The famous Birdsville Track

The Birdsville Track is one of the most popular 4WD adventures in Australia. It is not a particularly hard 4WD track, in fact these days it is a good track - although still dirt and only negotiable by 4WD. It takes you through the spectacular, dry and vast northern regions of South Australia. To master the

Birdsville Track your 4WD needs to be in absolute top condition and as with most serious 4WD adventures we recommend to drive with at least 2 4WD vehicles. You need to update yourself on the local conditions and the expected wheather before attempting the Birdsville Track. Bring plenty of water fuel and food supplies.

The history of the Birdsville Track

The Birdsville Track main history is related to cattlemen who used the track to move their cattle from Queensland to South Australia in order to achieve higher profits on their cattle sales. The first european to reach the area was Edward Eyre in 1840 travelling to now famous Lake Eyre. 20 years later the passing of a search party looking for Burke started to open up the region. In the following years Afghan immigrants (who were brought into Australia because of their skills with camels) opened up local trade routes to remote communities. Until the 1930's when cars started to use the Birdsville track, camels, horses and cattle dominated the Birdsville Track traffic.

The Birdville Track is generally described in 3 parts:

Marree to Birdsville (517km)
Two routes lead to Birdsville, the inside and the outside track. The outside track is easier to navigate and subsequently more commonly used. The inside track sports the difficult to navigate soils of Goyder Lagoon. Be prepared for some good 4WD adventuring. Dust storms are a common occurrence in the area. Check the weather forecast before heading off. Rain will render the track impassable and you need to be prepared to survive a few days in case you get stuck due to bad weather. You will have to wait until the mud turns back into a track.

Marree to Mungerannie Hotel (204km)
Marree is both the starting point of the Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track. A short drive north are the ruins of Lake Harry Homestead with an old date palm plantation which used to be a camel trading post. Clearly worth a stop and a peak around the former station. Next you will pass the famous dog fence and arrive at the Cannuwaukaninna bore which pushes up hot and salty water which only cools off after a kilometer of running on the surface. The salty water was only just useful for camels who were pretty much the only animals able to consume the water.

Visit the Etadunna Homestead which used to be an aboriginal mission before it was abandoned in 1917 after a particularly heavy drought. You will need a good 4WD to get there and permission must be obtained (together with the keys to get in) Near the homestead is also the track leading to the so called flood detour and Cooper ferry. During the spectacular (but very rare) flood times this will be the only way to continue. However it is not recommended to attempt the Birdsville track in rainy circumstances anyway. As you continue on along the Birdsville Track you pass the meeting point of the Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts and pass the Mulka Store ruins. The area is dominated by spectacular dunes. Soon you will reach the Mungerannie Hotel, your fuel and stock up point before the next stage of your trip along the Birdsville track.

Mungerannie Hotel to Birdsville (313km)
After fuelling up in Mungerannie you head out onto the gibber plain and pass the highest point of the Birdsville track, the Mungerannie gap. About 30km from the gap is the Mirra Mitta bore which is an artesian bore pushing out hot water. Further along you encounter Mt Gason bore (5km north of Mt Gason) and you may want to stop for the short tail to visit the impressive bore. Again the water is boiling hot and comes with a sulphurous stench.

After Clifton Hills Homestead you enter the Sturt Stony desert with lots of rocks and pebbles but very little vegetation. Further north the Birdsville track crosses the Koonchera sandhill, a beautiful, huge landmark streching for miles. 95km thereafter you pass the turnoff to Pandie Pandie Homestead and you meet up with the Diamantina River. The Diamantina does not dry up but picks up in february and march after the rainy season in Queensland. From here it is only 32 km to Birdsville.

Take some time to visit Birdsville famous for its races in september and its historical hotels.