Simpson Desert Crossing Tag-Along Itinerary — 14 Days

The big one

A full Simpson Desert crossing and outback loop: more than a thousand dunes, four deserts' worth of country, and two weeks where the itinerary is written in sand. This is expedition-grade tag-along touring — convoy discipline, fuel and water planning, and dune technique that gets taught properly because it has to be.

Sample itinerary. Days are numbered, not dated — the running plan flexes with tides, weather, track conditions and the group. Every trip runs under a written communications and emergency plan, a trip risk assessment and our safety management system.

Day	Camp	Points of interest & notes
Day 1	Windorah	The long haul west through channel country; Cooper Creek crossing and a red-sand sunset to set the tone.
Day 2	Birdsville	Betoota (population: roughly zero) and the Birdsville Track junction country; the famous pub and a counter meal.
Day 3	Birdsville	Prep day: fuel, water, final vehicle checks — then Big Red, the desert's biggest dune, for flag fitting and dune-driving practice before it counts.
Day 4	QAA Line (desert camp)	Into the dune field proper: Eyre Creek crossing and the first night of absolute desert silence.
Day 5	Poeppel Corner (desert camp)	Dune corridors and salt-pan country to the surveyed corner where QLD, SA and the NT meet.
Day 6	Lone Gum (desert camp)	The French Line west; the improbable Lone Gum — a solitary coolabah a very long way from its nearest relative.
Day 7	Purnie Bore (desert camp)	WAA Line running; Purnie Bore wetland and its unlikely desert birdlife.
Day 8	Dalhousie Springs	Out of the dunes to Witjira: a long soak in the 38-degree artesian main pool — the desert's best bath.
Day 9	Old Andado Station	North on the Binns Track fringe to Molly Clark's untouched homestead — a time capsule of station life in the gidgee.
Day 10	Arckaringa Station	South via Mt Dare and Federal; late light over the Painted Desert's ochre breakaways.
Day 11	Coober Pedy	Opal country: dugout life, mullock-heap moonscape, and the option of an underground bed for the night.
Day 12	William Creek	The Oodnadatta Track east; Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) lookout run and Australia's most remote pub.
Day 13	Farina	Ghost-town ruins and (in season) the famous underground bakery; Lyndhurst and the Strzelecki turn-off.
Day 14	Cameron Corner	Up the Strzelecki to the corner post where QLD, NSW and SA meet — three states before lunch, then the run home through the dog fence.

The practical bits

Grade

Advanced. Prior 4WD experience required — or complete one of our skills weekends first.

Vehicle

Well-prepared 4WD: long-range fuel (or capacity for jerries), dual spares recommended, UHF, rated recovery points, sand flag.

Permits

Desert Parks Pass (SA), Munga-Thirri permits (QLD side) and camping fees — the permit list is confirmed at booking.

Safety

Satellite communications carried; remote-area first aid; written comms and emergency plan; fuel/water margins planned per vehicle.

Simpson Desert crossing