Madigan Line and Hay River - preferred camp sites

[CTL]

As @cam04 said, you are asked to nominate your travel dates on the permit application.

 

[Albynsw]

I am looking to do a desert run mid June . Tossing up whether to do the whole Madigan line or just the bottom half and the Hay River track

Thoughts and suggestions?

 

[cookie64]

I am looking to do a desert run mid June . Tossing up whether to do the whole Madigan line or just the bottom half and the Hay River track

Thoughts and suggestions?

From my memory and perspective

from the intersection of the Madigan / Hay, the Hay is a pretty straightforward run down with a big ass dune at the southern end and then you're in the throng of everyone else on the QAA Line but you will come out near Poeppel Corner.

Staying on the Madigan heading West, I camped on the border area between NT & Qld near Camp 17, you will come across Annandale which has some interesting history, there are also some nice waterholes, the track starts to get quite rocky until Eyre Creek, I crossed over QAA and found a spot to pull up for the night with plenty of firewood.

HTH

 

[Albynsw]

From my memory and perspective

from the intersection of the Madigan / Hay, the Hay is a pretty straightforward run down with a big ass dune at the southern end and then you're in the throng of everyone else on the QAA Line but you will come out near Poeppel Corner.

Staying on the Madigan heading West, I camped on the border area between NT & Qld near Camp 17, you will come across Annandale which has some interesting history, there are also some nice waterholes, the track starts to get quite rocky until Eyre Creek, I crossed over QAA and found a spot to pull up for the night with plenty of firewood.

HTH

Was thinking either follow the Madigan up until I hit the Hay and then run north up to Batton Hill or come in from the west and do the whole of the Madigan Line

Will be travelling solo vehicle ,is the terrain on the Madigan similar to the French Line etc, the Hay sounds like is is different

 

[CTL]

We are heading east from Mac Clarke Reserve across the Madigan, through Adria Downs then down to the QAA at Eyre Creek and across to Birdsville. Restock and refuel, west across QAA to Poeppel Corner and up the Hay River to Jervois Station and back to Alice. Adria Downs should be dried out by the time we get there, inaccessible at the moment.

 

[Albynsw]

We are heading east from Mac Clarke Reserve across the Madigan, through Adria Downs then down to the QAA at Eyre Creek and across to Birdsville. Restock and refuel, west across QAA to Poeppel Corner and up the Hay River to Jervois Station and back to Alice. Adria Downs should be dried out by the time we get there, inaccessible at the moment.

Doing the lot How long are you expecting to take? You have a camper trailer don’t you?

 

[cam04]

Was thinking either follow the Madigan up until I hit the Hay and then run north up to Batton Hill or come in from the west and do the whole of the Madigan Line

Will be travelling solo vehicle ,is the terrain on the Madigan similar to the French Line etc, the Hay sounds like is is different

Eyre creek bypass signs went up yesterday apparently. That would also mean the Madigan east of Hay river will be closed again. On the plus side, decisions are easier to make with less options. The north half of the hay looks more like a Namatjira painting than a desert. The Madigan is a fair way south so be prepared for the usual 500 dune crossing type scenario. Teaser pic for you.

 

[CTL]

Doing the lot How long are you expecting to take? You have a camper trailer don’t you?

7 nights between Alice and Birdsville each way plus 2 in Birdsville to do some washing, refuel etc. No trailer anymore, have a small offroad van but leaving that in Alice.

 

[Albynsw]

Birdville Hotel has its recovery service up and running this week https://birdsvillehotel.com.au/simp...ille Hotel,Book a Recovery Assistance Package

Here is a map of the standard coverage area they are offering

 

[ipch]

Birdville Hotel has its recovery service up and running this week https://birdsvillehotel.com.au/simpson-desert-recovery-assurance/#:~:text=In 2024 the Birdsville Hotel,Book a Recovery Assistance Package

Here is a map of the standard coverage area they are offering

Still expencive for what you get.. I've been across 10 times and number 11 later this year.. Never needed a recovery for any one with me in the past.. I choose to take the chance and at those prices i am 4-5K.in front.

 

[Albynsw]

Still expencive for what you get.. I've been across 10 times and number 11 later this year.. Never needed a recovery for any one with me in the past.. I choose to take the chance and at those prices i am 4-5K.in front.

Fair enough. It is a bit like carrying a spare tyre, you don’t need one until you need one. I think the concept is a great idea and peace of mind for a lot of travelers

 

[boobook]

Still expencive for what you get.. I've been across 10 times and number 11 later this year.. Never needed a recovery for any one with me in the past.. I choose to take the chance and at those prices i am 4-5K.in front.

It depends on what kind of vehicle you take across the desert. Some people have unreliable or old vehicles that aren't fit for purpose. For them, it might be a bargain or give them a backup if that kind of trip was too risky for them otherwise.

 

[Albynsw]

It depends on what kind of vehicle you take across the desert. Some people have unreliable or old vehicles that aren't fit for purpose. For them, it might be a bargain or give them a backup if that kind of trip was too risky for them otherwise.

And for some they don’t have access to the 5-10k recovery cost if they did need it so paying $500 ish is a good safe option. It will be interesting to see how it pans out for them over a few seasons

 

[ipch]

It depends on what kind of vehicle you take across the desert. Some people have unreliable or old vehicles that aren't fit for purpose. For them, it might be a bargain or give them a backup if that kind of trip was too risky for them otherwise.

I agree with what you say about unreliable vehicles. But if you can afford the permit and the recovery insurance you should be able to make your vehicle in your words fit for purpose.. Murphys law has it that unfortunately the ones you describe will break down outside the recovery area.

 

[Cod botherer]

I'm told that the Birdsville pub recovery truck only operates on the QAA and French Lines. A well maintained vehicle driven sensibly should never have a problem. But the cost of setting up that truck must mean they expect to do some business.

 

[Albynsw]

I'm told that the Birdsville pub recovery truck only operates on the QAA and French Lines. A well maintained vehicle driven sensibly should never have a problem. But the cost of setting up that truck must mean they expect to do some business.

They have a map on their website showing the area they cover and will cover extra areas by negotiation

 

[rob_macca67]

They have a map on their website showing the area they cover and will cover extra areas by negotiation

A fella in our recent Trip had to use this service to recover his Disco-4. We managed to get it to the QLD side of the QLD/NT border, then he had to get the Recovery Truck to do the rest... $14k for the truck to come out, luckily RACQ Ultimate can to the party with 50% of the cost

 

[Albynsw]

A fella in our recent Trip had to use this service to recover his Disco-4. We managed to get it to the QLD side of the QLD/NT border, then he had to get the Recovery Truck to do the rest... $14k for the truck to come out, luckily RACQ Ultimate can to the party with 50% of the cost

The dollars get out of hand pretty quickly . Was that on the QAA line or Madigan?

 

[rob_macca67]

The dollars get out of hand pretty quickly . Was that on the QAA line or Madigan?

On the QAA at the QLD/NT Border point