Covid and the Birdsville Track
Moderator: Site Management Team
Covid and the Birdsville Track
Drivers in Australia are subject to state restrictions which prevent them from driving on the main road through Victoria. Instead they are taking ordinary cars along one of the toughest outback roads in the country, the Birdsville Track, and facing severe risks in the process.
I'm most impressed with whoever drove a Fiat Bambino (aka original 500) down there
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation ... 2c513414ca
I'm most impressed with whoever drove a Fiat Bambino (aka original 500) down there
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation ... 2c513414ca
- sydneynick
- Member
- Posts: 1306
- Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:07
- Location: Sydney
- Contact:
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
I have seen the southern end of the Birdsville Track, and there is no way that I would attempt it in an ordinary car.
I think the problem may arise (at least in part) because Google Maps shows the Birdsville Track as a major road, just as important as the sealed Sturt Highway between Alice Springs and Adelaide. There is an all-sealed route via Mount Isa, but it is much longer.
I think the problem may arise (at least in part) because Google Maps shows the Birdsville Track as a major road, just as important as the sealed Sturt Highway between Alice Springs and Adelaide. There is an all-sealed route via Mount Isa, but it is much longer.
I can always tell if politicians are lying. Their lips move.
-
- Member
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 15:31
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
You need a Leyland Badger, like Tom Kruse drove. Whenever I go back home, I pay a visit to the museum where his truck is kept. Here's a bit from the famous film The Back of Beyond which shows him on the Birdsville Track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o2RD3YkTks
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
Fascinating stuff! I found a good website about him - https://www.lastmailfrombirdsville.com.au/linuxrocks wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 15:17 You need a Leyland Badger, like Tom Kruse drove. Whenever I go back home, I pay a visit to the museum where his truck is kept. Here's a bit from the famous film The Back of Beyond which shows him on the Birdsville Track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o2RD3YkTks
-
- Member
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 07:52
- Location: Exits 9 & 10, M1 East, Melbourne, Australia
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
Just to pedantically clarify, there was no restriction on driving in Victoria. Vic restricted its border with NSW for the short period of a small covid outbreak in Sydney, and the usual route from Queensland to Vic is through NSW. An alternative for Victorians in QLD wishing to return home was to drive through South Australia instead. That involved using 500km of dirt road - the Birdsville Track in SA, which is normally an outback adventure.
Stuart. Different highway.sydneynick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 00:02 ... just as important as the sealed Sturt Highway between Alice Springs and Adelaide ...
- Was92now625
- Member
- Posts: 848
- Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 00:29
- Location: near A625
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
More like, "to usefully clarify".Peter Freeman wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 23:55
Just to pedantically clarify, there was no restriction on driving in Victoria. Vic restricted its border with NSW for the short period of a small covid outbreak in Sydney, and the usual route from Queensland to Vic is through NSW. An alternative for Victorians in QLD wishing to return home was to drive through South Australia instead. That involved using 500km of dirt road - the Birdsville Track in SA, which is normally an outback adventure.
I had been confused previously and, while I had speculated along the lines of the explanation, it's good to see it clarified.
-
- Member
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 07:52
- Location: Exits 9 & 10, M1 East, Melbourne, Australia
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
Also -
In fact the Birdsville Track is very far from being the toughest. By AU outback standards it's OK, and can (though certainly not advised) be done with 2WD.
- Vierwielen
- Member
- Posts: 5757
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2008 21:21
- Location: Hampshire
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
When I was on holiday in Oz a few years ago, I used a hire car. One of the restrictions on the use of the car was not to use dirt roads. Although I did not see any dirt roads in Oz, I was aware of the difference in road quality from my time in South Africa.Peter Freeman wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 23:55Just to pedantically clarify, there was no restriction on driving in Victoria. Vic restricted its border with NSW for the short period of a small covid outbreak in Sydney, and the usual route from Queensland to Vic is through NSW. An alternative for Victorians in QLD wishing to return home was to drive through South Australia instead. That involved using 500km of dirt road - the Birdsville Track in SA, which is normally an outback adventure.
Stuart. Different highway.sydneynick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 00:02 ... just as important as the sealed Sturt Highway between Alice Springs and Adelaide ...
- Vierwielen
- Member
- Posts: 5757
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2008 21:21
- Location: Hampshire
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
All things are relative. In 1981, when I crossed the Sahara (on a package tour), the road (or rather the piste) past Bidon V in Southern Algeria was nothing more than lorry tracks on the ground (no vegetation whatsoever) with two oil drums every 500 metres to show the route. The Michelin map showed it as a major road - the other north-south road, via Tamanrasset ran roughly parallel to it some 400 km to the east.sydneynick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 00:02 I think the problem may arise (at least in part) because Google Maps shows the Birdsville Track as a major road, just as important as the sealed Sturt Highway between Alice Springs and Adelaide. There is an all-sealed route via Mount Isa, but it is much longer.
Re: Covid and the Birdsville Track
Thats fairly common with the big multinationals even when you hire a 4x4 . When I went to Australia I hired a 4x4 from Territory Rent a Car specifically because not only could you drive on dirt tracks but for a modest fee get a couple of extra spare wheels. I left my itinerary with them so if I did get into trouble they could tell the authorities. One interesting provision was that damage to the vehicle as a result of a collision with an animal in remote areas between sunset and sunrise was not covered by the insurance, the renter had to pay for it.Vierwielen wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 22:07 When I was on holiday in Oz a few years ago, I used a hire car. One of the restrictions on the use of the car was not to use dirt roads. Although I did not see any dirt roads in Oz, I was aware of the difference in road quality from my time in South Africa.
In Canada I was able to hire a normal car that could be used on dirt roads but then I was headed for the Yukon where there are lots of them, there was a proviso though that damage to the underside of the vehicle was my lability. Still it was nice to drive the top of the world Highway road from Tok Alaska to Dawson City. It is also shown as a major road but while a dirt road it was a pretty good one, well graded with no washboarding.