An outback trip across ythe Simpson Desert via the Madison Line – June 2024.
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An introduction
Following our Antarctic adventure in 2023, there was a planned trip Outback across the Simpson Desert, however Mother Nature had other ideas – with heavy rains in Northern Australia causing floods across the desert.
So to 2024, where the plans have been resurrected, which suits me perfectly as I couldn’t juggle the trip in 2023. In short we have 6 vehicles and 10 of us venturing North in June 2024.
The crew
- Trip leader – Steve in his Troopy with Stef as passenger
- Brian and Ann in a Nissan Patrol (Ann is Steve’s sister and Brian her son) first outback trip
- Mary and Phil in their new Toyota Fortuner
- Mary and Col in their Toyota 200 series
- Kate in her Pajero
- Me in my Pajero Sport.
- Day twenty. Fowlers Bay to Ceduna 21.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Pack up day to leave Fowlers Bay today after another three nighter which was lovely. Such a quiet fishing Village and a nice place to chill. We had a short 80km run to Ceduna today but we made a… Read more: Day twenty. Fowlers Bay to Ceduna 21.7.26
- Day nineteen. Fowlers Bay. 20.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Up early today as Meg, Mary and I are doing the Whale watching tour with EP Cruises at 9:30. We need to check whether we can stay an extra night OR pack up before 9:30. Cameras charged and binocs… Read more: Day nineteen. Fowlers Bay. 20.7.26
- Day eighteen. Fowlers Bay. 19.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Today we farewelled Col and Mary who have a commitment back home to get to. Meg was keen to do the whale watching tour and Mary and I were happy to go again. Stef phoned and not running today… Read more: Day eighteen. Fowlers Bay. 19.7.26
- Day sixteen. Ooldea Rd camp to Dog Fence Beach Campground. 17.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment We had an our very own flower garden at this camp with Sturt Desert Pea at our front door. Lovely. Heading south east today towards the coast /Great Australian Bight. We drove across the Nullarbor plain which is very… Read more: Day sixteen. Ooldea Rd camp to Dog Fence Beach Campground. 17.7.26
- Day seventeen. Dog Fence Beach Campground to Fowlers Bay. 18.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Rinse and repeat to start the day. It was a bit breezy during the night with that Westerly wind not abating all night. A little bit of flapping of canvas and buffeting of van, but not enough to disturb… Read more: Day seventeen. Dog Fence Beach Campground to Fowlers Bay. 18.7.26
- Day fifteen. Goog’s Track to Ooldea Rd Camp. 16.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Cooler night last night, I awoke for a loo stop. Went back to bed and read for a little bit.Out of bed about 7:30 to start the morning routine. We held a conference to discuss the plan for today… Read more: Day fifteen. Goog’s Track to Ooldea Rd Camp. 16.7.26
- Day fourteen. Goog’s Track 15.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Pack up day today😵💫. After 3 nights here we have a few more things to put away. Awnings etc. Last night was the first night at this camp location we’ve actually had dew settling on the canvas, so a… Read more: Day fourteen. Goog’s Track 15.7.26
- Day thirteen. Goog’s Track 14.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Well, today is a first! We opted to stay for another day (assuming it’s not raining and yuk.) I arose about 7.10, having successfully resisting the need to wee at 4:30am. Started the fire with no paper and then… Read more: Day thirteen. Goog’s Track 14.7.26
- Day twelve. Goog’s Track 13.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Today was a stay at camp day. No packing up. No pulling out. I got up and lit the fire. Col helped out. We each phaffed with various jobs around camp. Phil helped me decant almost 40 litres from… Read more: Day twelve. Goog’s Track 13.7.26
- Day eleven. Goog’s Track 12.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** Another day, uneventful pack up, and off onto the track about 10:15-ish. A lovely dawdle along the track until one of the sand dunes provided some challenge. I was caught halfway up waiting for Stef and Meg who got… Read more: Day eleven. Goog’s Track 12.7.26
- Day ten. Goog’s Track 11.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** Bit of a power issue overnight, I woke to no power in the TVan and no power to the auxiliary battery in the car so I couldn’t get any water for the Billy to make a cup of tea.… Read more: Day ten. Goog’s Track 11.7.26
- Day nine. Ceduna to 55kms out on Goog’s Track 10.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** Out of the park about 10:15 off to look at Pinky lookout that Mary and Col found yesterday. We saw salt ready for export at the wharf and silos. There were dolphins, a seal and cormorants. Then I went… Read more: Day nine. Ceduna to 55kms out on Goog’s Track 10.7.26
- Day eight. Ceduna. 9.7.26Slept brilliantly last night, just took a little while to nod off. No heating required it was very mild overnight. Normal slow start to breaky. Washing done and hung out. Some phaffing jobs done, for me that was unpick the fridge cover so it can be removed, silicon the tent zip. The fellas had another… Read more: Day eight. Ceduna. 9.7.26
- Day seven. Cleve to Ceduna 8.7.26Leaving camp, we headed up the street to check out the horse sculpture, Bonney, by daylight and also the eagle and then ventured out to a property on the outskirts where the original horse, Clyde, was located. He was pulling a 99 year-old scoop that had been patented by the sculptors grandfather in 1927. The… Read more: Day seven. Cleve to Ceduna 8.7.26
