What's your favourite remote Desert trip / Track?

[boobook]

I love deserts. The less people around, the better.

I've done a few Simpson crossings and by far the best was the Hay River track. I was lucky enough to also do the Warburton crossing in one of the years it's open.

Either that or the ABH are my favourites. In both cases, we set a pace of travelling every second or third day as much as possible.

What other remote trips have others done where there is very little traffic to contend with? I'm thinking of doing a trip next year. The Madigan line looks good right now.

 

[Albynsw]

My favourite subject
I am keen on doing the Hay track next, I was hoping to do it in my new truck but with it delayed I think I will go in the cruiser early in the season
My favourite was doing the Gunbarrel through the Gibson Desert in 2022 solo with the wife , we didn’t see a soul for 4-5 days , I got to drive it again earlier this year bringing my sons car back from Broome to the east coast. There is something about the rawness and remoteness of desert travel that you can’t explain but it just keeps drawing me back in

 

[boobook]

Ahh, Sunsets and sunrises.

It's strange but IMHO the worst part of these trips is the driving, in a way. Less is definitely more.

 

[cookie64]

Have done the Simpson many times, Colson, Hay River, Madigan, Canning, Anne Beadell, Talawana, Gunbarrel, Heather, Gary Highway but yet to do Geo Centres, Connie Sue & Sandy Blight - there is a plan though.

My favorite was the Talawana, Gunbarrel & Heather Highway given the sheer remoteness and lack of seeing anyone for close to a week, the fullstop on that one was the overnight stay at Warburton but offset the next day with a visit to Surveyor Generals Corner then out via the APY Lands.

 

[shanegtr]

As far as remote tracks I've only done the Gunbarrel Hwy. And I've visited the most remote National Park in WA Karlamilyi NP, although it was known as Rudall River NP at the time - I'd defiantly like to get back there some day

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[cookie64]

As far as remote tracks I've only done the Gunbarrel Hwy. And I've visited the most remote National Park in WA Karlamilyi NP, although it was known as Rudall River NP at the time - I'd defiantly like to get back there some day

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Took out a tyre going into Desert Queens Baths there, the next day I lost the spare due to wheel nuts coming off - I learned a lesson to thoroughly clean wheel studs before fitment and recheck regularly.

 

[Albynsw]

In both cases, we set a pace of travelling every second or third day as much as possible.

Not necessarilly directed just to you as would be interested to hear what others do as well but what activities do you do on your lay days ?
FYI. Rolling around in a drunken stupor is classified as an activity

 

[cam04]

No necessarilly directed just to you as would be interested to hear what others do as well but what activities do you do on your lay days ?
FYI. Rolling around in a drunken stupor is classified as an activity

I love a good camp oven cookup afternoon in the desert. I took all the makings of a magnificent Ryuku pork belly roast dinner for this last trip but the bloody flies and unseasonal heatwave put paid to those plans unfortunately. Had some nice fryups but not worth even setting a fire this time around.

Hay River is my new favorite track for sure. Scenery changes every few kms. Starts out like the Finke gorge up North and you follow it down into dune country.

 

[LongRoad2Go]

No necessarilly directed just to you as would be interested to hear what others do as well but what activities do you do on your lay days ?
FYI. Rolling around in a drunken stupor is classified as an activity

We'd usually wander up an interesting gully or ridge line to have a sticky-beak, maybe find a waterhole, fossils, Aboriginal workings, or just interesting rock formations. Always take an equipped day-pack, map and compass just in case. (One occasion we surprised an Inland Taipan near a waterhole, which disappeared into a tree hollow.)

One the same trip (Sturt Stony Desert) we climbed a small butte and placed a small plaque with our names on it - bit of a scramble on the loose rocks, but great views.

