#Best Off Road Camper Trailers Adelaide

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Adventure Awaits: The Ultimate Off-Road Camper Trailers Available in Adelaide

For outdoor enthusiasts in Adelaide, the allure of the open road and untamed wilderness is irresistible. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway to the Flinders Ranges or an extended adventure along the Oodnadatta Track, having the right equipment is crucial. Off-road camper trailers are the ultimate solution for those who want to experience the rugged beauty of South Australia without sacrificing comfort. Here’s a guide to the ultimate off-road camper trailers available in Adelaide, designed to take your adventures to the next level.

1. Built for the Outback: Durability and Strength

When it comes to off-road adventures, durability is non-negotiable. The rough terrains of the Australian outback demand a camper trailer that can withstand the toughest conditions. Many off-road camper trailers in Adelaide are constructed with heavy-duty materials like galvanized steel chassis and reinforced suspension systems, ensuring they can handle the bumps, corrugations, and river crossings you might encounter. Look for models with rugged, all-terrain tires and off-road hitches that provide maximum stability and control on uneven surfaces.

2. Comfort on the Go: Spacious and Well-Equipped Interiors

Just because you’re venturing into the wild doesn’t mean you have to give up on comfort. Modern off-road camper trailers come equipped with spacious interiors that offer all the comforts of home. From queen-sized beds to fully functional kitchens with stoves and refrigerators, these trailers are designed to make your camping experience as enjoyable as possible. Many models also include features like awnings, outdoor shower setups, and ample storage space for all your gear, making them perfect for extended stays in remote locations.

3. Ease of Setup: Quick and Hassle-Free

One of the main advantages of off-road camper trailers is their ease of setup. After a long day of exploring, the last thing you want is a complicated setup process. The best off-road camper trailers available in Adelaide are designed for quick and hassle-free assembly, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your surroundings and less time setting up camp. Look for trailers with automatic or semi-automatic setup mechanisms, which can be operated with minimal effort.

4. Versatility and Customization: Tailor Your Trailer to Your Needs

Every adventurer has unique needs, and the best off-road camper trailers offer a range of customization options. Whether you need additional storage space for your fishing gear, a roof rack for kayaks, or extra solar panels for extended off-grid stays, many manufacturers offer custom builds to suit your specific requirements. This versatility ensures that your camper trailer is perfectly suited to your lifestyle, allowing you to tackle any adventure with confidence.

5. Local Expertise: Support and Service in Adelaide

Purchasing an off-road camper trailer is a significant investment, and having access to local support and service is essential. Many Adelaide-based dealers specialize in off-road camper trailers and offer comprehensive after-sales support, including maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. This local expertise ensures that your trailer remains in top condition, ready for your next adventure whenever you are.

Conclusion: Your Adventure Starts Here

With the right Off Road Camper Trailers Adelaide, the possibilities for adventure are endless. Whether you’re exploring the rugged outback, camping by the coast, or traversing the red dirt roads of the interior, a well-equipped camper trailer ensures that you can enjoy the journey in comfort and style. Explore the range of off-road camper trailers available in Adelaide, and start planning your next great adventure today. Adventure awaits—are you ready?

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Camper Trailers For Sale Adelaide - Maverick Campers provides you with the best camper trailer for sale. They offer the most reliable product and services.  Maverick Campers developed the business on the foundation of complete transparency and fantastic customer service. We know that expenses like camper trailers and caravans aren’t taken lightly, and there are various factors to examine before making your selection. 

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4 Key Reasons for Adventurists to Shift Towards Off Road Caravans

The present COVID situation has forced people to look for other travelling alternatives and accessories to keep people safe. In most cases, people are looking for off-road caravans in Adelaide. It provides a chance to explore the countryside by enjoying the comforts of a mini home.

People call these moving homes, travel trailers, campers or camper trailers. Such Australian off-road campers can be towed behind a road vehicle. They could act like a home, allowing people not to rely on a motel or hotel for their stay or food.

