Trip Leader: Ian Clarke;
This trip should be a leisurely drive skirting the edges of the Simpson Desert, taking in some of the early pastoral settlement at Old Andado on what is considered to be the harshest, most difficult Cattle Station in Australia to manage. The distance to cover will mean that the focus will be the trip and getting to the destination. The trip will include gravel roads, sand, swamps, bull dust, rocks & traverse gibber plains, sand dunes & flood outs. Swimming in the warm Dalhousie Artesian Springs will be possible for those wishing to.
Distance; ​Alice Springs to Old Andado; ​320 kms.
​​Old Andado to Mt Dare; ​100 kms total 420 kms
​​Mt Dare to Dalhousie & return​ 200 kms
Return Journey;​Mt Dare to Finke;​​100 kms
​​Finke to Kulgera​​150 kms plus 24 kms Lambert diversion.
​​Kulgera to Alice Springs​​273 kms bitumen total 523 kms return
Saturday 4th May 2019:
0800 hrs; Muster at Heavitree Gap for a 0815 departure. Air down to dirt road mid-range pressures, (25-35 psi).
0920 hrs; A quick stop to view the murals in the Santa Teresa Church.
1300 hrs; Lunch at Highway Bore. 1 hour allowed, depart 1400.
1500 hrs; Peebles Bore to view some fossilised Unicorn Poo (as per the YouTube ad).
1600 hrs; diversion east for 1 km at the SA border to view the Finke River bed where it carves out the banks before it’s disappearance into the sands of the desert (time permitting).
1700 hrs; Arrive Mt Dare, check in, order meals, relax, drinks & cheese in camp ground.
Sunday 5th May 2019
0800 hrs; Breakfast, (1st refuelling opportunity)
0930 hrs; Depart for Dalhousie ruins, view the ruins, then move onto Dalhousie Hot Springs for a swim & packed lunch. There are 2 possible routes, one over the ridge which is slow & very rocky, the other more scenic but longer. The options chosen will depend on the vehicles, drivers & the conditions at the time.
1500 hrs; depart for Mt Dare via alternate route

Monday 6th May:
0800 hrs; Breakfast, (2nd refuelling opportunity).
0900 hrs; Depart Mt Dare.
1130hrs; Lambert Centre of Australia for lunch. 1 hour allowed, depart 1230.
1430 hrs; Kulgera (refuelling opportunity).
1830 hrs; Arrive Alice Springs.
• It is May, and temperatures out there can be 5 deg C either side of Alice Springs temps.
• Fuel to cover 450 kms maximum with some slow sand & bull dust driving is required. (Fuel Mt Dare)
• 10 litres of water per person per day is recommended, check & refill at Mt Dare if required.
• Prepared lunches and snacks will be required for Saturday, Sunday & Monday.
• Cabins can be booked through Mt Dare, please contact me on 0439 815 052 regarding meals. View website for your options and costs.
Mt Dare: http://www.mtdare.com.au/ Phone; (08) 8670 7835, Email; mtdare@mtdare.com.au
Old Andado: https://www.oldandado.com.au/

Location

Mt Dare