Dig Tree To Haddon Corner Via Planet Arrabury Road

Dig Tree To Haddon Corner Via Planet Arrabury Road

Dig Tree To Haddon Corner Via Planet Arrabury Road

The Dig Tree to Haddon Corner via the Planet Arrabury Road. Another day on the MARS Enthusiasts 2019 National Muster. We called in at Nulla Outstation along the way. We left the dig Tree and headed north on the Planet Arrabury Road. Our final destination for the day was Birdsville however we planned to call in at Haddon Corner for a look.

The Planet Arrabury Road

The Planet Arrabury road varies from quite rough with large stones (some big enough to end your day) though to sandy and it eventually becomes a wide gravel highway towards the northern end. The first part of the southern section was awesome. The Cooper Creek basin and northwards is an ancient valley. You are surrounded by eroded flat-topped mesas that let you see the original level of the land as it had been millions of years ago. The planet Arrabury Road follows the valley floor. You are surrounded by fantastic ochre coloured hills – it looks a lot like the painted desert out from Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta. It’d be an awesomely magical sight from the right vantage point at sunset.

Traffic Jam On The Planet Arrabury Road

Traffic Jam On The Planet Arrabury Road

We called in at Nulla Outstation for a look and to break up the trip. What a nice little detour it was. The old outstation looks just like it must have a hundred years ago. It shows signs of recent use. There are some more modern (albeit dodgy looking dongas) alongside the old building that are probably see more use these days more than the original. On the way back out of Nulla Outstation one of our fellow MARS Enthusiasts Scott White mentioned he’d seen a nice old antique shovel on his way in and he was going to pull over and pick it up. Guess what? Turns out it was his own bloody shovel that must have fallen off his car on the way in. It gave us all one hell of a good laugh!

Nulla Outstation Bunkhouse 2019

Nulla Outstation Bunkhouse 2019

After a few hours the Planet Arrabury Rd rises up onto the tableland. From here to the end the changes are more subtle. As usual out this way there’s a lot of of gibber country and stretches of flood plains and sand country. Eventually you get to Sturt’s Stony Desert. He wasn’t mucking about when he named it either! It’s a never ending view of gibbers covering the landscape. Good old Charles Sturt walked through this country in one direction then walked back through it in the other because he was enthralled by the landscape. The bloke must have been absolutely bloody bonkers.

Entry To Nulla Station Bunkhouse

Entry To Nulla Station Bunkhouse

200km north of the Innamincka/Thargomindah Road you come to the turnoff to Haddon Corner. After we’d all come this far there was no way we weren’t calling in for a look!

Haddon Corner

From the Arrabury road, take the Haddon Corner turn off. A green finger sign points to Haddon Corner. The road is gravel, but it’s generally in quite good shape. There will be a difference depending on whether rain has fallen recently. All roads in the region would become impassable if that were the case. A 15-km drive will take you to Haddon Corner. The final two kilometres are across two sand dunes. While these sand dunes aren’t large, dragging a caravan through them wouldn’t be a bright idea. Campers with off-road tyres could get in with reduced tyre pressures. We all unhooked our vans and camper trailers at the base of the first dune, and drove in with just our vehicles. The track across the first dune from the end of the main track is well enough – it’s both easy to find and easy to follow.

Drone Shot The Crew At Haddon Corner

Drone Shot The Crew At Haddon Corner

We all had our photos taken and signed the visitors book. El Supremo Peter Woolsey put up his drone and took some fantastic videos and photos – thanks Pete you’re a legend! Other than the corner marker there isn’t mush to see – in fact there’s nothing but that isn’t the point. The point is being there. There’s a lot of dust and wide expanses of pretty much nothing except for sand and rocks with the odd shrub having a crack at survival. There are no facilities and this really would be remote camping. There is a picnic shelter if you’re keen on spreading out the rug and munching on some cucumber sangas.

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 National Muster At Haddon Corner

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 National Muster At Haddon Corner

Camping At Haddon Corner

There’s a free camp at Haddon Corner. This free camping area is 4WD only and for tents and camper trailers only. Pets are allowed.