These caravans come in different variations. The basic model is a little more than a tent on wheels. People can add various accessories, as per their priorities, to enjoy the comfort and a trip in the wild. The benefits that the owners can enjoy by investing in a caravan are:

Cost-effectiveness: Experts believe that these trailers are a cost-effective option, allowing more people to travel together. It helps in saving money with motels. It would be ideal for large families to explore the wild, cook with minimum supplies and relax amidst nature. Many people feel that the small size does not provide comfort. The fact is slightly different, allowing people to spend some quality time away from the fast-paced world.

Comfort: People can choose the accessories that they wish to install in these campers. Beds, kitchen supplies, and few other amenities are the most preferred and are the basic requirements for any trip, especially while travelling out into areas with less vegetation.

Best for rough roads: These camper trailer models are designed to be trailed off-roads. The mechanism provides people with a less bumpy ride, even through the toughest conditions.

Safety: These trailers are at a certain height from the ground and have the facility lock from inside. These two facilities give their users extreme protection from animals. Few models come with a window attached with nets that could allow fresh air to flow inside the trailer.

These trailers are a safe way to adventure out into the wilds, or to move across various cities. People can install amenities that could meet their daily needs and work for them while travelling.

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[shannrussell-blog1]

This 3-part article covers history, distances, attractions and facilities for the Strzelecki Track and the areas around Innamincka, and is fourth in a series of articles covering great outback tracks of South Australia, the others being:

Crossing the Simpson Desert

Travelling the Oodnadatta Track and Old Ghan Railway

The Birdsville Track

The first part of this topic is a little long, if you want to skip the history and get travel tips and distances, go to part 2.

Like the previous articles, this trek involves another amble into the South Australian desert… but this time with a twist.

At the end there is water and usually plenty of it. The Cooper Creek meanders into South Australia from Queensland where it is fed from cyclonic rains that often soak the catchment areas during summer. In times of drought the flow will stop but the creek is so deep in spots that permanent waterholes exist along its course. A brilliant example of this is the Cullyamurra waterhole to the east of Innamincka, a broad and long stretch of water providing some of the best camping opportunities in the area.

However, don’t lose sight of the fact that getting there involves considerable desert travel with all the planning and preparation normally required for a trip into harsh and isolated areas.

As with other desert treks in South Australia, rain can make roads quickly impassable and summer temperatures are mind boggling. Travel in the cooler months is definitely the key to success and enjoyment with the risk of rain and high temperatures greatly reduced.

The South Australian government is currently considering sealing the Strzelecki Track and a sealed road from Queensland is not too far away, so if you want the true outback experience don’t wait too long to get out there.

This area is in the middle of the Cooper Basin gas and oil fields with exploration and wells radiating out from the processing, maintenance and administrative centre of Moomba, thus the motivation for an all weather road to cater for the considerable traffic, including many trucks, that travel from Adelaide to Moomba. Moomba is a closed town, only accessible to workers, but the small township of Innamincka, on the banks of Cooper Creek, provides a great outback pub, general store, fuel and is the administrative centre for the Innamincka Regional Reserve that covers 1.3 million hectares of land.

Not a national park, the reserve aims to support mining, pastoral and tourist activities allowing appropriate access for each without overly restricting any of these pursuits. Established in 1988 and being the first reserve of its type in Australia, it seems to have worked successfully for all concerned with travellers having access to many areas along the creek, the very significant Burke and Wills sites and tracks leading to many areas further afield.

“The South Australian government is currently considering sealing the Strzelecki Track”

Other than in the town common, camping in the reserve requires a Desert Parks Pass. These can be purchased from the reserve headquarters or the Trading Post in Innamincka. However, I recommend purchasing before leaving as, although quite expensive ($150 at time of writing), the pass provides comprehensive information and maps of the area that are invaluable for trip planning and is valid for 12 months (purchase from RAA offices or on the National Parks SA website).

With much of Australia’s early European heritage coming from the forced work of convicts, it is perhaps not so unusual that what we now know as the Strzelecki Track came to prominence thanks to the mis-guided efforts of a cattle thief.

In 1870 Harry Redford, later immortalized as “Captain Starlight” in the film Robbery Under Arms, decided that a mob of cattle were better in his hands than those of their Queensland owners. But where do you take them? His answer was to drove them south, where he sold them at Blanchewater for a reputed $10000. Although not the first to follow this route, Harry unwittingly demonstrated that this was a viable and quicker route to market for the inland pastoralists. In the end Harry’s venture came unstuck with him being arrested in 1872 and sent to court.

