Madigan Line 2024

A

Andrew A

New Member
kampalms said:
Just wondering if anyone has traveled the Madigan Line yet this year, or knows someone that has?. I am interested in hearing about the track report. I am getting the impression that the last leg through QLD would be to wet. So everyone would possibly be continuing on down the Hay River track, then across the QAA line into
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Getting wetter and more widespread the rainfall! This is the next 10 days over Australia

Moisture from the Indian, Pacific and even the Tasman sea are the sources plus weather systems finally amplifying over Australia.

Image thanks to ECMWF model rainfall estimates next 10 days.
Screenshot_20240529_154509_Facebook.jpg
 
CTL

CTL

Well-Known Member
All roads in and out of Birdsville are closed. Simpson Desert Park is closed. Currently stuck in Boulia as Plenty Highway is also closed. Reassessing travel plans with more rain expected in the desert in a few days
 
Albynsw

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
CTL said:
All roads in and out of Birdsville are closed. Simpson Desert Park is closed. Currently stuck in Boulia as Plenty Highway is also closed. Reassessing travel plans with more rain expected in the desert in a few days
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And assume your van is at Alice ?
 
cam04

cam04

Well-Known Member
CTL said:
All roads in and out of Birdsville are closed. Simpson Desert Park is closed. Currently stuck in Boulia as Plenty Highway is also closed. Reassessing travel plans with more rain expected in the desert in a few days
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Old lovey at the servo does a grand bacon and egg burger. Not much else to say about Boulia though.
 
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CTL

CTL

Well-Known Member
Finished the Madigan to Camp 15 today.
Alice via Old Andado Road to Mac Clark Con Reserve is good.
Mac Clark has a far bit of standing water around it but there are bypass tracks. Only got one wheel wet.
Camp 1 to 5 is good with a few bypass tracks. Rocky in places but good travel times.
The dunes start after Camp 5 and the track is crap all the way to the Hay River Track. There are hollows and wombat holes along the whole track and the dunes are even worse. It has been chewed out something bad.
Took us 1hr45min to complete the 27kms between Camp 13 and 14 yesterday. Similar times along the earlier parts of the track.
The “Football Field” turn off is marked a few kms east of Madigan Claypan.
The track is still closed at Camp 16 and latest is that reopening will be reassessed on the 28th.
We turned north up the Hay River Track.
There are heaps of wildflowers and the spinifex is in seed.
Oh, and the flies are horrendous.
 
Albynsw

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
CTL said:
Finished the Madigan to Camp 15 today.
Alice via Old Andado Road to Mac Clark Con Reserve is good.
Mac Clark has a far bit of standing water around it but there are bypass tracks. Only got one wheel wet.
Camp 1 to 5 is good with a few bypass tracks. Rocky in places but good travel times.
The dunes start after Camp 5 and the track is crap all the way to the Hay River Track. There are hollows and wombat holes along the whole track and the dunes are even worse. It has been chewed out something bad.
Took us 1hr45min to complete the 27kms between Camp 13 and 14 yesterday. Similar times along the earlier parts of the track.
The “Football Field” turn off is marked a few kms east of Madigan Claypan.
The track is still closed at Camp 16 and latest is that reopening will be reassessed on the 28th.
We turned north up the Hay River Track.
There are heaps of wildflowers and the spinifex is in seed.
Oh, and the flies are horrendous.
Click to expand...

Flies, wasn’t expecting to hear that but excited to hear about the flowers.
How long did it take you to do that section of the Madigan? Sounds like it is pretty chopped up.
I assume you are heading up through Batton Hill up to the Plenty and heading west back to Alice?

We leave home next Thursday heading in that direction
 
CTL

CTL

Well-Known Member
5 nights on the Madigan with the last night just before Camp 15.
Yep, the track is chopped up bad. Not sure why the swales were so chopped up. Maybe having been driven on whilst wet? Maybe because all traffic after Camp 5 is one way and a small wallow just grows due to single direction wheel spin? Maybe it was always that way? But it is slow going if you have any vehicle sympathy.
The dunes are chopped up for the usual reasons. High tyre pressures, not in 4WD and/or too much speed. Stopped one day for lunch with a group of 4, one was towing. They were laughing about not being in 4WD. They left before us and the extra dune damage was obvious after lunch.
Only saw a total of 5 vehicles in 5 days.
Yep, up to the Plenty and back to Alice to pick up the camper.
 
C

Cod botherer

New Member
Albynsw said:
Hopefully it will be open by the time you get there. I lodged my permits with CLC 10 days ago but haven’t heard back yet
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I got mine back within a few days. Adria Downs also mentioned the situation about using the Hay River track, but as you said things could change before I go. Due at Mt Dare late July.
 
C

Cod botherer

New Member
CTL said:
5 nights on the Madigan with the last night just before Camp 15.
Yep, the track is chopped up bad. Not sure why the swales were so chopped up. Maybe having been driven on whilst wet? Maybe because all traffic after Camp 5 is one way and a small wallow just grows due to single direction wheel spin? Maybe it was always that way? But it is slow going if you have any vehicle sympathy.
The dunes are chopped up for the usual reasons. High tyre pressures, not in 4WD and/or too much speed. Stopped one day for lunch with a group of 4, one was towing. They were laughing about not being in 4WD. They left before us and the extra dune damage was obvious after lunch.
Only saw a total of 5 vehicles in 5 days.
Yep, up to the Plenty and back to Alice to pick up the camper.
Click to expand...
What kind of idiot decides not to use 4wd in that country? For that matter, why tow anything across there? I'm getting pretty pissed off with some people going out there with that sort of attitude. Probably the ones who think massive camp fires are their right as well.
 
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