On July 11^th 2003 I left my sister’s place in Lock SA, with my wife who flew down for the return trip back to Brisbane. We travelled via Port Augusta, Hawker, Lyndhurst, Marree, Birdsville, Haddon Corner, Windorah, Charleville, Roma, Dalby and home. It was a distance of 3047km.

The day we left the wind was blowing really bad. A dust haze was in the air as far as you could see. The soil being blown away was unbelievable. This haze was in the air all the way up to Lyndhurst, where we stayed in the caravan park at the Lyndhurst "Elsewhere Hotel". We had a few beers and an excellent tea in the hotel. This was the last of the bitchum until up near Windorah.

The road from Mungeranie Roadhouse was mostly good but the top end, the last 150km's had water over the road in about 12 places. Taken at low speed we had no problems with any of them. Some vehicles we seen, about 1 every 80km's, had mud sprayed all over them, so much for slowing down. The road was also chopped up from vehicles bogging and cutting their way through when the road was wetter. It had dried out a lot by the time we arrived but there was still plentry of water on the side of the road in places.

We camped in Birdsville at the caravan park and there was about 100 campers and about 50 with vans there that night. The next day when about 10km's from Betoota we meet about 50 rally car for the Endeavour Foundation and one car did not move over or slow down enough and threw up a big stone and smashed my windscreen. It cost $300 to get it fixed when back home.

222Km's from Birdsville we turned south towards Innamincka and 42km's down the road we came to the turnoff to Haddon Corner. It was just 15km's to the corner. You have to drive over 2 large sand dunes just before you get there. When you arrive all you see is a white post in the middle of nowhere. We had lunch then backtracked to the Birdsville Windorah road. Another 50km's and we were back on the bitchum all the way home.

We camped the night at Morven in a corner of the truck stop, arriving about midnight. The next day we arrived home about 3.30pm and were glad to be home.

Some of the trip highlights....Click photo's to enlarge

Strzelecki Track

This is the start of the Strzelecki track when setting out from Lynhurst. The local pub The "Elsewhere Hotel" is just behind me on the right about 100 meters back.

Blitz Truck

The mail truck used on the Birdsville Track 20 years ago on display at Marree. You will find it at the Old Railway Station. You will also find good clean toilets next door.

Birdsville Track

Start of the Birdsville Track as you leave Marree. The road to Mungeranie was is good condition even though good rains fell in the area a couple of week before.

Mungeranie Roadhouse

Mungeranie Roadhouse is 205km's up the Birdsville Track from Marree. A welcome stop from driving and a chance to stretch the legs. Good tucker at reasonable prices also.

Mungeranie Camels

There are Camels to see and I think the tourists can get a ride if they want.

Mungeranie Swimming Pool

At the side of the river is a swimming pool with warm bore water flowing into it. Would be very relaxing after a hard days driving.

Birdsville Track again

This sign tells you about road conditions from Mungeranie to Birdsville. This section of road was in good condition despite all the rain weeks before. There were sections where the road was chopped up from vehicles bogging but if driven slowly were no problems. Water was still over the road in sections of the last 150km's.

Queensland Border

This was taken late in the afternoon about 4pm. We had covered many rough sections but driven with care they were no problems. Averaged about 90km/kr most of the way.

Qld / SA Border

The SA government has done up the road for the last 15km's giving a good first impression for anyone travelling into SA from Qld. Last time we came up the track in March the flys drove us mad but this time hardly any about.

Birdsville Hotel

Outside the Birdsville Hotel for the usual pictures. Then retired inside for a drink to wash the dust from the throat.

Birdsville Caravan Park

Just a small section of the Birdsville camp site. There would have been about 100 campers and another 50 in the van section.

The Turnoff

Travelling from Birdsville to Windorah you have to turn off on the Innamincka road and travel down 42km's to the Haddon Corner turnoff. This was taken when we returned to the corner on our way back.

Haddon Corner turnoff

After 42km's you come to the sign in the middle of nowhere. Only 15km's to go.

Haddon Corner

After crossing 2 large sand dunes you drop down onto flat country and arrive at a post out in the middle of nowhere. Water was still around from recent rains. The whiter paddock behind the white marker post is SA. All the rest is Qld. There is a visitor book to sign, which we did.

Official Marker Post

This is the top of the official marker post as viewed from SA. It was very windy on the SA side of the border.

Marker Post Again

Me at the marker post. The white post to the left is from the Geographical Society. The visitor book/post is behind me. Notice how green Qld is looking to the west.