But the story does not end there. The judge, so impressed with Harry’s droving skills and with the appreciation that he had performed a great service to pastoralists, let him off and he continued life as a highly respected drover. Who says crime doesn’t pay.

While painstakingly pushing his cattle south, Harry Redford could not have imagined the scene today. A wide, well maintained dirt road stretches from Lyndhurst in the south to Innamincka in the north. The drover has given way to massive multiple trailer road trains carrying stock and mining supplies, drilling rigs and a whole range of other mining paraphernalia. In the cooler months 4WD’s, camper trailers and even caravans are a common sight as people head to the Cooper to camp, relax, fish and visit a range of historic sites. In dry conditions the track is suitable for a well maintained conventional vehicle but accessing some of the camp sites along the creek does require a high clearance vehicle.

History

When Harry Redford made his move south, providing water for the cattle was a major concern.

From central Queensland water courses that eventually led into the Cooper were followed. Near what is now Innamincka, he came across the Strzelecki Creek, an overflow from the Cooper that weaves its way south to Lake Blanche. The existence of this creek was confirmed by explorer Charles Sturt in 1845 on one of his treks to find the fabled “inland sea”, and named it after another explorer and scientist, Polish born Paul Edmund de Strzelecki. Following Sturt’s discoveries, in November 1845 Cooper’s Creek was named after the South Australian Chief Justice, Sir Charles Cooper.

The first recorded movement of animals along this route was undertaken in 1867 when John Conrick moved 200 horses from a station near Quilpie in Queensland to Kapunda in South Australia. Despite the harsh conditions and times of extreme drought, stations were established along the track. At the time the area around Coongie Lakes was seen as particularly promising due to the large amounts of water in the river and lake system.

So mesmerised were they that in the mid-1870’s Norman and Hector Wilson established a station and named it “Land of Promise”. The establishment of this station however had a much more sinister side.

Local indigenous groups, the Yandruwandha and Yawarrawarrka, were seen as trouble by the station manager. They are believed to have been constantly harassed and many of the women stolen, eventually leading to retaliation resulting in the spearing of two stockmen. In a rage, the manager went about systematically killing all the indigenous people he could find.

The nearby Lake Massacre is said to be named after this event. Any remaining aborigines quickly left the area, never to return.

Like the Birdsville Track further to the west, the Strzelecki suffered from extreme droughts and became impassable at times, not from flooding but from massive sand drifts.

“The nearby Lake Massacre is said to be named after this event”

The Cobbler Sandhills, about half way between Lyndhurst and Innamincka were particularly troublesome, building to such a massive size that in the early 1930’s the route was rarely used. Other than station homesteads, there was no settlement along the track and waterholes in the creeks were the only source of water. A few bores were drilled along the southern part of the track with Montecollina Bore still existing on the northern edge of The Cobbler.

On the southern section of the track, before reaching The Cobbler, you will come across the ruins of the historic Blanchewater homestead.

It was this homestead, the most northerly in the region at the time, that the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition was attempting to reach when both Burke and Wills died on the banks of the Cooper. By the 1890’s the wealthy pastoralist, Thomas Elder owned Blanchewater and it became famous for the quality of horses bred there. Many of these were purchased by Cobb & Co. to pull their coaches that were opening up travel to many outback areas.

The reputation for breeding excellent horses travelled widely, with the Indian Army being a regular customer. At its peak the station ran up to 20000 horses.

By the late 1800’s Adelaide had developed excellent stock markets (the animal kind), well regarded by inland pastoralists and the market of choice for selling their stock.

The Old Ghan Railway had been established and passed through the southern ends of both the Strzelecki and Birdsville Tracks, making rail transport available for the rest of the trip to Adelaide. As traffic built up it was clear that a settlement was required, with an area on the banks of the Cooper Creek being established. Originally called Hopetoun after the Governor of Victoria, this name was short lived.

There was one survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition, John King. His survival was due entirely to assistance from local aboriginals and in gratitude the Government had allocated land to them, known as Innamincka.