Haddon Corner Location

  • 165.25kms East of Birdsville
  • 178.05kms West of Windorah
  • 195.77kms North of Innamincka
  • 359.13kms South of Boulia

Haddon Corner is the north-eastern corner of the state of South Australia where it meets with Queensland. It was first surveyed by John Carruthers, Lawrence Allen Wells, and Augustus Poeppel around 1883.

2021 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster Preparations

2021 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster Preparations

2021 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster Preparations

For those of us who are confirmed for this years MARS Enthusiasts 2021 National Muster it won’t be that long before we are heading off and the time will go quickly. The meet up at the Burke & Wills Camp at Lake Pamammaroo (Menindee) is on 18/09/2021 and that’s only 147 days away but who’s counting eh!

The Van

I am installing a lithium battery system and an upright 12v fridge in the caravan and I have ordered a couple of new and slightly larger water tanks for it. We’ve already had the gas fitter over to blank off the old 3way fridge we removed and he’s fitted a new gas regulator and a bayonet fitting so we can plug the BBQ in directly – he also did us a new gas compliance plate to keep it all legal. The van will be going to the mechanic in about a months time to get some new shocks fitted as well as having the suspension and brakes looked at and wheel bearings given a going over. The shocks on it have only done about 20,000ks since they were fitted but a LOT of that has been on the kind of tracks and roads we’ll be doing on this years National. On bitumen they’d probably be good for 100,000 plus!

VoltaX LiFePO4 200Ah Enerdrive DC2DC

VoltaX LiFePO4 200Ah Enerdrive DC2DC

The Ute

The ute is in pretty good nick. We’ve had it since new and it’s always been serviced at shorter intervals than recommended. It needs a new set of tyres so we’ll put some on before we go. The tyres probably have at least 20 or 30,000ks left on them but considering where we are going a new fresh set is cheap insurance. About 6 weeks before we go we’ll get our mechanic to give it a good service and we’ll get him to replace top and bottom radiator hoses as well as the turbo hose and all belts. They’re all coming up on 5 years old and the ute has 120k on it now so again I reckon it’s cheap insurance. We’ll get it done 6 weeks out to give the mechanic time to get in and fit any parts needed. We’ve already ordered some new snorkel head filters and a spare diesel prefilter elements.

A good recommendation is to join a Facebook group for your specific vehicle and read back through posts and see if it has any common issues. Most vehicles will have something that crops up regularly – better to get it looked at before you head off than to be stuck on the side of the Strzelecki Track.

Food & Meal Planning Etc

Amanda Sloane is pretty good when it comes to making sure we are always well fed and looked after. Have a go at the size of my guts, they don’t get like that by going hungry! We’ll be doing a lot of pub meals this trip so we won’t need to take as much with us as we sometimes do. Things such as powdered milk, coffee, sandwich wraps and dried and pre-packaged meals will be sorted in the weeks before we leave.

Conclusion

The National Muster Trip is coming up sooner than you think. Amanda Sloane and I have done plenty of these kind of offgrid semi remote trips so we know the mad rush that can happen in the last few weeks if you leave your preparation too long. I reckon the best way to go is to make yourself a list, whack it on the fridge with due dates then tick them off. We’re really looking forward to this!

2019 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster Tibooburra Aboriginal Land Council Camp Site

2021 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster Tibooburra Aboriginal Land Council Camp Site

Strzelecki Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

Strzelecki Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

Strzelecki Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

Our next big trip is going to be two weeks through outback Australia. We are leaving from Sydney and travelling the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta Tracks with a bunch of good friends from the MARS Enthusiasts Camper Trailer Group.

Strzelecki Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

Strzelecki Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

The Real Aussie Outback

The MARS Enthusiasts 2021 National Muster will be held between the 18th of Sep and the 3rd of Oct 2021. It will travel both the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta Tracks. We will visit many iconic locations on this epic 2 week roadtrip. Tibooburra, Milparinka, Cameron Corner, Merty Merty, Montecollina Bore, Marree, William Creek, Algebuckina Bridge, The Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta, Coober Pedy, Woomera and Andamooka are just some of the bucket list locations we’ll be visiting.

