Birdsville roads

Birdsville roads

by Rob
(Brisbane)

Birdsville Track

Hi, I am thinking of heading to the races in September and am not to sure how the roads will be. Will I def need a 4x4? Need to hire one if so!

Response to Birdsville Roads

by: Rita

Hi Rob,

I can't answer your question with Yes or NO whether you'll need to hire a 4x4 or not. If I had the foresight what the roads will be like in September, hmmm, I could earn money with that. :)

Seriously, it depends on so many factors, how robust your own car is, what the weather is like when you go, and if they had rain before you go.

You are from Brisbane, so you can go on sealed roads to Windorah. The only unsealed part is the Birdsville Developmental Road west of Windorah into Birdsville, about 280 km.

In dry conditions one can certainly drive on many of these Outback roads with a normal car, if the car can deal with dust, stones and bumpy roads. There are no services of any kind along this road, so you'll need to be able to fix any problems with the car yourself.

For more tips check out these pages:

Travelling from Windorah QLD to Birdsville

Birdsville Races

Tips to prepare your car and what you should take with you.

On the bottom of the Birdsville Races page is info about a flight out from Brisbane to the races if you are interested in that.

Rita

Comments for
Birdsville roads

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Mar 02, 2010

safari
by: John Wade.

Many years ago I drove from Sydney to Wanaaring [back of Bourke] including 120 miles of dirt road during the 'rainy' season. I was in a Fiat 600 with one window missing [it's a long story] and expected to get bogged a few times - and I did![they're hardly a whisker off the ground]. However, being an enterprising young man I took along a de-bogging kit and emergency rations and whenever I got bogged I dug my way out and carried on. My only excuse now is that it seemed fun at the time! So the basic answer is - "be prepared". Your worst danger is probably just other drivers.
John Wade.

Mar 02, 2010

Birdsville Roads
by: Tony B

It's a good idea to contact the local Police in Birdsville or Jundah a week or so before you set out. At the moment, (March 2010), every road around that area is closed due to flooding but that probably won't be the case in September. If the roads are open, a well-maintained and sensibly-driven 2WD will do the job. Also, you can get some good info from http://www.racq.com.au/benefits_and_discounts/road_conditions/south_west_qld which is the RACQ's road conditions report.