It was this name that people wished maintained and it was duly changed. Although it developed slowly, a hotel, customs house and homes developed and soon the Australian Inland Mission established the Elizabeth Symon Nursing Home, providing medical services near and far.

However, by the mid 1950’s, Innamincka had all but disappeared. The imposing stone nursing home was now a crumbling shell and very few people called the town home. But soon all was to change. The Cooper Basin oil and gas field discovery was just around the corner, bringing new life to the region. From the first hydrocarbon discovery in 1963, the area has been transformed with a maze of tracks, wells and pipelines to ensure our insatiable thirst for oil and gas is met. One of the earliest developers was SANTOS (South Australian & Northern Territory Oil Search), a company whose name is now synonymous with development in the area. Follow this link for an extremely comprehensive history of oil and gas search in the Cooper Basin.

“There was one survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition”

The area is also rich in Aboriginal history but, as previously explained, initial contact with the European settlers was fraught with difficulty. They were rightly very suspicious of the incursion of pastoralists onto their land.

Perhaps these suspicions were further strengthened by the arrival of missionaries in a number of desert areas who, no doubt in good faith, attempted to convert the aboriginal people to Christianity and have them adopt a European lifestyle. At the same time pastoralism was rapidly expanding with many leases being granted in the area most of which eventually ended up in the hands of Sir Sidney Kidman. With these incursions the fate of the local people was sealed.

Although destroying much of the native culture, at least the pastoralists provided some work, especially for the men, and the legendary skill of the aboriginal drover developed.

That’s a little of the tracks history, check out part 2 to find out how to get there and detailed information on the towns you will see along the way.

The post Strzelecki Track Part 1 – A History Lesson appeared first on Snowys Blog.

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Best Off Road Camper Trailers Adelaide

You realize you can locate the Best Off Road Camper Trailers Adelaide at Maverick Campers on the grounds that each plan has been painstakingly designed to check all the regular issues individuals experience out and about. On the off chance that it's insufficient for our sharp outdoors specialists, it's surely insufficient for our clients.

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Going camping at Christmas time is an Aussie tradition. ‘What you doin’ over Christmas?’ you’ll be asked. ‘Heading up the river/down the beach’ will be a common response. In fact, Christmas camping is about as Australian as the flies that will be there to greet you when you arrive at the campsite. True patriots, them flies.

But, due to its popularity, Christmas camping can be challenging. Chances are you won’t have that idyllic bush campsite next to the Howqua River to yourself. Everybody is on annual leave, the kids are off school – heading bush at Christmas time isn’t just your bright idea!

That’s why we thought we’d share 10 tips to make camping over Christmas more of a breeze.

1. Be prepared by doing your research

Leaving things to the last minute is never a good idea. Picture this: you’re about to head off for a week on the Gloucester River. You have yet to even unlock the shed door and start packing the car. Chances of forgetting something are pretty high if you’re this unprepared.

If you plan to head off over Christmas, make sure you start planning a few weeks in advance. The first thing you should do is prepare a gear list. This could be as basic as a handwritten checklist or Snowys own gear checklist.

Or if you’re a geek like me, a comprehensive spreadsheet with weights, prices, the packing order, and all the bells and whistles (you should see the extent some ultralight hikers go to.)

Check gear off as you go, that way you won’t forget anything!

Over the proceeding days start bringing stuff out of the shed to check that it is in good repair and put it aside, ready for the car. This will give you plenty of time to repair (and clean) anything that is broken and buy replacements. This is also a great time to update your camping tool and repair kit as well.

Be sure to write a shopping list for anything you may need to buy. If you’re going to shop online, make sure you leave plenty of time for the purchases to arrive. Over Christmas, Australia Post and couriers are run off their feet so get your purchases in early.

Wikicamps provides the most up to date info on campsites around Australia. Image: WikiCamps Australia

Make the most of apps

During your research, download the WikiCamps app and check the campsites you’re interested in visiting. There’s also a whole host of other handy outdoor apps that are helpful for this time of the year which you can check out here.