Oodnadatta Track Road Restrictions Sign

Oodnadatta Track Road Restrictions Sign

Oodnadatta Track

We’ll be camping at William Creek for a night and then it’s on to Coober Pedy. We are then going to check out Woomera and explore around the town and look at all of the leftovers from the rocket range days and then it’s on to Roxby Downs and a day trip to Arkaroola. Then unfortunately it will be time to head back home.

All up we plan on about 5,000kms and many of them will be on red dirt. We love red dirt. It’s going to be an awesome trip. Please follow us along!

Dig Tree Birdsville Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

DayTownStateDistance (km)TimeWhere To Stay
FridayCootamundraNSW   
SaturdayMenindeeNSW103511:11Burke & Wills Camp Site
SundayTibooburraNSW44405:06Aboriginal Land Council Camp Ground
MondayDay Trip to Milparinka
TuesdayMontecollina Bore Via Cameron CornerSA35505:33Montecollina Bore
WednesdayFarinaSA24604:09Farina Campgrounds
ThursdayMARS Enthusiasts National Muster Night
FridayExplore Farina and 4×4 Guided Tour
SaturdayWilliam CreekSA26003:02William Creek Campground
SundayCoober Pedy via OodnadattaSA40205:50The Commons
MondayExplore Coober Pedy and The Breakaways at Sunset
TuesdayRoxby DownsSA45204:45Champagne Corner
WednesdayDay Trip to Arkaroola
ThursdayWallowaySA29103:09RM Williams Way
FridayBerriSA32103:24Martins Bend Reserve
SaturdayCootamundraNSW77208:16 
Going Up Big Red At Birdsville To Watch The Sunset

Going Up Big Red At Birdsville To Watch The Sunset

Going Up Big Red At Birdsville To Watch The Sunset

We drove up to the top of Big Red at Birdsville to watch the sunset.  Part of the  2019 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster groups adventure to the Dig Tree and Birdsville. What a drive! The view from the top of the sand dune aptly named Big Red is nothing short of incredible. And to experience it as part of a group just made it better. We even witnessed a wedding proposal between a couple of group members!

Getting Out To Big Red From Birdsville

You’ll find Big Red about 40km out of Birdsville right on the edge of the Simpson desert. The road is bitumen in a couple of short sections but mostly dirt. After about 35km you get to Little Red, a slightly smaller sand dune that you need to navigate to enter the Simpson desert. Before heading up over Little Red it’s a good idea to pull over and drop your tyre pressure to something more suitable to sandy desert driving. We went down to 18psi front and rear and it worked well. Once over Little Red you turn right. Then you drive a few more kilometres until you get to the base of Big Red.

Getting Ready To Climb Big Red At Birdsville

Getting Ready To Climb Big Red At Birdsville

Going Up Big Red The Hard Way

Most of the group members decided to have a crack at getting up Big Red head on. They all made it eventually after more than one attempt in a few cases! The techniques varied. A steady run up and climb to a launching a few kilometres back. Hitting the base of Big Red at warp speed!

Head On Climb Big Red At Birdsville

Head On Climb Big Red At Birdsville

The Chicken Track

There is an easier way to get up Big Red although it’s still not easy by any stretch of the imagination. Off to the right of the main tracks there is a track that sweeps around through a reverse curve that increases the distance you travel up the dune hence decreasing the steepness of the track. Any decent 4wd with good clearance and tyres (tyres with reduced pressure) will have no problem getting to the top in 4wd high range. Make sure you have some recovery gear, a shovel and a mate in another vehicle to lend you a hand just in case.

The View From The Top

The view from the top as the sun sets is amazing. Big Red is supposedly only 40m high but when you are up on top it feels like it’s a lot higher than that. The view back towards Birdsville in one direction and the Simpson Desert in the other is something you have to experience. All of us in the group agreed it was one of the most amazing things we’d ever done.

Amanda Sloane On Top Of Big Red Near Birdsville At Sunset

Amanda Sloane On Top Of Big Red Near Birdsville At Sunset

Nissan Navara NP300 Up On Top Of Big Red Birdsville

Nissan Navara NP300 Up On Top Of Big Red Birdsville

Conclusion

What an awesome place. If you ever get a chance to get up to Birdsville then go that little bit further and check out Big Red. It’s something you will never forget.

Save Travels!