- Day six. Catninga Station to Cleve. 7.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** A very windy night last night with camp setups being buffetted around. I think it sounded worse than it was. Lying awake listening to the wind howling in the hills and trees was pretty amazing. The Tvan was buffeted… Read more: Day six. Catninga Station to Cleve. 7.7.26
- Day five . Morgan to Catninga Station. 6.7.26***please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment*** Out of the park today at about 9:45 and over to have a look at Morgan wharf area. From there we headed off for our day towards Eudunda where we checked out the silo art and then headed on… Read more: Day five . Morgan to Catninga Station. 6.7.26
- Day four . Lameroo to Morgan. 5.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** A good meal at the pub last night and then home for showers, a bit of phaffing before early to bed. It was chilly but the new system of battery and inverter and the electric blanket, combined with a… Read more: Day four . Lameroo to Morgan. 5.7.26
- Day three. Underbool to Lameroo via Pink Lakes. 4.7.26.****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** I woke about seven and decided I should stay up and tackle my GLa:D exercises which I managed to do by 8:30.Then we had a hickedly, pickedly breakfast and cup of tea. Slow pack up and then we’re headed… Read more: Day three. Underbool to Lameroo via Pink Lakes. 4.7.26.
- Day two. Murtoa to Underbool 3.6.26We all seemed to fare fairly well last night – no one complaining of cold or lack of sleep. Up and about for breaky in the camp kitchen and then packed up, took a walk around Lake Marma and headed for the Stick Shed. The Stick Shed was an amazing feat of Bush engineering back… Read more: Day two. Murtoa to Underbool 3.6.26
- Day one. Cold, wet and away! 2.6.26We got away at 10:30 from my house and assumed our convoy down the freeway. Skipped weigh bridge and headed West through Melbourne, heavy traffic and plenty of rain.We gathered again at Ballan Service centre, had lunch and made some definite plans. The sun popped out through the rain at Beaufort. Lambs were gambolling in… Read more: Day one. Cold, wet and away! 2.6.26
- Who knows where we are bound? Heading West? July 2026Prologue. An outback trip has been on the cards for a few months. We had a ‘meeting’ to find a common slot in all our schedules – mainly between overseas trips for some and other commitments. The a slot was late June into July. The original aim was a trip to finish the tail end… Read more: Who knows where we are bound? Heading West? July 2026
- 11&12.4.026 – Day 9/10 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Interesting day and home again.A relaxed start was planned today with breakfast meeting time of 9am ready for our massages at 10:30.Bron and I awoke well before the alarm and were busy scrolling when I received a message from Hayley to say we needed to cancel her and Aunty Sue’s massage as they were at the hospital!Aunty Sue had… Read more: 11&12.4.026 – Day 9/10 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Interesting day and home again.
- 10.4.026 – Day 8 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Eating and Shopping!A sleep in today as we have a free day around the area before a walking food tour this arvo/evening. A good sleep was had by all. Relaxed breakfast at the usual, Wildflour. Then it was a short walk across to and around Landmark (closed for inventory till 12) to the next shopping mall/complex –… Read more: 10.4.026 – Day 8 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Eating and Shopping!
- 9.4.026 – Day 7 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Eating and Shopping!Eating and shopping was the order of the day. We didn’t venture more than 500m from the hotel – mind you I’m sure we clocked up the steps in repeat visits.To explain further the New World Makati hotel is located in the Ayala family’s private city of Makati. Opposite is the Greenbelt, compromising high end… Read more: 9.4.026 – Day 7 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Eating and Shopping!
- 8.4.026 – Day 6 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Manila.Awoke after a couple of hours sleep and Bron and I headed down to check out hotel breaky. We don’t have breaky included so we looked it over and went for a walk across the road to the Shopping Precinct- Greenbelt. There were a range of cafes and restaurants to choose from. Returned to hotel… Read more: 8.4.026 – Day 6 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Manila.
- 7.4.2026 & 8.4.2026 – Day 5 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Last day in Bali.Last day- breaky at Bakers Bistro and finally they had Overnight Oats available – we’d given up on it, thank goodness Hayley asked.… and they were delicious. We all went our separate ways- to have a look around the area – mainly shops etc. Here’s what I found. Back to Villa for chat and swim… Read more: 7.4.2026 & 8.4.2026 – Day 5 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026: Last day in Bali.
- 6.4.2026 – Day 4 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026:Off to Ubud.Showery and raining overnight quite heavy when I awoke, it waxes and wanes. Off for breaky at 7:30, then back to meet Wayan for our day trip to Ubud. Trip to Ubud put paid to a few hours. Lots to see through the streets of various areas of Bali. Wayan suggested a dance show in… Read more: 6.4.2026 – Day 4 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026:Off to Ubud.