WikiCamps is crowdsourced (campers just like you list their favourite sites) and allows users to leave comments and photos of their experience. The comment section is a handy way of gauging how busy a campsite might be at a particular time of year, and any other useful tidbits that might help fellow campers, e.g. pub happy hour is at 4 pm!

Also, be sure to research fuel prices. Petrol and diesel can be really expensive the further you travel outside of the city. There are many sites and apps out now that display fuel prices in a particular area – have a look at FuelMap and MotorMouth as examples.

Don’t leave anything to chance. Be prepared. You’ll be less stressed. Oh, and don’t forget the toilet paper!

2. Book in advance!

So it’s Easter and you’ve just had a fantastic couple of days at your favourite caravan park on the Murray River. ‘We have to come back at Christmas!’ you announce on the journey home. Do it, but book now! If a campsite requires you to book, book as far in advance as possible.

3. Arrive early

I headed down to the Coorong for Christmas last year. We arrived on Christmas day. There was hardly a soul to be seen. We got in ahead of the crowds. Two days later, as we braved the road back to Adelaide, there was a convoy of 4X4s and camper trailers heading in the opposite direction.

Had we stayed another night, our peaceful waterside camp would have been transformed drastically. Get in early to bag the best spot!

Getting in early means plenty of peace and quiet. Image: Matt Pfeil

4. Head a little further afield

The easier a camp is to access, the more people it will attract. Consider going a bit further afield this Christmas to avoid the crowds. It may just afford you the peace and quiet that we tend to like when we go camping. Having a 4WD and a sense of adventure comes in handy, as you can access places off the beaten track.

Just a note, if your intention is the fire up the trail bike or jet ski, be mindful that others that have gone to the effort to camp out in the sticks might have done so to avoid that sort of noise. Make friends, and enjoy the serenity together.

5. Shop in town

Do your shopping before you leave the big smoke. Not only are the prices cheaper, but you’ll also be able to buy a lot of things that you might not be able to get in rural or remote areas.

Like with Tip 1, preparation is key. Write a list. Come up with a menu (read more about menu planning here). Work out what you can take from home, what you need to buy, what can go in a storage box or on ice, and what needs to go in your car fridge/freezer.

That said, support the local economy by picking up the essentials in the local town. And don’t forget to visit the local bakery. Country bakeries are always the best!

Planning your menu beforehand will make mealtimes so much easier. Image: Coleman Australia

6. Make friends

Camping over Christmas usually means sharing a camping spot with lots of other people. Don’t let this be negative, see it as an opportunity to meet new friends. After all, you all have a common interest – you like camping! Shouldn’t be too hard to strike up a conversation.

7. Get wet

Holidaying near the water is such an Aussie thing to do over summer. It’s likely to be hot if you’re out over Christmas, so add some water to the experience.

Australia is a big place with heaps of great camping spots close to beautiful beaches, rivers, streams, and lakes. There’s nothing quite like making a morning cuppa while staring out over a beautiful stretch of water, then ten minutes later take a dip. What a start to the day!

Camping near the water also allows you to take some water toys with you. Snorkels, body boards, surfboards, jet skis, boats, fishing rods. Your togs. Yep, you can see why Aussies like camping near the water over summer.

Look for a campsite with water nearby, Christmas has the perfect weather for a swim! Image: Alite

8. Buy gifts that can be enjoyed on the trip

As the kids get older they’re probably less interested in heading bush with their crusty old folks (if not, you have top kids!), only to be away from the new PS4 they got for Christmas, or not have any mobile reception for their new iGadget. Consider gifting them something that they can use while camping. It might be a snorkel or a small kayak or a camera or colouring in books or the must-read fantasy novel.

Buy them something that will keep them entertained while you’re laying back with a cold one. The best camping trips are the ones where everyone is happy and gets something out of it.

You can still have a delicious Christmassy meal, even when you’re out bush. Image: Oztent

9. Get merry

If you’re camping on Christmas day, it doesn’t mean you have to pass up the Christmas meal. There are some amazing recipes floating around the place for Christmassy things like Jack Daniel’s honey glazed ham, and stove top roast chicken that can be cooked in your camp oven (check fire bans in your area – there is a way to use your camp ovens in summer though) or camp stove.

