Bedourie - Birdsville - Big Red

[JD-120]

Hey Swagger, how are we this fine Friday evening,

Hey quick question re Bedourie and time / distance to Birdsville

I got told yesterday at work I am attending an annual council conference @ Bedourie mid may. We are driving from brissy, probably straight through I am guessing, 22hrs according to google maps.

I have never been that far out, Winton and Mt Isa are the furtherest for me. I'm keen to detour to Birdsville and Big Red on one of the days.

Question is, can I do a day trip from Bedourie to birsdville and big red, or is it too far? its only 200 (according to google), but thinking the road conditions may not let me drive at a speed making it a quick trip.

thoughts on birdsville, and any suggestions of other sites to see on the way out appreciated. Only there for 2 or 3 days, so not a long time for 44 hrs in the car.

presumably, we wont be stopping much except for fuel on the way out or back.

lucky for me I love road trips

JD

[Johnnos3003]

The road from Bedourie - Birdsville is sealed shoudn't have any problems kicking along there there @ 100 +

Cant remember how far it it is out to big red, its not sealed from Bridsville to big red but the road was reasonable wouldn't have only been an hour at the most.

take your swimmers the hot baths/springs at Bedourie are good.

[JD-120]

The road from Bedourie - Birdsville is sealed shoudn't have any problems kicking along there there @ 100 +

Cant remember how far it it is out to big red, its not sealed from Bridsville to big red but the road was reasonable wouldn't have only been an hour at the most.

take your swimmers the hot baths/springs at Bedourie are good.

Thanks Johnnos.

Wow, sealed, didnt see that coming, thought it would be dirt for sure. Excellent, day trip is on the cards then

[MDS69]

Watch out for the wildlife

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

It would be 40 to 50 Km's Birdsville to Big Red on a good gravel road.
You may have to detour south around some water and go in over Little Red to get there.
If no water over the road, you travel straight to the curly path up the East face of Big Red.
Really impressive if you come at it from the Desert side though.
Have a good trip.

[GBC]

Bedourie - Birdsville is sealed now? That will make it easy for the vanners.

[Metters]

We are driving from brissy, probably straight through I am guessing, 22hrs according to google maps.

 but thinking the road conditions may not let me drive at a speed making it a quick trip.

Take it easy.  You will be driving through vast cattle areas and most of the roads are not fenced.  You can drive over a cattle grid with a fence extending off from each end to the horizon.  A hour or so later you can cross another grid.  That means you have just crossed one paddock.  Do not drive fast in those areas at night.

The other issue is dirt roads.  The rough ones are no problem because the dangers are obvious.  You just take your time going from one side to the other as you try and find the easiest path through.  The real worry is the long flat and smooth looking type.  The most common accident on those is a rollover caused by high speed.   A car can loose traction on fast sweeping bends or when the driver brakes suddenly if a small rough patch suddenly appears. 

Small sand patches can appear in those roads.  If you go in to one too fast the front wheels will be dragged back and the rear end of the car comes around as it tries to overtake the front.  You can be upside down in seconds.

I have driven over many of those roads going back to 1967 and I never set a time limit. 

This is just one of countless examples and those people were locals.  The tourists account for most of the accidents.  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/journalist-kelly-theobald-dies-in-birdsville-track-crash-20151004-gk0sot.html

[KingBilly]

Geez Metters you must be old  . You've been driving longer than I've been breathing 

Good advice though.  Keep the speed down.

KB

[JD-120]

Thanks guys, as always, great advice and information.

[Metters]

Geez Metters you must be old 

Getting there but still going like a blur.  My wife and I will be off again in two weeks for another 20,000 k trip.  Bedourie will be on the list.   I haven't been there yet but I went through Boulia in '67.  The photo shows the road just outside of town on the way to Winton.   That road was good, the one down from Mt  Isa was two wheel tracks.