- 5.4.2026 – Day 3 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026:A full day in Bali.Sleep was lovely, I was last to the lounge this morning after a bit of washing and phaffing, about 9am.We headed off with brollies in hand, as it had been raining overnight.Breaky at Baker’s Bistro near Bintang Supermarket. Very nice although three of us were disappointed that overnight oats was not available. Then we checked… Read more: 5.4.2026 – Day 3 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026:A full day in Bali.
- 4.4.2026 – Day 2 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026:Melbourne to Bali.Alarm at 4am. Erghhhh! Ready, packed and downstairs to meet Suzie and Hayley. I was happy with a solid 6 hours sleep. Airport check in was quiet and things went pretty smoothly. Except, take a tip from me – DO listen to the man who says to empty pockets at the scanner. I had to… Read more: 4.4.2026 – Day 2 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026:Melbourne to Bali.
- 3.4.2026 – Day 1 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026. Off and racing today we meet at the Park Royal Hotel at Tullarmarine Airport, ready for an early departure tomorrow. My day started with an early lunch with Sue and Gloria and a lift to the Moe station. Sue and Glor came to the platform and waved me off (a bit slack I should have… Read more: 3.4.2026 – Day 1 – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026.
- The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026. Prologue.An account of our January 2026 trip – The Girls International Whirlwind Restaurant Tour. Jan. 2026.
- Way out West 2025. 13th of August. Day twenty- seven.Jamestown CP to Bottle Bend camp (on the Murray near Mildura ) Breaky this morning of Egg and Bacon wraps cooked in the excellent camp Kitchen at The Park at Jamestown. It had been a frost overnight, but we had our heaters and power so warm and toasty. Then a wander around town, it reminds… Read more: Way out West 2025. 13th of August. Day twenty- seven.
- Way out West 2025. 12th of August. Day twenty- six.Mount Ive Station campground to Jamestown. Reckon I was in the land of nod literally seconds after turning the light off. Well ahead of 10pm. The Bashers were still at it and there was a few drops of rain.Had kangaroos grazing in the campground this am and a couple hopped past me taking a pic… Read more: Way out West 2025. 12th of August. Day twenty- six.
- Way out West 2025. 11th of August. Day twenty- five.Shelly Beach CP, Ceduna to Mount Ive Station campground. A slow start, awoke to groovy orange sunrise colours over the park. Richard came to say that he had no luck with Ceduna Toyota so had ordered the alternator from Auto Parts Plus and had a list of people to fit it. It should arrive tomorrow… Read more: Way out West 2025. 11th of August. Day twenty- five.
- Way out West 2025. 10th of August. Day twenty- four.Fowlers Bay CP to Shelly Beach Ceduna.Today was up and out to the jetty to check sunrise. A bit late for the early orange colour. Then breaky, pack up and park the car and van to park in the Esplanade ready for our Whale watching cruise with Rod and Mya’s EP Cruises. (Bruce the decky) The cruise was unbelievable. We saw… Read more: Way out West 2025. 10th of August. Day twenty- four.Fowlers Bay CP to Shelly Beach Ceduna.
- Way out West 2025. 9th of August. Day twenty-three.Nullabor Roadhouse campground to Fowlers Bay CP Packed up this morning unhitched the van and we backtracked the 72 kilometres to the Bunda cliff view point. Stef and Phil had a chat to Richard and Family (Laverne, Sara and Jackson) and the plan was to check out the cliffs, pick up the vans, follow Richard… Read more: Way out West 2025. 9th of August. Day twenty-three.
- Way out West 2025. 8th of August. Day twenty-two.Border Village CP to Nullabor Roadhouse campground. Up about 7 o’clock local time. (Whatever that is) Quite chilly once the sun rose. We got away and found the old Eyre Hwy and needed to stop shortly after and let the tyres down again. (It’s a bit gravelly, rocky and generally a track) Then we set… Read more: Way out West 2025. 8th of August. Day twenty-two.
- Way out West 2025. 7th of August. Day twenty-one.Baxter Cliffs dune camp to Border Village CP at the Roadhouse in Border Village. Up to start the day with sunrise over the dunes and a visit by the Pink Cockatoos. Then we headed out again. Back over the same terrain in reverse. Well, after a mighty total of 68.8 km yesterday and this morning,… Read more: Way out West 2025. 7th of August. Day twenty-one.
- Way out West 2025. 6th of August. Day twenty.Cocklebiddy CP to Baxter Cliffs dune camp. A fair bit of phaffing and a slow start today. Samantha and Bruce were fed a kangaroo heart by one of the staff – evidently the kangaroo hunters drop off some hearts for the eagles. Stef had a look at his coolant leak – so much gunk and… Read more: Way out West 2025. 6th of August. Day twenty.
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Travel adventures with Nicola & co. 