Nothing says Merry Aussie Christmas more than fresh seafood. So if you’re camping near the ocean or river, and have some luck with the rod and line, you could have the beginnings of the most Aussie of Christmases yet!

10. Be prepared for hot weather

Summer in Australia gets hot. Who would have thought? So it’s important to be prepared for a scorcher. There are stacks of things you can do to maximise your comfort if you’re faced with blistering temperatures (we’ve got some more tips for keeping cool here):

Position your camp in a shady spot and set up a sunshade

Remove your tent fly to encourage airflow (and place a shade over the top of it if necessary)

Bring a lightweight 12V fan or

Staying focused on the roads is essential especially around the holidays. Image: Cybertext Consulting

Bonus tip – stay safe

Finally, being safe when out bush is vital to an enjoyable trip. Camping during summer can be risky, what with snakes and bush fires out to get you. Keep tabs on the weather and conditions. If a bushfire approaches your campsite, follow the instructions as set out by the local fire board. Make sure you have a reliable means of communication as well for emergencies.

Getting to and from your campsite requires you to exercise caution and good judgement too. You may be a top driver but not all other road users are. And a distraction in the car can have shocking consequences.

You’ve probably watched the news over Christmas and Easter and seen all the reports about the road toll. Don’t push yourself, don’t drink and drive, drive to the conditions, and take regular rest breaks.

Most importantly, if you’re going camping over Christmas have a great time, bond with the family, and relax. That’s what it’s all about, right?

  Where are you heading this Christmas? Let us know in the comments! 

The post Top 10 Tips for Camping this Christmas appeared first on Snowys Blog.

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It was slow going. The traction control light on the dash kept flashing on and off as the Land Rover’s wheels scrabbled for grip on the loose rocky surface. Occasionally, the track would start to level out, then it would climb again. When we finally made the top, we stopped to take in the views of the Davenport Ranges, and they were breathtaking, to say the least.

We were on the Frew River 4wd track, which is only around 17 km’s long, but took us almost 2 hours to complete. Not a particularly hard track, just very rocky requiring a ‘take it easy’ approach. We were a long way from help if anything went wrong. The real attraction of this track, however, was the wonderful scenery.

Beginning at Timber Creek in the Northern Territory

A week earlier we were sitting in the Land Rover, not far from Timber Creek in the Northern Territory, parked on the side of the road, looking at the signs that said the tracks ahead were open. 2180 kilometres, that’s how far we had to travel to the other end of the Binns Track. That’s a long way.

My wife Linda and I had just come up from our home in Adelaide, to return along the Binns Track and meet our son and his family, as well as some other friends, at Dalhousie Springs. We were then going to cross the Simpson Desert, before heading back home.

Our starting point at the beginning of the Binns Track. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Gregory National Park

The first part took us into Gregory National Park. The track was in reasonable condition along this section and a short way along we turned off into Limestone gorge.

Here the road narrows and gets harder as you make your way into the gorge. Part of the way in there is a short walk up to a viewing platform where there are fossilised remains of stromatolites.

These ancient fossils were once layered mounds of a single-celled microbe formed around 3.5 billion years ago. They lived in the sea and had an important role of contributing oxygen to the atmosphere. It is interesting to think, that the existence of these fossils, means that the hills we were standing on, were once under the sea.

The track then follows a rocky creek bed with the Land Rover having to roll over some big stones. Ultimately it finishes at a campsite, where we had a short break. Then it was back to the creek bed and out to the main track.

We stopped by the historic Bullita Homestead. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Bullita Homestead

The historic Bullita homestead and stockyards is a remnant of the past. It’s situated on the banks of the East Baines river – a nice spot to have lunch and a wander about.

The homestead is empty, with information boards inside that gives the reader an idea as to what it was like to live and work here. We camped at the campsite nearby under some shady trees along with several other campers.

A historic name. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Starting on the Humbert Track

The next day we started on the Humbert Track. This track is not recommended for caravans or trailers. It is a narrow and winding track with rocks and sand as well as having some very short, sharp dips and floodways that would have almost any trailer dragging its back end causing the wheels to lift off the ground.

