WOW. Just wow. Traveling the Simpson was an unforgettable experience. It was not easy, and took a lot of planning - but it is just one of those "adventures" that if ever you get an opportunity to participate in, you've got to take it.
The below (with links) constitutes our own "Simpson Desert" itinerary - from our arrival at Dalhousie Springs (from Chambers Pillar) to our departure from Birdsville toward home:
July 8-9 (one night) Dalhousie Springs: Dalhousie Springs was the ideal "jumping off point" for our Simpson Desert expedition - and after a surprisingly time consuming 330km drive from Chambers Pillar on rough corrugations (via Finke and Mount Dare) we were ready for the respite of the beautiful, warm water of its thermal springs. As an aside, the trip to Dalhousie could be completed as part of a loop from Alice Springs for those not going further.
July 9-12 (3 nights) Simpson Desert Crossing: Our trip across the Simpson via the French Line and QAA Line tracks (and Ayre Creek Bypass) was nothing short of sensational. It was slow, rough going - and the 504km from Dalhousie to Birdsville took a full four days driving - but it was beautiful. Unbelievable sunrises, endless stars and compete isolation. Not a trip for the fainthearted - it could well have been a once in a lifetime.
July 12-13 (1 night) Birdsville: Our one night in Birdsville was always going to be special for Kit and I - revisiting a place we'd spent a lot of time as relative "youngsters". An awful lot had changed since we'd been here last - but a lot had stayed the same. There's good reason why Birdsville is on so many peoples bucket lists, holding a special place in Australian Folklore.
What Would We Do Differently?
1.) With the luxury of time, we would have loved to have spent another night in the desert - possibly camping alongside the Ayre Creek which was running well and was a carpet of green against a red dust backdrop.
2.) Likewise, a little more time in Birdsville would have been great - and perhaps coming in at a less busy time (we were just prior to The Big Red Bash).
The Long and The Short
Our trip across the Simpson Desert was absolutely unforgettable. We were unsure what to expect about this leg of our trip - and it had taken up a disproportionate amount of both our time in planning and our money in preparation.....but it was 100% worth it. What an adventure.
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