Day 6 - Simpson Desert - Poeppel Corner - South Australia

Day 6 - We woke up in the morning and watched the sunrise before starting our trek towards and through the dunes of the Simpson Desert on the QAA Line. The Simpson is the driest region of Australia and it is a dunal desert - a sea of parallel red sand ridges around 300-500 kilometres long covering a total area of 170,000 square kilometres.

We reached Poeppel Corner the junction in which South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory meet. It took us eight hours to cover 200 kilometres before we set up our next camp in the middle of the desert.

Sunrise from a dune looking over our camp near Big Red.

Looking down on our camp site.

A wind storm actually picked up the night before knocking our tent right on us. The main pole and a few picks came out. Good times.

Sunrise in the desert.

Looking over the vast desert.

Larry and Natalie fixing a pole to the Land Cruiser. The pole along with UHF radio gives oncoming traffic the heads up as you travel over the huge dunes.

Looks good enough.

Entering the official border of the Simpson Desert.

This motorcycle most have broken down and then been stripped probably both by the weather and by passer-by's.

Heading up a dune. It may not look like much but pictures are deceiving.

You would have to pick up you speed and enjoy the bumpy ride up each dune. Pictures were even fun to take!

A bit of a sandstorm in the distance.

There are salt lakes throughout the desert.

Poeppel Corner the junction in which South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory meet.

Augustus Poeppel, a surveyor for South Australia reached the meeting place of three states in 1880. This is a repelica of the original coolabah tree trunk marker. Originally it was place in Poeppel Lake which was 15 chains and 75 links (274m) west of its present location, as Poeppel's survey chain had lengthened one inch (2.5cm) from wear and heat. He had dragged the peg 92km by camel across salt lakes and sand hills from the Mulligan River area.

In 1883-84, Larry Wells resurveyd the border and re-located it to where it is today. This conrete pipe represents the intersection of the 26th Parallel with the 138th Meridian. From this point, the South Australia/Northern Territory border ran east across the Simpson Desert and the Queensland/Northern Territory border ran due north to the Gulf of Carpenteria.

Stuck in the sand.

Mick doing his good deed of the day by pulling out his couple's vehicle.

Looking at were we just came from.

Our camp site for night two from a dune in the Simpson. We literally slept in the middle of nowhere. There is a beautiful stillness and silence to the desert.

Our camp site

We sat, had a drink and watched the sunset.

Day 5 - Sturt Stony Desert to Simpson Desert - South Australia

Day 5 - We started off in South Australia into Sturts Stony Desert. We stopped at Cordillo Downs, which was the largest wool shed in the world and is now a cattle station and the Cadelga Ruin, which was an old house in the middle of the outback.

Historic Birdsville and its Hotel (pub) were next on the agenda. The population of Birdsville is 120. Birdsville Hotel, established in 1884 is possibly the most famous pub in all of the outback. We stop in for a pot before continuing on the Birdsville Line towards the Simpson Desert.

As you use UHF radio to converse to one another Greg made up call names for each of us. Mick was Big Bird, Larry was Bald Eagle, Natalie was Kookaburra and Greg Was Emu 1.

Forty kilometres out of Birdsville we came across Big Red (or Nappanerica) the largest sand dune in the southern hemisphere, some 90 metres above the desert. After proving our worthiness we decided to camp for the night just west of Big Red.

Here is a horse that we met on Sturt Stoney Desert.

She was mightly fond of Mick even giving him a nice kiss.

Emu 1.

Cordillo Downs, was the largest wool shed in the world.

Larry and Natalie.

Cadelga Ruins

Birdsville Outback Pub.

This we found in the Birdsville Pub. We tried to live by these words... Well for a couple of days at least.

On top of the first dune we came across on the Birdsville Line.

Mick and Greg going up Big Red.

Larry and Natalie's turn.

Day 4 - Strzelecki Desert to Coopers Creek - NSW,QLD,SA

Day 4 - Today we headed towards Innamincka, driving through the Wild Dog Fence at the NSW/Queensland border and then through the Queensland section of the Strzelecki Desert.
When then hit our third state for the day (South Australia) by reaching Innamincka.

After visiting the historic town we camped on Cooper’s Creek. That night Larry brought out what he calls Conner’s Coffee for us to try. (The name came from trip he took years back.)

Conner’s Coffee Recipe:
1 scoop of coffee
2-3 scoops of Milo (Like a Nestle Quick Energy Drink- but not a chocolaty)
1 tsp of sugar
1-2 shots of Jack Daniels
Add boiling water
Top up with milk
Drink with care

Wild Dog Fence at NSW/QLD Border.

Dust Devil on the Strzelecki Desert

Stopping at a dried up creek bed for lunch.

The Strzelecki Desert is a stoney desert.

Camp set-up at Coopers Creek.

This is the whole town of Innamincka. Hugh eh? The left building is a historic outback pub.

Hangout for a variety of birds. Looks like the ring leaders were the Pelicans again...

Coopers Creek at sunset.

Enjoying the Conner's Coffee.

Day 3 - Tibooburra - New South Wales

Day 3 - We drove to Broken Hill and saw our first Emus. Between Broken Hill and our next destination, Tibooburra Larry taught Greg to drive standard in his Ute.

We then dropped in to Milparinka and the historic Albert Hotel. Built in 1882, the Albert Hotel was just one of four hotels in Milparinka at the height of the gold rush. The Albert is the only hotel remaining between Broken Hill and Tibooburra.

We stayed at a motel in Tibooburra. Enjoyed an evening at the Family Hotel est in 1883. Also is the location of famous murals of artist Clifton Pugh and others.

The bartender, Nicole introduced us to her favourite drink a mixture of Bundaberg Rum, Southern Comfort and Sprite. She even made it “Canadian style” at the end of the night by using Bacardi Rum instead of Bundaberg. Good times.

Our first glimpse of Emus.

Historic Albert Hotel. Built in 1882.

Family Hotel, est in 1883.

Bottom's Up Mural.

Bare-back Riding Champ mural. These were two of the tamer murals.

Desert Pea. We were told that it is rare to see these flowers as they only bloom after rainfall.