In 2025 we will be covering some new ground and catching up with some of the tried-and-true venues we have enjoyed on previous Drives. We will encounter The Darling River; have the chance to barrack for NSW or QLD from SA, NSW or QLD; visit, and show support to, communities which have recently been impacted by unprecedented flooding.
The drive will commence on Monday 26th May and finish on Friday 6th June. * Note: Route changed due to expectation of floodwaters in SA currently impacting or expected to impact the tracks we planned to travel - unfortunately we can no longer undertake the SA leg of the Drive. We have been able to re-route through Thargomindah, Eromanga & Betoota. Updated details in italics below.
Spend the weekend prior travelling to our starting point at Cobar and be ready for the included kick-off dinner on Sunday 25th May.
Unless we state otherwise, there will be a Briefing at 5.30pm and Dinner at 6.00pm on every day of the Drive.
Monday 26th May depart from 9.00am for a leisurely drive towards Louth on the Darling River. What will the river level be in May 2025? We're travelling about 165km to Rose Isle Station approx. 20 km north of Louth. There is a bit to see in Louth – if you are keen to fill up your day there’s Dunlop Station, Shindy’s Inn, Louth Racetrack plus the cemetery and the sunset reflection.
Tuesday 27th May is one of our longer days at 450+ kms so a slightly earlier departure is encouraged – say all on the road by 8:00am. As we head down the Darling River pick a side, East or West, and head down to Tilpa Pub for morning tea and then on to Wilcannia supermarket and fuel up (at the BP wholesaler or at the service station) and enjoy a look at the architecture here. On the bitumen now we travel to White Cliffs and the Opal area. You will be thinking it’s a bit of a quick trip around but, in essence, we are giving you a taste of what the areas have to offer so you can return at your leisure and further explore the areas. We continue our travels on to Packsaddle.
Wednesday 28th May we'll make our way from Packsaddle up the Silver City Highway (bitumen) to Tibooburra. Lots to see at Milparinka and Tibooburra. Peter will take a group up the Jump ups Loop Rd and Olive Downs traversing the Sturt National Park to Fort Grey before completing the day at Cameron Corner, the Tri State Junction and the Dog Fence of course. Others may travel along the southerly route via Fort Grey. About 350km travelled today.
Thursday 29th May we drive from Cameron Corner to Thargominda via Bulloo Downs (or an extra 50km via Noccundra, depending on road conditions and fuel requirements). As planned its 360km from Cameron Corner to Thargomindah. We'll be staying at the Explorer's Caravan Park and catered for by our good mate Dogga Dare and his crew.
Friday 30th May and we will travel some 280km to Eromanga - passing by Noccundra on the way. Briefing at 5.30 pm Dinner at 6.00 pm provided by the Motel/Caravan Park. Should be an interesting drive today.
Saturday 31st May has us heading to Betoota some 435 km from Eromanga. We'll travel through Windorah on the way and camp out back of the Betoota Hotel for 2 nights - they're looking forward to hosting us.
Sunday 1st June, we have the day off in Betoota. Or you could come along on a day trip to Haddon Corner - road conditions permitting. Its 110km each way and will enable you to tick of 2 Queensland's iconic corners - Poeppel corner will have to wait for another time!
Monday 2nd June, a short 170km to day to put us Back On Track! We drive from Betoota to Birdsville for a 2-night stay in Birdsville at the Birdsville Tourist Park. The Birdsville Hotel will feed us tonight - briefing at the Pub at 5:30pm Dinner at 6:00pm.
Tuesday 3rd June we’ll have an optional real Simpson Desert experience as we head out over Big Red for a few dunes to lunch at Eyre Creek. Although this is only a 56 km each way drive, it will take us all day or at least most of it. Say leave camp at 9.00am, enjoy a little play on Big Red, continue on and then lunch and drive back with all that experience banked. Tonight we will be looked after by the folk at Karrawa Wirinya Coffee - not only dinner but also a campfire chat, sitting around their big campfire listening to a local elder telling yarns and singing songs exploring the culture and history of the area.
Wednesday 4th June we are off on a shortish 200km run to Bedourie. It will be all new ground for us so it will be great. Stop in and have a look at the Waddi trees and the Old Carcory Homestead before taking a relaxing soak in the Artesian pool at Bedourie.
Thursday 5th June we are in for a full day to Windorah – 390km. Have a look at Cooper Creek and early solar power endeavours…
Friday 6th June is our last day and will culminate in a 250km drive to Quilpie our last night. Our final night briefing and dinner is usually a great affair before we all head off in our different directions! Bring your humour, bring your sense of adventure and camaraderie, host some frivolity and we look forward to catrching up.
Summary
Sunday 25th May - Cobar
Monday 26th May - Rose Isle Station, Louth
Tuesday 27th May - Packsaddle
Wednesday 28th May - Cameron Corner
Thursday 29th May - Thargomindah
Friday 30th May - Eromanga
Saturday 31st May - Betoota
Sunday 1st June - Betoota - enjoy a trip to Haddon Corner
Monday 2nd June - Birdsville the top of the Birdsville Track
Tuesday 3rd June - Birdsville a fun day lunching at Eyre Creek and return
Wednesday 4th June - Bedourie is our destination
Thursday 5th June - Windorah is todays place of interest
Friday 6th June - travel to Quilpie today for our final night of the Drive
The drive will commence on Monday 26th May and finish on Friday 6th June. * Note: Route changed due to expectation of floodwaters in SA currently impacting or expected to impact the tracks we planned to travel - unfortunately we can no longer undertake the SA leg of the Drive. We have been able to re-route through Thargomindah, Eromanga & Betoota. Updated details in italics below.
