Introduction Birdsville Sandhills, via a Sydney Birthday  file= Bville2015.htm
We were keen to try out the new Jeep
Wrangler in the Simpson Desert sandhills,
near Birdsville, when we were invited to Parj's
sisters 75 th birthday party in Sydney. It was 
easy to adjust our plans, using the tried and
tested "Trip Planner" to head for Birdsville via
Sydney. The birthday party was a great event,
marked by 3 generations of close family.
Parj was amazed to discover he was the 
shortest male present at 178, compared to the
others, all well over 180++ (even sis was taller)
The trip out of Nth Sydney, heading west for
Cobar was a breeze, using the M2 motorway.
Very convenient that our automatic  toll payer
on windscreen, worked in NSW as well as Qld.
The trip west, heading to Broken Hill via Cobar
was uneventful, using un-booked motels on
the way. These were selected by the Sat Nav,
or by inspection on the way past. The remote
motels/accommodations at Cameron Corner,
Innamincka and Birdsville, were pre-booked
online to ensure NOT having to use the tent !
Packing The packing was very easy since we had decided to use motels/cabins for accommodations
and restaurants, roadhouses for food. This eliminated vast amounts of space normally required for
tents, bedding, chairs, food, cooking gear and suchlike. Took the 40 lt., Engel fridge for beer, wine and
emergency snacks, together with dry nibbles and fruits,+ a basic wheel change toolbox + air compressor.
The emergency gear included :- MaxTrax, axe, shovel, snatch strap, Sat phone, UHF (useless) mobiles
Ain't it the case, when you pack all the emergency stuff, you never need them !!
The other gadgets included :- Cameras, Kindles, tablet, torch, magnifying glass and all chargers.
The tablet was useful to check emails and work online with Wi Fi.
Family groups at Parj's sisters 75 th. Three
generations, mostly family, + some friends-->
Heading West to Broken Hill, via Cobar, then North to Cameron Corner, via Tibooburra.
The M2 west out of Sydney was a dream run. Then into the scenic Blue mountains via Kurrajong and
Lithgow, always a pleasant drive. Then along haul west doing 687 km to Cobar for the night.
Inspected the Peak Gold mine at Cobar, impressive deep hole in the ground.
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Cobar Gold mine above. Massive hole.
 <----Town name near mine entrance.
The run from Cobar to Broken Hill was un-eventful, sighting many goats on the roadside and offcourse
photographed the Darling River crossing at Wilcannia. No problem finding good accommodation in
Broken Hill, handy to sights, food and the Big Lode, still being worked today after over 100 years.
Many "wild" goats (we assume) were seen at Darling River crossing, Wilcannia. Have
the roadsides. They were used to traffic. camped here in our younger days.
Lookout from old mine dump, over Broken
Hill, above.
 <--- View of mine waste, Broken Hill.
After a pleasant nite at Broken Hill, and a visit to some museums and art displays (thanks Yollie) we
headed North to Cameron's Corner, via Tibooburra, NSW. Cameron's Corner is where NSW, Qld., and
South Oz all meet. A marker post had been erected there, where you can stand in all 3 states. It's good 
to see that this post has not been vandalized or stolen yet, like the marker at the top of Cape York, which
finally had to be cemented in, to stop souveniring !
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The roads North of Broken Hill were bitumen to half way to Tibooburra, and good gravel after that. Most
people would only have heard of Tibooburra near the NSW Nth west corner, in the TV weather forecasts.
Must have a "low range" rain gauge there, with a high range temperature gauge and dust meter.
The track from Tibooburra to Cam Corner was in excellent condition, 2 wd would be OK.
Entering Tibooburra village. Shop, fuel, food. Near Cameron's corner, going thru the fence
for rabbits and dingoes, we assume.
Yollie on Cameron Corner post. SA, Qld., NSW. Parj didn't want to miss out on this feature.
The 1000's of km rabbit fence is in background. Brass marker on top shows SA, Qld., NSW.
Cameron Corner is a "casual" locality. When booking accommodation online, they didn't bother taking
credit card details or accurate arrival, departure dates. They reckoned they could look after us, if and
when we turned up. As it was, the accommodation was basic, but much better than at tent, food, booze
and fuel were in good supply. The staff at the shop were very friendly and helpful, telling us the best
way to proceed West-North to Innamincka, to avoid the pot holed sections of gravel road. We had to be
careful to stay on track, as there were many mining roads leading off the track, which could have easily
led us astray. Had to turn back at some intersections when we realised we were heading wrong. This was
mainly because the mining roads were in better condition then the "public" tracks. No problems otherwise.
Oil well on way to Cameron  Road sign, leaving Cam Corner Cameron Corner store, friendly
Corner. Also many gas wells. to Birdsville via Walker crossing and helpful staff, unfriendly flies.
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It was a straight forward drive from Cameron Corner to Innamincka hotel, using the old Strzelecki track
past many oil and gas fields. The track was quite reasonable with some sandy parts, not needing 4WD.