 

Burke & Wills Camp Site At Lake Pamammaroo

Burke & Wills Camp Site At Lake Pamammaroo

Burke & Wills Camp Site At Lake Pamammaroo

We travelled up to Menindee from Carrathool via the Cobb Highway and Ivanhoe Menindee Road to meet up with our mates from the MARS Enthusiasts camper trailer group.

We left Carrathool and headed towards Hay where we fuelled up and headed North along the Cobb Highway to Ivanhoe. This bit of the trip is part of what is known as “The Long Paddock”. On the way we stopped off at One Tree Hotel again. It’s a cool place with great history.

One Tree Hotel On The Cobb Highway

One Tree Hotel On The Cobb Highway

The Ivanhoe Menindee Road

We fuelled up at Ivanhoe then hit the Ivanhoe Menindee Road again. We absolutely love this road. The Ivanhoe Menindee Road is an absolute beauty. We have used it heaps of times. It goes from being mild to wild depending on when it’s been last graded and how many unthinking people have driven along it while it was wet. It’s about 200ks long. Slow down getting on and off the short bitumen bits either side of cattle grids as they can have some pretty good drop offs. There are alternate ways you can go to avoid it but we love it so there’s no way we are going out of way to not travel along it.

The Ivanhoe Menindee Road

Dropping Tyre Pressures In Preparation For The Ivanhoe Menindee Road

Burke & Wills Free Camping On Lake Pamammaroo Near Menindee

The campground on Lake Pamammaroo near Menindee is an absolute gem. We’ve been there three or four times now and and it’s awesome. You have your choice of camping on the lake foreshore or on the banks above the river near the weir. There is water available although it is untreated and not fit for drinking and flushing toilets. Loads of bins are provided and they are emptied regularly.

Burke & Wills Free Camping On Lake Pamammaroo Near Menindee

Burke & Wills Free Camping On Lake Pamammaroo Near Menindee

Maidens Hotel Menindee

After setting up camp at the Burke & Wills free camp ground on Lake Pamammaroo we all went out for dinner at the Maidens Hotel. It was a good way to end an excellent day and catch up with old friends and a few new ones. The meals were really good. Everyone was really excited about the upcoming trip to the Dig Tree and Birdsille. Back at camp we had a few beers, lit a fire and talked in to the evening.

Maidens Hotel Menindee

Maidens Hotel Menindee

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

We’re back from Carrathool after attending the 2019 NSW Camping Muster with the MARS Enthusiasts Facebook group. This time at Pinkers Beach near Carrathool NSW on the mighty Murrumbidgee River. Amanda and I love this group.

Pinkies or Pinkers Beach Carrathool NSW

Pinkies or Pinkers Beach Carrathool NSW

We Donated to Buy a Bale

Sean and Laura decided to do something different with prizes this year and that was to do a raffle and donate all proceeds to “Buy a Bale” to which on the night $270 was raised. This was a huge effort by all and it is something we should 100% do again.

Saturday nights dinner was camp oven roast and veggies with salads and also some home made desserts. There was a small army of helpers cutting veggies and wrapping trays and also deserts where made Amanda Sloane and Suzi Pallett. We were also treated to some tunes from Muster legend Spikey Singline who bought up all his PA and guitars and sang for us all. Spikey goes good!

MARS Enthusiasts NSW Muster 2019 Camp Oven Cook Up

MARS Enthusiasts NSW Muster 2019 Camp Oven Cook Up

Plenty of Firewood

We were all kept warm by the wood cutting crew. We cut some of the biggest logs we’ve ever seen on a camp fire ever. Mark was the absolute standout in this regard, dragging back what was almost half of a complete gum tree chained up behind his ute.

Camping Muster Pub Lunch

Sunday came and most of us decided to go and help the local Carrathool Hotel by having lunch their. This was a Muster first as we normally all stay on site and this was a great way of getting out and about and doing something different. This was a terrific idea and one we should definitely do it again.

Family Hotel at Carrathool NSW

Family Hotel at Carrathool NSW

Sunday night and something that started at National 2018 was a slap together meal with what ever we had left over and we all just picked at it. It was a bloody ripper meal and thanks go out to all that made something. My personal favourite was the curried sausages made by Leanne.