Spend the weekend prior travelling to our starting point at Cobar and be ready for the included kick-off dinner on Sunday 25th May.
Unless we state otherwise, there will be a Briefing at 5.30pm and Dinner at 6.00pm on every day of the Drive.
Monday 26th May depart from 9.00am for a leisurely drive towards Louth on the Darling River. What will the river level be in May 2025? We're travelling about 165km to Rose Isle Station approx. 20 km north of Louth. There is a bit to see in Louth – if you are keen to fill up your day there’s Dunlop Station, Shindy’s Inn, Louth Racetrack plus the cemetery and the sunset reflection.
Tuesday 27th May is one of our longer days at 450+ kms so a slightly earlier departure is encouraged – say all on the road by 8:00am. As we head down the Darling River pick a side, East or West, and head down to Tilpa Pub for morning tea and then on to Wilcannia supermarket and fuel up (at the BP wholesaler or at the service station) and enjoy a look at the architecture here. On the bitumen now we travel to White Cliffs and the Opal area. You will be thinking it’s a bit of a quick trip around but, in essence, we are giving you a taste of what the areas have to offer so you can return at your leisure and further explore the areas. We continue our travels on to Packsaddle.
Wednesday 28th May we'll make our way from Packsaddle up the Silver City Highway (bitumen) to Tibooburra. Lots to see at Milparinka and Tibooburra. Peter will take a group up the Jump ups Loop Rd and Olive Downs traversing the Sturt National Park to Fort Grey before completing the day at Cameron Corner, the Tri State Junction and the Dog Fence of course. Others may travel along the southerly route via Fort Grey. About 350km travelled today.
Thursday 29th May we drive from Cameron Corner to Thargominda via Bulloo Downs (or an extra 50km via Noccundra, depending on road conditions and fuel requirements). As planned its 360km from Cameron Corner to Thargomindah. We'll be staying at the Explorer's Caravan Park and catered for by our good mate Dogga Dare and his crew.
Friday 30th May and we will travel some 280km to Eromanga - passing by Noccundra on the way. Briefing at 5.30 pm Dinner at 6.00 pm provided by the Motel/Caravan Park. Should be an interesting drive today.
Saturday 31st May has us heading to Betoota some 435 km from Eromanga. We'll travel through Windorah on the way and camp out back of the Betoota Hotel for 2 nights - they're looking forward to hosting us.
Sunday 1st June, we have the day off in Betoota. Or you could come along on a day trip to Haddon Corner - road conditions permitting. Its 110km each way and will enable you to tick of 2 Queensland's iconic corners - Poeppel corner will have to wait for another time!
Monday 2nd June, a short 170km to day to put us Back On Track! We drive from Betoota to Birdsville for a 2-night stay in Birdsville at the Birdsville Tourist Park. The Birdsville Hotel will feed us tonight - briefing at the Pub at 5:30pm Dinner at 6:00pm.
Tuesday 3rd June we’ll have an optional real Simpson Desert experience as we head out over Big Red for a few dunes to lunch at Eyre Creek. Although this is only a 56 km each way drive, it will take us all day or at least most of it. Say leave camp at 9.00am, enjoy a little play on Big Red, continue on and then lunch and drive back with all that experience banked. Tonight we will be looked after by the folk at Karrawa Wirinya Coffee - not only dinner but also a campfire chat, sitting around their big campfire listening to a local elder telling yarns and singing songs exploring the culture and history of the area.
Wednesday 4th June we are off on a shortish 200km run to Bedourie. It will be all new ground for us so it will be great. Stop in and have a look at the Waddi trees and the Old Carcory Homestead before taking a relaxing soak in the Artesian pool at Bedourie.
Thursday 5th June we are in for a full day to Windorah – 390km. Have a look at Cooper Creek and early solar power endeavours…
Friday 6th June is our last day and will culminate in a 250km drive to Quilpie our last night. Our final night briefing and dinner is usually a great affair before we all head off in our different directions! Bring your humour, bring your sense of adventure and camaraderie, host some frivolity and we look forward to catrching up.
Summary
Sunday 25th May - Cobar
Monday 26th May - Rose Isle Station, Louth
Tuesday 27th May - Packsaddle
Wednesday 28th May - Cameron Corner
Thursday 29th May - Thargomindah
Friday 30th May - Eromanga
Saturday 31st May - Betoota
Sunday 1st June - Betoota - enjoy a trip to Haddon Corner
Monday 2nd June - Birdsville the top of the Birdsville Track
Tuesday 3rd June - Birdsville a fun day lunching at Eyre Creek and return
Wednesday 4th June - Bedourie is our destination
Thursday 5th June - Windorah is todays place of interest
Friday 6th June - travel to Quilpie today for our final night of the Drive
*Approximate route and distances only. These may vary depending on road and weather conditions.