The Innamincka Hotel is a favourite visiting spot for grey nomads so required pre-booking. On the 
Booking.com website, I was warned about their noisy generator, which was as bad as was claimed. We
had to get a decent skinful to get some sleep. A bus full of tourists had booked in at the same time, so we
had no chance of changing rooms. Try and avoid rooms 15 and 16, closest and exposed to generator
noise. I would have thought this problem would not have been too hard or expensive to fix. It’s a pity
because all the other facilities, food, booze, fuel, and even rooms, were quite OK.
Innamincka hotel, pity about the NOISY Local dog with fly hat. Considerate owner.
generator, otherwise very good. We only used our fly hats occasionally.
Out room 15, Innamincka…NOISY generator ! Direction from Innamincka to Birdsville, via
Otherwise, good facilities. Walkers crossing shortcut, OK track.
Coopers Creek, near Innamincka, must flow Track from Innamincka to Birdsville, via 
sometimes from look of the banks. Walkers crossing shortcut….no problems
I'd like to know where they run the advertised even in light rain which kept dust down.
Innamincka cruises ? Never had to use 4WD on this route.
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Track to Birdsville above, via Walkers X-ing.
 <--- Gas burn off beside track.
The shortcut from Innamincka to Birdsville, via Walkers Crossing was well worthwhile. It was nearly
80 odd km shorter than via the Cordillo Downs track and was new to us. It rained lightly most of this trip
but only kept the dust down, not creating any slippery areas or ponding. We were glad to notice the
approaches to Birdsville, which we had visited often in the past, in the Pathy and Beach Buggy !!
Camel rides, beside B'Ville bakery, above.
Welcome B'Ville sign on approach------------->
Birdsville bakery, good for early breakfast, if Birdsville VanPark cabins, very comfortable
wanting to cross the Simpson Desert, 520 km. with good facilities such as :- TV, aircon,
We are staying local this trip, but doing all the bedding and toilets. Secure parking outside.
hardest sandhills in the desert. Close to Pub for meals.
Birdsville-Simpson Desert Sandhills The Birdsville-Simpson desert sandhills commence about 
30 odd km west of Birdsville. These include Big Red and Little Red, which are claimed to be the largest
and most difficult sandhills in the desert. (I reckon some of the interior ones are more challenging !)
You need to lower your tyre pressures here to about 15 psi and keep up the momentum going up the
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dunes. This requires being bounced around on rough surfaces going up, which disturbed Yollie.
I had previously done this area in my old Pathfinder and Beach Buggy. ( see previous reports) so I was
well prepared for what was ahead. Yollie wanted take photos only, but had to be driven to the tops of the
dunes to do this. Its amazing how the conditions of the dunes change year by year.
 
The ICONIC Birdsville pub. Could not get This guy was well prepared to cross the
motel room here, this time. Van Parks cabins OK. desert in a Mercedes Unimog, $300,000
Parj letting tyres down to 15 psi. (from 34psi) View of Little Red, 2km south of Big Red.
Too many people don't do this and get stuck. This is often mistaken for Big Red.
Looking East, back towards Big Red. The dune Good view of Big Red looking East. See the
we were on to take this photo, used to give me spectators on the top, waiting for "failures".
trouble in the Pathy and Buggy, not for Jeep. We did the 2 tracks on RHS this time.
There were many spectators on the top of Big Red, who had driven there from the WIMPY Eastern side.
They parked there watching and photographing the much more difficult attempts from the Western side.
While we were there, numerous cars failed to make it to the top and had to back down and return to
Birdsville via Little Big Red, some 2 km to the South. Nearly all failed attempts resulted from having too
high tyre pressures and not enough speed or momentum going up. Rough track made speed very bumpy.
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This guy in a good Toyota only made it 1/2 way. Looking West from top of Big Red. The LIP
Easy enough to back down after failure. right at the top needed speed to get over it.
Parj coming up Big Red from West, in new Jeep. Parj and Yollie going down Big Red heading
Tratty, from the Buggy club used to annoy all West. Yollie slipped in the sand while trying
the 4WD spectators by breezing up all these to photograph Parj on the left, as he was 
in his 2WD Buggy…that was Tratty. approaching the steep LIP at the top.
Another view of Big Red from the West. Many The easier way back to Birdsville from West,
spectators on the top. If you didn't make it up going up Little Red. This was no easy beat as
here, use track on right-------> the track was churned up and rough.
Heading home from Birdsville, due East. This 1620 km trip can be done in 2 days if required but
3 days is more comfortable. We had done this on numerous occasions in the past, so no point repeating
this route report. The Jeep Wrangler could not be faulted. It was a comfortable drive in all conditions,
including rain, cold, soft sand and bitumen. Also, it was pleasant to be able to talk and listen to the radio
and CD's, at any speed. The Jeep had plenty of power, clearance and good 4WD to handle any sandhill
in the Simpson Desert, with ease. There was sufficient room for 2 people travelling as we did, with the
back seat removed. At a pinch, we could have carried camping gear as well, in our 2 door Jeep.
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