you need to travel in a group, what time of year is the best etc etc etc.
So, following is the list of 20 tracks from the magazine. Which one would you choose and why? Or would you throw in another track? Have you been there before?

1. Gibb River Road
2. Birdsville Track
3. Simpson Desert Crossing
4. Flinders Ranges
5. Strezelecki Track
6. Snowy Mountains country
7. Douglas Daly Region
8. Savannah Way
9. Cape York
10. Oodnadatta Track
11. Winton to Alice Springs
12. Lyell Highway
13. Tanami Track
14. Canning Stock Route
15. Thunderbolt's Way
16. Heritage Trail:Roma-Cloncurry
17. Gunbarrel Highway
18. Darling River Run
19. Anne Beadell Highway
20. Kidman Way

[Slunnie]

I've "done" some of them, but of those that I haven't I would pick the Canning Stock Route. Long, remote, legendary and interesting.

The other would be Madigans Line which may come under the Simpson Desert, but its not the commonly used route. Why, because it is remote, rugged and history rich also. Oh, and I never made it on the trip last year that I was going to go on.

[gwebb]

I have just come back from the "victorian Loop" Flinders ranges, Birdsville Track, Innaminka, Camerons corner, Tibborra Broken Hill etc. Interesting easy and Historic area so this one is a good one to start. Interesting to note that Diesel is certainly king out there. Innaminka 4 pumps-3 Diesel, 1 regular unleaded. No LPG gas anywhere
Living in Gippsland, I have been through all the high country and these are best done October through to May as most of the better tracks are closed for the Winter. Lots of good historic areas and allot of medium to hard 4wding. Free camping over most of the High country and all within easy distances of a fairly big population center to replenish supplies.
I would guess being from WA is going to make most of your mind up for you as it is a long way to go just to go to the Vic High country for example.
Whatever track you end up going to just do it. I always talked about going to the Birdsville track and it seemed like such a hard thing to do but once you are there and actually doing it, you wonder what all the fuss and concern was for.
I always say the best destination is the one you are going to today!!!

[Slunnie]

Absolutely, likewise the destination is the journey.

[DiscoMick]

Interesting. We actually have a plan for Cape York in September, but some of those who were coming may pull out (fancy using having had a baby as an excuse to stay home!), so we have to decide if we go anyway or divert somewhere else with them.
Have done the lower Flinders but didn't continue up the centre.

As for the vehicle, I'm thinking of adding lockers, new MTs, a larger fuel tank and maybe even a winch before we go (if the budget allows). Older son's wedding is consuming our spare cash at the moment:(, but he gets hitched next weekend, so after that there's hope. :angel:

[Slunnie]

Ahhhh, no.... most definately keep heading up to the Cape!!!!! It is a simply stunning area to see and there is lots and lots to see and do. "Doing" the Cape is probably the word. I loved every millisecond of it up there..... well, except for when I punctured the radiatior at least. Cape and Fraser Island are my favourite destinations, both being very different. To be honest I would take the cape over the Outback, and I do still love the outback + desert.

In terms of additions, we went up with all of the kit, and the Simex and long range fuel tanks were the most used mods. Used the winch once while trying to keep a troopy on its wheels at Gunshot and the lockers when playing silly buggers. These tyres meant we could run low pressures all day not only for traction, but they absorb the vast majority of the vibrations from the corrugations. The long range fuel tanks because it used a fair bit of fuel to get to some of the places and to do some of the tracks - it also meant we didn't have to buy fuel at the start of the OTL where it was the most expensive!

[DiscoMick]

Just not sure about going on our own towing the camper, particularly if we go up the coast power line track to Cooktown, assuming it hasn't rained. Can take the chicken tracks from there I guess.

[Slunnie]

Do you mean the Bloomfield track or the CREB track?

The Bloomfield can be steep, but the steep parts are sealed. CREB - wouldn't even consider it with the camper. I'd be more concerned about other parts up at the cape with a camper. Then again, how many of the good tracks would you do solo with a Camper... I wouldn't even cross the Simpson solo with a camper. Birdsville/Oodnadatta/Strzlecki etc are all graded highways.

[DiscoMick]

Yeah, we're going to review our whole plan.
The camper is a heavy-duty Aussieswag so it can handle corrugations, but I'm not planning to tackle too many sand dunes or too much mud with it, mainly for traction reasons.
Its been through the Flinders, and dry unsealed roads are generally no problem, but I wouldn't tackle the Simpson with it, certainly not alone.
The original plan was for the Cape was for our camper to be the kitchen for the whole party, with the others using tents.
That's going to be reviewed if we go alone. Might be buying an OzTent.

[The ho har's]

we took 6 weeks to do the Gibb River Rd last year....about 5 days to get there and 5 to get back....

as other have said just get out and do it!!!



Mrs ho har:angel:

[Sleepy]

I would do:

12. Lyell Highway

Why?

It's one I haven't heard of. I think that is what the others are getting at. It's not the destination, it's the journey that is all the fun.

I reckon they would all be fun.:ohyes:


Off to google earth to find Lyell Highway ;)

Edit: Hey it's in Tassie :) :) Sounds great!

[vnx205]

My opinion, based on the ones I have done:


The Gibb River Road has a series of very picturesque gorges and waterfalls if you get there soon after the wet season before things begin to dry up. If you include the detour up to Mitchell Falls, you wil have seen a great variety of different shapes and sizes of waterfalls. As Mrs Ho Har suggests it could take between 5 and 10 days.
The Flinders Ranges has an enormous variety of terrain and an interesting history. Travelling on some of the private 4WD tracks like Skytrek and Arden Hills opens up an even greater variety. The geology of the area is fascinating. The drives and walks there could keep you occupied for a week or two.
The Strezelecki Track takes you to a part of Australia where one of Australia's most infamous exploration tragedies occured - the Dig Tree etc.
The Oodnadatta Track is a good shortcut to Alice Springs and if you take the time to stop and look at the historic sites like Peake Hill Station, there is a lot to see. The road out through the Painted Hills would be my preference once you get to Oodnadatta.
The Tanami Track is a shortcut to Halls Creek and Kunnanurra if you are planning on doing the Gibb River Road. There is less to see than on the Oodnadatta Track.

On a lot of those tracks, your appreciation of them will depend partly on your understanding of the history and/or geology of the area. I could imagine that someone who didn't borther to do any reading about the Oodnadatta Track, for example and didn't bother to stop at any of the historic sites would think it was just a long. boring drive. I have done it twice and found new things to see and do on the second trip.

In fact I think anyone who didn't take in some of the history of all of those places would be missing an awful lot.

[DiscoMick]

Thanks vnx. Interesting.
I enjoyed the parts of the Flinders I visited and would like to go further and see more.
The Navigator is currently saying we should go to Cape York anyway, even if the rellies chicken out.
I'd like to wander off into the deserts for a few months, but its not looking good at this time.

[DiscoMick]

Thanks for those links. Very interesting.
Our choices are obviously:
1. Take the camper and avoid the hard bits and take the chicken tracks
2. Go without the camper, buy an Oztent and go for it!

The Navigator favours the former (she likes the comfy bed and usable kitchen in the camper), but I favour the latter.

Time will tell...