Simpson Desert and Rock trip - April 2015

[Dave]

This original post is being edited to reflect the latest updates about the trip. So please check here for the latest information.

Trip Calendar
Arrive/depart ....... Location
2/3 .................... Mitchell
3/4 .................... Windorah
4/5 .................... Birdsville
5 -> 10 ................ Simpson Desert (i.e. departing the desert on the 10th of April, giving us 4 full days for the crossing)
10, 11 / 12 ........... Alice Springs. (half a day for a potential visit to a local attraction, and half a day to restock food, etc).
12/13 ................. Somewhere beyond Kings Canyon (i.e. a location you are allowed to camp at).
13, 14, 15/ 16 ....... Ayers Rock and surrounding area. (People with only two weeks leave head home via the highway over a 3 day trip)
16/17/18 ............. Coober Pedy (tentative dates only. The trip may take longer)
18/19/20/21 ......... Flinders Ranges
21 -> 26 ............... Head back home via Broken Hill, or Birdsville track, or other.

[GridPack]

Yep I think a start date at the end or after the school holidays would be a good idea as hopefully there should be less traffic and be a bit cooler.
As long as Birdsville and Ayers Rock are on the destination list I'm happy. Big Red will also be a must see...maybe at least a bit of the Birdsville Track?
And 2 or 3 weeks sounds fine to me. No need to rush it - but then my kids all drive themselves where they want to go now and Tracey will be working so I don't have any deadline to be back. Others may be a tad more constrained.
Cheers,
Don

[RegyRocky]

I have put a rough flexible thought of an itinerary that is open to lots of input but could be used as a starting point.
Another option is a faster group and a slower group meeting at Birdsville just to do the crossing together then after the crossing the fast and slow groups can go their own ways.
Anyway take a look.
Gary

[Puma]

Probably won't be able to make it now as the dates were 3-17 had to do some wheeling and dealing to get those dates off work, now other team members have booked the later dates in for annual. The 19th would have suited us better at first place.

[Dalmatian]

Gary... love the itinerary! Lets use this!
Still cant justify taking 4 days to get to birdsville tho. Maybe 2 days. I will be in the ULTRA FAST group

We really need to set the dates in concrete ASAP! Ive arranged annual leave for 3 - 17 april, looks like puma has awell. I agree that it might be 1 degree cooler, but that's it! I wouldn't be worried about 'traffic' where we are going! ITS THE FREAKEN DESERT!

[RegyRocky]

G'day Dave

I am a bit confused now with the dates. I have my holidays booked from just before Easter to the 27th April - If leaving on the 19th then that would mean a very rushed trip to which I probably would not go. It may be possible to move my holidays if i am not too late. I booked my holidays based on the 3-17th + extra . I will need to know as soon as possible if I have any chance of changing the dates of my holidays.

Definite start date required as early as possible. What is everyone's preferred start date?

Dalmatian - I have based my driving hours on a single person driving. 8 to 9hrs a day max with regular breaks approximately every two hours. I doubt that i will have a passenger for the trip to help with the long straight blacktop.

regards,
Gary

[Dalmatian]

well that makes THREE people who have already booked in annual leave for 3 - 17 april.
lets not make our bosses annoyed by changing dates.

Tim votes 3 - 17 April. 2015

[Puma]

Well after some negotiating at work, We can now make the 19th, which is preferred.

[RegyRocky]

I will check tomorrow if I can change my holidays for the 19th

[Dave]

Wow Gary .... that's an incredible effort in creating an itinerary. I can probably help with the Birdsville to Alice trip. Though 4 days may be a little rushed. But I'll do some more research over the next couple of days. I have some detailed maps of the area, and have saved some recommended routes through the Simpson.

Would everyone (Well, Tim, Puma, and Gary) prefer the 3rd of April as a start date? Don - I assume you're not too worried about the start date. I just worked out I'm the only one with kids still at school. But if the group would prefer the 3rd, I can make that as well .... I'll just leave a photo of Dad with the kids. But I'm also looking to take the kids on the Cape York trip, so that trip could make up for missing the April school holidays.

So don't change your holiday booking just yet. If people generally prefer the 3rd, I can make that too.

Tim, Dave (Puma), are you taking your better-halves along? I know Don and I are leaving ours behind, so we will be solo drivers as well.