Simpson Desert with Trailers

The tour group will link up in Birdsville by 11:00am on Day 1. The afternoon is busy and we will depart Birdsville in the morning of Day 2, so if you would like to take the opportunity to see some of the highlights around Birdsville before the tour starts we suggest arriving a day or two early. After a tour brief, we will leave our trailers at our accommodation and head out to iconic “Big Red” (Nappanerica) sand dune. This is the largest dune of the desert at some 40m tall, the symbolic eastern edge of the Simpson, and a bucket list challenge for any 4WD enthusiast. Having conquered Big Red, we will head back into Birdsville before getting to know each other over dinner at the Birdsville Hotel.

On the morning of Day 2, having topped up fuel tanks, we will head south down the Birdsville Track before turning west towards Warburton Crossing and into the desert. East to west is typically regarded as the more testing direction as the prevailing westerly winds make for a steeper upslope on the eastern side of the dunes. The route we follow is made a little easier for towing as it was forged in the 1970s to bring in the oil exploration drilling rigs. The larger dunes were “capped” by building up ramps, making the slopes less steep so they could be traversed by the drilling rigs. While towing across the Simpson will still be a challenge, the firmer base of Rig Road allows us to minimise environmental and track damage.

Our route across the 1,140 or so sand dunes will expose you to several tracks including the French Line, WAA Line, and Rig Road. At the end of each day’s travel, we will relax with a cold drink around a campfire (providing our own firewood). You will see areas of almost white sand in the east change to the well-known deep outback red in the west. We will see more sign of dingoes and camels than we see the animals themselves, but we will spot a huge variety of birds, lizards and other wildlife.

At the western edge of the Simpson, we will camp at a true desert oasis, Dalhousie Springs, where we can wash off the desert dust by soaking in the 37 degrees water of this artesian spring while watching another spectacular desert sunset. Can you think of anything better? After reluctantly dragging ourselves away from the springs, we will head to the Mt Dare Hotel to refuel vehicles and grab a bite to eat. As we make our way to Alice Springs, we will take a small detour to find the geographical centre of Australia, watch the changing colours as the sun sets on Chambers Pillar, visit galleries of ancient indigenous rock carvings, and see some relics of the old Ghan railway.

The tour will arrive at the release point in Alice Springs by 2:00pm on Day 9, so you will have plenty of time to settle into your chosen accommodation.

Payment Options

To reserve a place on the tour of your choice, you can pay in full or pay a 30% deposit. If paying a deposit, we will email an invoice for the 70% balance payable six weeks before your tour starts. The option to pay a deposit is not available within six weeks of your tour start date.

Payment Methods

If paying online, at check out you can choose to pay by Apple Pay, PayPal, or by credit or debit card. If you would prefer to pay by bank transfer, you can request an invoice.

Please read our Terms of Service before booking.

The selected route for this tour is is the best route for towing across the Simpson Desert. That said, the nature of the tracks require highly capable towing and towed vehicles, and some off-road trailers, camper trailers and caravans will not be appropriate. 4x4 Explore will assess trailer suitability for the tour on a case-by-case basis. It is recommended you discuss with us before booking.

Having completed this tour, why not see one the hidden gems near Alice Springs with our three-day tour of the little known Finke Gorge. Highlights of the tour include Palm Valley with its red gorges, desert palm trees, cycads and spring-fed pools; and the remote Finke Gorge 4WD track which follows the Finke River bed and its picturesque waterholes. Then, if you want to take your Simpson Desert crossings to the next level, or simply need to return to Birdsville as part of your journey home, why not book a spot on our Madigan Line tour across the north Simpson Desert. You can bundle all three tours for a discount with our Ultimate Desert Adventure.