We had heard the Humbert River crossing was going to be difficult, but we crossed it easily, as the sides were not that steep, and there was hardly any water in it.

After about 69kms, which took us most of the day, the road started to improve as we came to the end of the track, and drove out of the Gregory National Park.

We weren’t sure what this bull was going to do. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Making our way to Top Springs Road House

Here we joined the Buchanan Highway and made our way to Top Springs Road House, where we stopped for the night. We were greeted by the friendly staff who showed us a grassy campsite for our tent. After a shower and a meal in the pub, we were off to bed.

Continuing along the Buchanan Highway, the Binns track eventually joined the Stuart Highway, then onto Tennant Creek. We camped overnight at Kunjarra, also called the Pebbles, just north of Tennant Creek, with dozens of Grey Nomads. We arrived late afternoon and was lucky to find a spot. Imagine a smaller version of the Devils Marbles, and you have the Pebbles.

This riverbed was the road. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Tennant Creek

The following day we went into Tennant Creek to refuel and do some grocery shopping, then continued further south until the turnoff to the Davenport Ranges.

Dropping tyre pressure, we made our way into these rugged and beautiful ranges. The track here was at times very corrugated and rocky and crossed lots of small creek beds which were almost all dry. We bypassed Whistle Duck Creek and by mid-afternoon, we were at Old Police Station Waterhole.

We dropped the tyre pressure before continuing on. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Camping at Old Police Station Waterhole

A very pretty spot with a large billabong, and shady trees to camp under. There were only two other campers here, so we had a quiet afternoon, relaxing and catching up on some reading. Across the billabong is the remains of the police station that was here from about 1920. Originally it was to investigate cattle rustling in the area, but ultimately it was abandoned.

It was a peaceful night, except for around midnight, when some wild donkeys started braying to each other in the distance. They started to get closer and closer until they walked past, within a few metres of our tent. They certainly can make some noise.

The view at the Old Police Station Waterhole. Photo: Kevin Leslie

The Frew River 4WD track

The next morning, we were up around dawn to pack up and head off along the Frew River 4wd track. This cuts about 20Km of the Binns Track and goes through some very pretty country. It’s a challenge though with some steep climbs up some loose surfaces.

The early morning sun gave a pleasant glow to the surrounding mountains, the spinifex, which was going to seed, gently swayed with the cool morning breeze looking like silvery wheat.

For me, this was the best part of the track. Recent rains had made such a difference to this country, and we were lucky enough to see it after a good wet season.

While parts of the track still had corrugations, there were also some good sections which allowed us to scoot along at around 60 to 70 kph. Some parts were recently graded, and 80 to 90 kph was achievable. This was rare though, and even though the track was good in parts, we kept our speed down for safety.

The Frew River Road 4WD track has some beautiful scenery. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Stopping for the night at Tower Rock

We stopped for the night after a long day’s drive at Tower Rock. A bit hard to find coming from the northern end, but a pleasant enough spot for an overnight stay.

The facilities there are non-existent, however, there is a loo which consists of a drum over a hole with a toilet seat on it, and no walls at all. There were just four stakes in the ground where there must have been some sort of roof. Talk about a loo with a view!

At Tower Rock, we were treated to a loo with a view. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Gemtree and the Arltunga Historical Reserve

The next morning, we finally made the bitumen near Gemtree – bliss! Devonshire tea for us and diesel for the Landy, and then along the Arltunga Tourist Route toward the Cavenagh Ranges.

We lunched in the carpark of the information centre for the Arltunga Historical Reserve, where gold was discovered in about 1887. A town sprung up as prospectors rushed in. It kept going until about 1916 and is now a ghost town. Some restoration work has been carried out though with several buildings restored.

Homestead stay at the Ross River Resort

From here it was a short drive to our destination for the night at the Ross River Resort. The Homestead at the resort is thought to have been built around 1898, by the then foreman of the Arltunga gold mining town. It is now a tourist destination offering cabins and camping as well as a dining area and bar in the original building.

We decided on a cabin for the night, as we wanted a rest from the tent. A shower and a relaxing afternoon, followed by a meal in the homestead and a few drinks, had us ready for bed.