 

[CTL]

Another desert lover here and luckily my wife is also.
Our favourite part of any desert trip is finding a grove of desert oaks to camp between. The whispering breeze through their canopy is both eerie and amazingly calming, something I could listen to forever.
As for trips, the Canning was amazing and memorable for its loneliness. It was challenging for no other reason than its remoteness if anything went wrong. A detour off the Canning to Rudall River was worth every bone jarring km.
Planning to cross the Simpson again in 2024. First the Madigan then the Hay River.
Then we will head up the Binns through Ruby Gap (another of our previous favourites) to east Arnheim Land.

 

[joshinthecity]

subbed and taking notes....

 

[Agent 13]

Did the Simpson in 2007, Binns track a few years ago was great, lots of variety. Other than back roads to the Flinders Ranges haven't done much else but now hanging out to do the Gunbarrel and other parts of WA.

 

[boobook]

The Connie Sue has some spectacular views, and a couple of nice escarpments you can go down to on the west. The ruts are shocking though. A test for any 4wds shockers and suspension. One section is about 80km at 15 to 20 kmph. It was a day of hell.

The APY lands are also spectacular. The Mann Ranges are a hidden treasure. But getting permission for the whole area near impossible. Zero other tourists though.

 

[cookie64]

The Connie Sue has some spectacular views, and a couple of nice escarpments you can go down to on the west. The ruts are shocking though. A test for any 4wds shockers and suspension. One section is about 80km at 15 to 20 kmph. It was a day of hell.

The APY lands are also spectacular. The Mann Ranges are a hidden treasure. But getting permission for the whole area near impossible. Zero other tourists though.

Had the pleasure of going through the APY Lands some years ago - with permission, going from Surveyor Generals Corner and out to Mulga Park, it is a spectacular part of the country apart from the wrecked and seemingly abandoned cars.

It looks like I will be working out there next year so will make the most of if I can - being respectful of where I am allowed to go and where I am not.

 

[boobook]

Had the pleasure of going through the APY Lands some years ago - with permission, going from Surveyor Generals Corner and out to Mulga Park, it is a spectacular part of the country apart from the wrecked and seemingly abandoned cars.

It looks like I will be working out there next year so will make the most of if I can - being respectful of where I am allowed to go and where I am not.

I bought some paintings there and spoke to the lady who painted 1 of them at Pipalyatjara. She was just finishing it. Her paintings sell in an art gallery in Melbourne for about 10 times as much.

I also got permission, the cop who stopped me, and asked to see my permit could hardly believe I had it. He said I was the only bonifide tourist he'd seen in 3 years working there. It took me about 8 months of multiple enquiries with cross letters of approvals and proof to get it though.

 

[cookie64]

I bought some paintings there and spoke to the lady who painted 1 of them at Pipalyatjara. She was just finishing it. Her paintings sell in an art gallery in Melbourne for about 10 times as much.

I also got permission, the cop who stopped me, and asked to see my permit could hardly believe I had it. He said I was the only bonifide tourist he'd seen in 3 years working there. It took me about 8 months of multiple enquiries with cross letters of approvals and proof to get it though.

I love true Aboriginal Art, when I am out there I intend to buy some

Yeah people think they get away with anything in the remote areas, they know you are there

 

[Albynsw]

What do the cops do when they check for permits and you don’t have one?

 

[boobook]

Dunno, but he stopped me in the middle of nowhere, on the side of the road. I think they would ask you to leave immediately in that area. It's tightly controlled.

 

[cookie64]

Non-compliance with Permit Conditions and Unauthorised Entry onto the APY Lands

If you enter the APY Lands without a Permit or breach a Condition of Entry, then APY will obtain assistance from South Australian Police and have you removed from the APY Lands.

APY will also file proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court of South Australia under section 19(5)(c) of the APY Land Rights Act which provides that the maximum penalty for an offence against subsection (5b) is a fine of $2 000 plus $500 for each day (if any) during which the convicted person was on the lands, or a particular part of the lands, in contravention of the condition.

You will have to defend the proceedings.

http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/OurCourts/MagistratesCourt/Pages/Civil-Jurisdiction.aspx#minor