Stunning Birdsville Track

Birdsville Track

The Birdsville Track is without a doubt one of the greatest 4WD Australia adventures available – it is one of the great destinations and easily mastered when traveled at right time of the year. Built in the 1880’s long before the beginning of 4WD Australia adventures, the Birdsville track was a major stock route from Birdsville in Queensland to Marree in South Australia. The arduous track took a month when conditions were good. A lot of cattle died on these harsh trips. Camel caravans on the other hand did very well, establishing much needed transport to some of Australia’s most remote communities until the camels were released into the wild when motorized transport and 4WD adventures took over. That is why you today find the worlds largest numbers of free-living camels in Australia. You will probably meet them on your 4WD Australia adventure.

Take your time on the birdsville track there is a lot of history and attractions to discover. Don’t rush through and end up saying this was no 4WD adventure it’s a highway! Yes if you visit between February to may you will find excellent road conditions and you can focus on your side trips. These days the track is passable with a conventional vehicle (I would not take your new car) but if you tow a caravan you should only do so with a 4WD vehicle. There are two 4WD tracks heading into Birdsville, the Outside and Inside Track. The Outside Track is the one most commonly used - the Inside Track however, crosses the dangerous soils of Goyder Lagoon to join up with the main track just past Clifton Hills, is an exclusively 4WD zone, only for the real adventurer.

Track Conditions

The 4WD conditions of the birdsville track are generally a very dry sandy base strewn with large pebbles. The track will take a toll on your tyres particularly if you drive fast – which makes no sense anyway, enjoy while you are there. Run you tyre pressure low for these conditions. Don’t forget that if you drive above 60km/h you will start loosing traction on this ground and will not be able to break effectively – many 4WD adventures end in accidents on the birdsville track. Also beware of wildlife and keep your 4WD speed at a level you can break for cows as they really damage your 4WD even though you probably have a bull bar on your 4WD. The scenery changes considerably as you proceed along the track from the wonderful harsh red rocks of the Sturt Stony Desert to the yellow sandhills of Natterannie. The colors are always lovely in the morning but at their best in the late afternoon. This trip really wants to be prepared if you want to find anything as there are no markings and indications along this 4WD Australia adventure.