Simpson Desert Double Crossing

The journey starts in Birdsville, with a cabin for the night and dinner at the Birdsville Hotel. Then the bitumen ends and the dunes begin. For five days you work west across the Simpson on the French Line, the QAA Line, the WAA Line and the Rig Road, with Poeppel Corner on the way. Coloured sand ridge follows sand ridge, with spinifex grassland between them.

At Dalhousie Springs you soak the desert dust away. Two nights camped at the Mt Dare Hotel give you time to rest, refuel and have dinner cooked for you.

The Madigan Line

The way back is the Madigan Line, crossing Aboriginal land – five days deep in remote desert wilderness. Evenings in camp bring guided spotlighting for scorpions and other night creatures, with field guides and apps to put names to the birds, animals and plants you have seen during the day.

The last camp is back on the QAA Line. The next morning you climb Big Red, then roll into Birdsville for lunch at the bakery, a hot shower, dinner and a proper bed at the Birdsville Hotel.

How it works

This is a tag-along tour in your own vehicle. Tony, a 4WD instructor and guide with over 20 years of off-road experience, leads in a Toyota 79 Series carrying recovery gear, Starlink, a Garmin inReach and a defibrillator. Live radio coaching runs throughout, with hazard and traffic warnings ahead. If flooding closes a track, the tour switches to an alternative route rather than being cancelled.

Groups are limited to eight vehicles, with no trailers and no children under 16. The price is for up to two people in one vehicle. Permits for Aboriginal land and Adria Downs, Desert Parks Passes and camping fees are arranged for you. Fuel, most food and camping gear are yours to bring. Vehicle hire is available through Overlander 4WD Hire.

Is it for you?

You need a well-set-up high-clearance 4WD with low range, heavy-duty suspension, LT tyres with a second spare, a 900 km fuel range, 60 litres of water and a sand flag, plus a mechanic’s sign-off before you leave. Your camp has to go up or come down in 15 minutes.