We stayed in a cabin for the night at the Ross River Resort. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Following the 4WD track to N’Dahla Gorge

We were up early following the 4wd track towards N’Dahla gorge. This section of the track crosses the Ross River several times and is impassable after heavy rain. The first crossing had water but the other crossings were soft dry sand.

Once we got to N’Dahla gorge we cooked up the last of our bacon and eggs for breakfast, then walked into the gorge to see the petroglyphs (rock carvings), which are possibly around 2000 years old. Some may be as old as 10,000 years. We were still following the Binns Track, as we made our way into Alice Springs.

The ancient rock carvings we saw – some were as old as 10,000 years. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Stopping over in Alice Springs

We had a few day’s break in Alice Springs where we restocked on fuel and supplies, before travelling on to Mt Dare in South Australia. This meant that we were now on the last section of the Binns Track as it headed out past Santa Teresa.

We travelled through some more fantastic country passing through several low mountain ranges.

We stopped over in Alice for fresh supplies before tackling the last part of the track. Photo: Kevin Leslie

 The Old Andado HOmestead

Before long the sand ridges of the Simpson Desert started to appear. The track didn’t cross them but weaved its way around as we headed in a parallel direction to them. It was late afternoon when we arrived at Old Andado Homestead.

This was home to Molly Clark and her husband Mac, who lived on Andado Station from 1949. After a new homestead was built 18 km’s west of the old homestead the old place was abandoned and started to fall into ruin. Eventually, they owned the property outright in 1969, but, in 1978 both Mac and their eldest son Graham died in separate instances, and the property was ultimately sold in 1984.

Although it was part of the original station, Molly secured a crown lease over 45 square kilometres of land around the old homestead naming it Old Andado. She lived there for many years by herself until her family convinced her to move to Alice Springs where she passed away in 2012.

We stopped by the Old Andado Station at the end of our trip. Photo: Kevin Leslie

A step back in time

Stepping into the homestead felt like you stepped into the past. Family photos still sit on the mantles and side tables, plates and bowls in the cupboards, books on the shelves, rugs on the floor. One cannot wonder if she hoped to return one day.

Old Andado is now looked after by volunteers who stay at the property maintaining the buildings and surrounding grounds. It gives the visitor a great insight into how people lived in this very remote part of Australia. We camped the night here for a small fee, which goes into the upkeep of the place.

We could see that the end was near when we saw the sign for Witjira National Park. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Our last day on the Binns track

The next morning, we headed off on our very last day on the Binns track. This last section went through a mixture of gibber plains, claypans, open forests and sand dunes. The dunes did not cause concern, as we were still mostly travelling parallel to them. Those that we had to cross, were clay topped so were no problem.

This stretch had some very long sections of bulldust with some deep ruts. The dust was spewing out from under the wheels like water as we rolled from one deep rut to another making it difficult to keep the Land Rover in a straight line.

The last day had some rough road ahead. Photo: Kevin Leslie

Arriving back in SA

We knew we were close to the finish when we crossed into Witjira National Park. It also meant we were back in South Australia. We were now less than 20km’s from Mt Dare. The track improved slightly from here and before long we arrived at Mt Dare.

We had done it and we congratulated ourselves on completing the Binns track from top to bottom.

The finishing point of our trip – the end of the Binns track. Photo: Kevin Leslie

What you can expect

As I said at the beginning of this journey, 2180 km’s is a long way. The Binns Track was named after Bill Binns who worked for NT Parks for 32 years. It consists of not only one road, but a combination of several roads and tracks.

On it you will encounter corrugations, rocks, and bulldust, there will be creek crossings, some harder than others. Other sections are smooth and easy to travel on.

Sometimes the scenery is a little mundane, but it’s always interesting, and the ranges we went through were spectacular. The Defender gave us no problems at all, it performed flawlessly covering at times some very difficult sections of track, even though it weighed more than 2.5 tonnes with all our gear.

We’re so lucky to have a beautiful country like Australia to live in, and a great way to see part of it is to travel the Binns Track.

Have you experienced the Binns track? If so, what was the best part of your experience? 

The post The Binns Track from Top to Bottom appeared first on Snowys Blog.

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