Simpson Desert - Desert Parks Pass + QLD NP permit?

[gclan]

I assumed that the Desert Parks Pass covered us for all of our travels across the Simpson Desert from Mt Dare/Dalhousie to Birdsville, though upon looking through the listed National Parks covered in the pass, only found Witjira NP and the Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve, which covers us until Poeppel Corner. I rang the Desert Parks hotline and they confirmed that the pass only gives permission for the area within South Australia.

The remainder of the crossing from Poeppel Corner toward Birdsville is part of the Munga-Thirri NP, which is managed by Queensland National Parks(or NPRSR as they're known now), and their website shows that they also require a camping permit (which needs to be pre-booked like every other campsite in Qld these days).

I've just contacted Qld's NPRSR and was told that I don't need a permit to travel through Munga-Thirri NP, and that National Parks don't charge for campsites that don't have an established campground. This contradicts their own website which is stating that I need a camping permit for that NP

Mt Dare Hotel and the Birdsville Roadhouse plus numerous trip reports only mention that you need the Desert Parks Pass, and nothing about Munga-Thirri NP(formerly Simpson Desert NP), so I was just wondering, those of you who have been through the Simpson Desert recently, did you buy a camping permit for the QLD section of the track or did you just buy the Desert Parks Pass?


Cheers
Karen

[MDS69]

Karen we went through in October 2012, west to east. The only pass we purchased was the SA Desert Parks Pass. I rang all sorts of Qld government departments re the Simpson Desert and they stated a pass to travel through is not required. However if you wish to camp a permit is required. Now my beef with them was that the permit is charged per night and you have to nominate the date but I didn't know what exact night I would stay. They suggested purchasing a permit with a night either side of my estimated night but them that means paying 3 nights to stay one and for 4 people is was getting expensive. They were very inflexible to my situation. In the end we overnighted at Poeppel and made Birdsville in one day. Also during my research and phone calls I found like the info you have that there are no designated camp sites and you can camp up to 500m from the track.

I would have gladly payed money to QLD NPWS or whatever they call themselves to help contribute to preservation of that piece of desert but they really need to work out a better system. As it was we made the same footprint and traffic through that area as if we were staying but they got no money out of us.

[gclan]

Thanks for that. I agree, I don't have a problem helping out QLD NP financially either, which is why I thought I'd ring them and do the right thing.

It was an interesting conversation with the Qld booking operator. To give her some credit, she was very polite and was genuinely trying to help, but she advised me that since I didn't know exactly when I'd be camping, I could just give them a call to book when I got out there 

The SA Parks however seem to have their finger on the pulse. Very well organised and informative.

Looks like I'll just go with the SA Desert Parks Pass.

Cheers
Karen

[Mobi]

Karen, we traveled across the Simpson at Easter this year and only purchased the SA desert pass. We camped before Poeppel Corner and made it to Birdsville the next day. I agree paying to camp in a Queensland national park isn't easy for people with flexible schedules.

Peter

[gclan]

We'll probably do the same Mobi, unless we get stuck